AI Generated Summary
- The Mithapur Hockey Academy, once little more than a dusty patch of land, now buzzes daily with the energy and aspirations of some 70 boys and girls, aged 10 to 18, all hoping to follow in the footsteps of the academy’s most celebrated alumni—Olympians Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh.
- In the tranquil village of Mithapur on the outskirts of Jalandhar, an unassuming stretch of turf has quietly become the cradle of India’s next generation of hockey talent.
- Here, on a humble field in rural Punjab, each swipe of the stick brings another dream one stride closer to reality.
In the tranquil village of Mithapur on the outskirts of Jalandhar, an unassuming stretch of turf has quietly become the cradle of India’s next generation of hockey talent. The Mithapur Hockey Academy, once little more than a dusty patch of land, now buzzes daily with the energy and aspirations of some 70 boys and girls, aged 10 to 18, all hoping to follow in the footsteps of the academy’s most celebrated alumni—Olympians Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh.
Every morning at dawn, the gates swing open to reveal young players, sticks in hand and eyes alight with determination. Here, the sport transcends mere recreation; it is the very pulse that drives these children toward a future they once only dreamed of. “Watching those kids arrive each day, full of hope and excitement—that’s what makes this place special,” says coach Kuldeep Singh, who has guided budding stars since 2016.
Kuldeep still remembers the day a lanky boy with fierce focus first arrived at Mithapur. That boy, Manpreet Singh, went on to captain the Indian national team and steer it to historic international victories. “Even back then, he trained with an intensity I’d rarely seen,” Kuldeep recalls. “To see him lift trophies and wear the captain’s jersey—that was a proud moment for all of us.”
Today, Kuldeep channels that same rigorous training ethos into mentoring newcomers. “Many of these children come from humble homes,” he explains, “but their dreams stretch as far as the horizon. We give them not just coaching, but also the belief that they can stand among the best.”
Fourteen-year-old Harnunid Singh, inspired by watching Manpreet blaze across Olympic fields, nods in agreement. “He’s one of us,” Harnunid says, eyes shining. “If he can reach the Olympics from here, why not me?” For Harnunid and peers like 13-year-old Jashan Sehgal, who aspires to don India’s colors one day, the academy’s rigorous drills and supportive camaraderie form the bedrock of their ambitions.
Beyond stick skills and sprint drills, Mithapur Hockey Academy emphasizes life lessons: discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Parents, once hesitant, now queue up to enroll their children, hopeful that the academy’s formula—inspired by its star exports—will unlock new opportunities.
In Mithapur’s dusty lanes, the sound of sticks striking balls echoes alongside newly kindled hopes. Under the watchful eyes of coaches like Kuldeep Singh, the academy continues to mold raw talent into athletes poised for international glory. Here, on a humble field in rural Punjab, each swipe of the stick brings another dream one stride closer to reality.
