NEW DELHI: When the idealistic Jarmanpreet Singh was banned eight years ago for failing a drug test, all he knew about life's plans was his mother Kulwinder Kaur's unwavering faith that her son will triumph in the end after facing all the challenges.
Thus, Kulwinder, Jarmanpreet's greatest fan, will be in the stands on July 27th, cheering and praying for him as he dons the India jersey for his 107th international game against New Zealand at the Yves-du-Manoir hockey stadium.
The 28-year-old Jarmanpreet is competing in his debut Olympics. He has participated in major competitions such as the World Cup, Champions Trophy, and Asian Games, and he hopes to get over his disappointments by doing well.
"I am trying to make travel plans for my mother. I want her to be in Paris when I make my Olympic debut. She should feel proud that her son is playing the biggest tournament," Jarmanpreet, who hails from Amritsar in Punjab, told PTI Bhasha in an exclusive interview before his departure.
"I talk to my mother before every match. She knows nothing about hockey but she tells me to play like this, play like that. She is my first coach. I had invited her to watch the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai too," said the player for Jalandhar's Surjit Hockey Academy.
After failing a random dope test, Jarmanpreet was suspended from 2016 to 2018, but he bounced back and will now compete in the Olympics eight years after losing out on the Junior World Cup.
In addition to winning silver in the 2018 Champions Trophy in Breda, Netherlands, he was a member of the Indian squad that took home gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
"Although I have participated in the World Cup, Champions Trophy, Asian Games, for the first time I will play in the Olympics. The pressure of the Olympics is different in which the best teams of the world participate," he said.
Jarmanpreet, who took up hockey as an after-school hobby in school, was not selected for the Indian Olympic squad that won the bronze after 41 years.
However, he has been putting a lot of effort into both his offensive and defensive skills since coach Craig Fulton arrived, and he is now a regular member of the Indian squad.
He has an optimistic outlook and complete faith in his experience and mental toughness as he travels to Paris.
"There is no pressure anyway because I have played many matches with these teams. We are going with a positive attitude. It is the dream of every player to play in the Olympics. It will be a proud moment for me and my family. There is no bigger motivation than winning a medal for the country,'' he said
With the expertise he has accumulated over the years, he refuses to allow negativity to infiltrate his life, either personally or professionally.
"It is important to be mentally strong in sports or in life. Only if you are strong, will you be able to help others. My goal is to stay focused and see the good things. Learn from mistakes and avoid negativity.''
He doesn't want to be perceived as someone weak.
"Negative thinking will reduce your confidence and not only affect your on field performance but also off the field waste your time," he added .
In reference to Olympic preparations, he stated that India's strength lies in its counterattack, and that will be the main focus.
"Our counter-attack is our strength and we are playing good hockey at a fast pace. We will focus on playing more on the counter," he said.
"We played eight matches in the Pro League before the Olympics and also played a test match against Australia which was good learning. Each team has its own structure and everyone plays hockey in different ways.
"In the last few times, we have assessed the teams a lot and I am sure that we will not return empty-handed from Paris."
