Sandeep Singh, also known as “Flicker Singh,” is a former captain of the Indian national hockey team and an Indian hockey player. He is regarded as one of the world’s most deadly drag-flickers. According to reports, Sandeep, who typically plays as a fullback and is a corner specialist, can achieve drag velocities of over 145 kilometers per hour. As captain, he contributed to the national team’s 2009 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup victory. In addition to the national team, he has played for multiple organizations in the Australian, European, and Hockey India Leagues. Having received coaching instruction while competing in the Australian league, he is now anxious to instruct Indian drag-flickers at the grassroots level. According to his own admission, “in terms of skill and conversion rate,” he is still India’s top drag-flicker. He is presently a DSP with the Haryana Police.
Youth and Early Life
Sandeep Singh was born on February 27, 1986, in the Indian community of Shahabad Markanda, Kurukshetra, Haryana, to Gurcharan Singh Bhindar and Daljit Kaur Bhindar. He received his B.A. from Kurukshetra University after attending Khalsa College in Patiala.
His older brother’s name is Bikramjeet Singh, and he also plays hockey for Indian Oil. His injuries prevented him from pursuing his ambitions as a drag-flicker, but he later instructed his brother in the sport.
Sandeep’s International Profession
In January 2004, Sandeep Singh made his international debut at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur. In August of that year, he made his Olympic debut in Athens, Greece, during the Summer Olympics. During the 2004 Junior Asia Cup of Hockey contested in Pakistan, he scored 16 goals to finish as the tournament’s top scorer. In the final against Pakistan, he scored two goals in a 5-2 victory that gave India its first-ever championship.
Each time he participated in the Champions Trophy, in Lahore in 2004 and Chennai the following year, he scored three goals. During the September-October 2005 Indo-Pak Hockey Series, he scored three goals. He was a member of the Indian hockey team that participated in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. With seven goals, he was the tournament’s leading scorer. In June 2006, he tallied three goals in Kuala Lumpur at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
On August 22, 2006, he was accidentally wounded while traveling aboard the Shatabadi Express while on his way to join the national team to compete in the World Cup in Germany. The Railway Protection Force officer’s pistol accidentally discharged, and the bullet instantaneously paralyzed his lower body by penetrating three vital organs.
It took him nearly two years to recuperate from the injury that left him confined to a wheelchair. However, he never gave up hope of returning to the field and ultimately made a triumphant return to the national team.
In the 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, he tallied eight goals to earn the award for “Top Scorer” and help India finish second. In January 2009, he was named captain of the national team, and under his leadership, the team won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for the first time in 13 years.
In 2012, he helped India qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London after eight lengthy years by scoring five goals, including a hat-trick, against France in the final of the Olympic qualifiers tournament for an 8-1 victory. During the Olympic qualifying tournament, he tallied a total of 16 goals.
After being cut from the national team in 2014, he demonstrated his skill in club hockey competitions in India and abroad. Early in 2017, he acknowledged that age was no longer on his side for another national revival and expressed a desire to pursue coaching.
Sandeep’s Club Position
In 2013, when the Hockey India League debuted, Sandeep Singh became the sixth highest-paid star player acquired by the Mumbai Magicians. He was purchased for $64,400. In the inaugural tournament, he demonstrated his worth by scoring 11 goals in 12 appearances, becoming the tournament’s leading scorer.
In 2014, he was recruited by the English field hockey club Havant Hockey Club, which required him to relocate to the United Kingdom. During the 2014-2015 Premier Division 1 league season, he scored 24 goals for his team, making him Havant’s leading scorer and the third-leading scorer overall.
Also in 2014, Punjab Warriors acquired him for the second season of the Hockey India League, where he remained for two years. He tallied a total of 22 goals during his tenure with the Punjab Hockey team. In September 2015, he was acquired by Ranchi Rays for USD 81,000, which was the second-highest price at the auction after USD 84,000 paid by Akashdeep Singh. He participated for the team in the 2016 tournament, but a back injury dashed his hopes of making the HIL.
While he did not participate in the 2017 season due to personal reasons, he played for the St George Randwick Hockey Club in Australia and the Harvard Hockey Club in England. His fantasy of a farewell national match is improbable, but he is determined to return to HIL in 2018.
Awards & Achievements
Sandeep Singh was awarded the “Arjuna Award” in 2010 for his contributions to field hockey.
In 2009, he led India to victory in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and was named “Man of the Match” for netting the most goals.
Personal History and Legacy
During his adolescence, Sandeep Singh developed a romantic relationship with amateur hockey player Harjinder Kaur. A few decades ago, both families had relocated from the same village in Pakistan, which is why they were close and readily accepted the relationship.
By the time the couple became engaged in August 2008, after years of courtship, they had both reached the international level. After their marriage, Harjinder reportedly gave up her hockey aspirations at Sandeep’s request and now cares for their son Sehajdeep.
In November 2014, it was announced that actress Chitrangada Singh would produce a biopic about the renowned drag queen’s remarkable comeback. At the time, Sandeep confirmed selling her the rights to create a film about his life, and he also stated that he wanted Ranbir Kapoor to play him.
Diljit Dosanjh, a Punjabi actor and vocalist best known for his roles in the Bollywood films Udta Punjab’ and ‘Phillauri,’ was cast as Sandeep Singh in the film in July 2017. The title of the film has been revealed to be ‘Soorma,’ which will be released on July 13, 2018, and also stars Tapsee Pannu and Angad Bedi as his wife and older sibling.
Estimated Net Worth
The estimated net worth of former Indian hockey player Sandeep Singh is $10 million. He was born in Shahabad on February 27, 1986.
Trivia
His younger sibling Sandeep Singh is married to former hockey player Harjinder, while his older brother Monty is married to hockey player Meenakshi. The four of them occasionally play hockey in a small clearing near their home.