It was always a joy watching athletes from various ethnic communities representing the national senior and junior hockey teams in our country.
The selection process was never easy. It was impossible to field players that did not reflect the diversity and united colours of our population.
Sports never was reserved for elites, and everyone was colour blind.
The Sikh community, alongside the Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians make up the core players in most sports. In field hockey, the Sikhs were a source of inspiration although their numbers have diminished gradually over the years.
The game of hockey was a fabric within Sikh sports culture. It brought the community together.
The recent 72nd Gurdwara Cup & Sikh Festival of Sports 2024, and the ongoing 2024 Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL), are witnessing remarkable changes. It is becoming a nursery for the development of talented players.
The names Gagandeep Singh, Amanraj Singh, and Nischal Singh may not ring a bell but these youngsters, representing Johor Hockey Association/Johor State Sports Council (PHJ-MSNJ) in the MJHL, are making progressive steps.
PHJ/MSNJ players (from left) Gagandeep Singh, Amanraj Singh and Nischal Singh
Negeri Sembilan midfielder Amandeep Singh, a 16-year-old student of Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar in Mantin, enjoyed his journey in the league. Negeri Sembilan finished top of Central Zone Group A standings with a remarkable record of five consecutive wins.
Defender Kalvinderjit Singh, son of former international Harcharanjit Singh, also performed exceptionally well for Majlis Sukan Sekolah-Sekolah Pulau Pinang-PSHA who finished seventh position in the 10-team Division One League.
Kuala Lumpur Sikh Sports and Recreation Club (KLSSRC) marked their third season in the MJHL. Coached by former internationals Kevinder Singh and Baljit Singh Charun. KLSSRC had eight Sikh players with a blend of several Malay and Indians in the side.
Together with Muhammad Hazrey Hafiy, who scored five goals for PHJ/MSNJ, Gagandeep, Aman and Nischal also played pivotal roles in the team’s success story. PHJ/MSNJ lifted the Division One title for the first time in the history of the MJHL since 1996.
They held high-flying Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) Thunderbolts to a 2-2 draw and defeated Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Thunderbolts 3-1 en route to emerging league champions with an unbeaten record of six wins and three draws.
However, in the semi-finals of the TNB Cup (Overall champion), PHJ/MSNJ lost 0-2 to BJSS Thunderbolts.
Gagandeep, 17, a forward and former student of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) who has since moved to study at Victoria Institution, scored four goals. He is the son of former Olympian Aphthar Singh who competed at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.
Nischal, 18, contributed three goals while his cousin Aman, 19, who is pursuing an A-level course at Sunway College and aspires to study medicine, scored one goal.
Aman’s older brother – Jasraj Singh, is one of four goalkeepers currently training with the National Junior squad.
“I started playing hockey at age 12 and trained regularly with Matador Hockey Club and also with SMK Dato Bentara Luar, Batu Pahat,” said Aman, who is in his second season featuring in the MJHL Division One League. Last year the team finished in sixth position.”
“The top 5 teams are very strong and we did our best to win the Division One title. It was unfortunate that we lost to BJSS Thunderbolts in the semi-finals of the TNB. We played hard to make a strong back and had our chances to score,” said Aman.
Kuala Lumpur City player Harjot Singh Gill (right) tussles for the ball against Negeri Sembilan in the MJHL.
Former national junior player and now PHJ/MSNJ coach, Mohd Nor Aqmal Abdul Ghafar, said he is satisfied with the overall performance of the team.
“We started on a winning momentum to win the league title. The players had a good experience playing against stronger teams. I’m also proud at the performance of Aman, Gagandeep and Nischal who have been playing consistently well throughout the tournament,” said Aqmal.
“Apart from them, there are several other players too, including Hazrey who scored five goals, who are talented and are potential candidates for the national junior team in two years from now.
“They need to build their game. Our defeat in the semi-finals of the TNB Cup was a good experience and lesson. The players must learn from this defeat,” he added.
The notion that there are no more Sikhs in the Malaysian Junior League is an over statement. They are slowly and surely sprouting once again!
