Jugraj Singh-Sticky Wicket to Drag Flicking

Jugraj Singh would always be considered the best drag flicker that Indian hockey has produced in last few years. He attributes this rise to hard work, valuable mentorship, and a complete overhaul of his technique. Jugraj has always been among the highest goal-scorers for Hockey India League, and it speaks of his continuous growth and transformation that he undertakes on the field. But according to the player himself, the journey to success has not always been easy, and outsmarting the initial rush from opponents was the biggest challenge.

A modern hockey player can't afford to do without a drag flick. It is a must-have tool in the process of converting penalty corners into goals. Jugraj, once a master of explosive drag flicks, has undergone a change over the years. "The biggest challenge is to beat the first-rusher," Jugraj explains. In hockey, the "first rusher" is the opponent who rushes up quickly towards the drag flicker, attempting to block or deflect the shot. It makes a big change in the rhythmic flow of a flicker and can cause him to forgo scoring opportunity. Jugraj has been on the lookout for increasing his response time as well as fine-tuning his skills.

Subsequent success in HIL can also be attributed to Captain Rupinder Pal Singh's guidance towards Jugraj. Himself an experienced player, Rupinder has managed to make Jugraj comfortable with the former's experience with some inputs that he could implement to improve further. According to Jugraj, Rupinder is also the reason for his perseverance and focus during the game. It is that dynamic between two players where experience complements the raw talent. The team performances have been backed by the dynamism between these two players: Rupinder and Jugraj.

A good aspect of Jugraj's game has been the willingness to explore new approaches for drag-flicking. With time, techniques for drag-flicking have evolved. Now, it seems that there are no two same drag-flicks, with players refining their skills continuously. Jugraj has incorporated these changes into his game and has enhanced his accuracy and efficiency. This is what makes him different from his peers and he has been able to score goals in the pressure situations.

These changes in his drag-flicking style have, for Jugraj, benefited him, and simultaneously also helped his team in the HIL. It has been through his conversion of penalty corners into goals that he has been giving his team an edge over opponents in matches decided by the fine line of margin. "Penalty corners are often game-changers, and being able to score from them can make all the difference in a match," Jugraj shares. He is definitely one of the most reliable and dangerous players within the league. His contributions have made him that way for his team's offense.

However, Jugraj believes that it was not individual success alone. In fact, Jugraj is always quick to state that he puts a lot of emphasis on the team's unity and how such unity has culminated in him achieving the accolades. "While individual performance matters, it's the support from teammates and the strategies we develop together that help us win games," he says. Jugraj's modest attitude towards his success reflects the fact that he understands that hockey, being a team game, requires the coming together of all players to win.

Still, Jugraj is composed and intent on always improving, growing with each day as reputation goes. He knows that this is an opportunity that the HIL gives him to face the best worldwide, so he knows that he needs to keep at his drag-flicking skills up while remaining on top of his game. In addition, he mirrors this on the personal experiences he gains from each match, saying, "Every match is a learning experience.".

Jugraj looks forward to the days when Indian hockey will be more prominent on the world stage. He wants to improve his game, especially while playing in international tournaments. Having Rupinder Pal Singh around and the eagerness to work on his game make Jugraj's future look bright. The hockey player's journey is always toward improvement, trying to achieve perfection in drag-flicks, and moving his team toward victory. This can be in the form of outplaying a rush of defenders or perfecting his technique-the yearning to get better keeps Jugraj Singh on top of the hockey world.