Lucknow: For Hockey India chief selector RP Singh, the sight of the Indian women’s hockey team celebrating on the blue turf was more than a sporting triumph. It was a deeply personal moment, one that brought together the pride, patience of a long selection process and memories of his own journey in Indian hockey.Singh, a former India captain, had himself brought laurels to the country 40 years ago, winning bronze and silver medals at the 1986 and 1990 Asian Games, respectively. He was also part of the team that won the Asia Cup in 1984.For Singh, the medal was the result of years of planning, assessment and difficult decisions. “Preparing a team for any tournament is a long and continuous process,” he said.“Players are given different kinds of exposure through foreign tours, training camps and high-level facilities. We try to provide the best possible environment. But some players perform well at the domestic level and in camps, yet are unable to repeat that performance in matches. Some players rise in real match situations. That is where selection becomes a very important responsibility,” he added.Singh said modern hockey leaves very little room for error. A minor lapse, he explained, can quickly turn into a counterattack, making team balance one of the most crucial aspects of selection.The gold medal, he said, was a moment of great happiness not just for the players and coaching staff, but for everyone involved behind the scenes. Yet Singh admitted that selectors often find themselves in a thankless position.“When results do not come as expected, the first and biggest questions are raised by the selectors, but when the team performs well, very few people remember the role of selection. Recently, after 52 years, we achieved fifth place in the World Cup for the first time, and now the women’s team has qualified for the Olympics. Our preparation is always done keeping major events like the Asian Games, Asia Cup, World Cup and Olympics in mind,” he said.“There was a lot of injustice with me during my playing days, but I always tried to ensure that no player should have to endure such pain during my tenure,” he said.
