Arshdeep Singh talks about his dream debut for India in FIH Pro League 2024-25

Arshdeep Singh has been nominated for the Player of the Year (Men – Under 21) award at the upcoming Hockey India 7th Annual Awards.

Arshdeep Singh, a 20-year-old forward, has recently been in the spotlight for his consistent performances, which earned him his senior India debut at the Men’s FIH Pro League 2024-25 in Bhubaneswar. The federation has also recognised his talent and hard work, as he has been nominated for the Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Men—Under 21).

Also Read: Hockey India announces nominees for 7th Annual Awards

Arshdeep has been nominated alongside his junior squad teammates, Amir Ali, Shardanand Tiwari, and Araijeet Singh Hundal. He said about the awards, “I didn’t expect to be nominated for such a prestigious award. I am honoured and grateful to Hockey India. Even if I don’t win the award, it has motivated me to do better and work harder on my game.”

About his debut, Arshdeep said, “My debut experience was good. I got to play two matches, and I learned a lot, especially about how structured the top teams in the world are. Playing with the senior players has boosted my confidence and has motivated me to improve my game.”

Arshdeep first made headlines during the 2024 Men’s Junior Asia Cup in December last year as he scored six goals in the tournament and was impressive with the stick. “It was a good tournament for me, and I scored some good goals. Especially winning against Pakistan in the final was a special moment for me. I thought I would get a chance to play for the seniors after the Junior World Cup later this year, but I didn’t expect to make it into the senior squad so early,” he commented. 

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Although he did catch eyes during the Junior Asia Cup, Arshdeep Singh’s breakout tournament was the Hockey India League 2025 (HIL) earlier this year, where he was named the Upcoming Player of the tournament. He was one of the first names in the Hyderabad Toofans team sheet and scored three goals to help his side reach the final. 

Talking about his HIL experience, Arshdeep shared, “The atmosphere in my team, Hyderabad Toofans, was very positive, which is why I could play so freely and thrive in the tournament.”

“I was with the team when I got to know that I have been selected in the national team. The first person I called was my mother because it was a proud moment for me,” he added.

Also Read: Top 15 players with most goals in all-time men’s hockey history

Although it was a big day for Arshdeep when his name was in the lineup against Spain, he was more excited than nervous since the senior players in the squad helped him cope with the pre-match blues. “I was excited because I wanted to take full advantage of this opportunity. The Senior players helped me. Sukhjeet advised me to play freely and not think about the mistakes. He told me the way I react after making mistakes is more important.”

“Captain Harmanpreet Singh told me he will try his best to win the match to make it memorable for me and told me to try my hardest to score a debut goal.”

Arshdeep has now joined the junior team camp in Bengaluru and is preparing for the Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup in December.

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