Abhishek started playing hockey on a grass field while being taught Hindi by a tutor, and his selection to the Indian Men’s Hockey Team for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022 is evidence of his commitment to the sport.
As he gets ready for the biggest Asian event of his career, the 24-year-old is optimistic.
“I am overjoyed to be included in the team, and I can’t wait to give it my best on the field. The 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022 will be a major competition, thus we are geared up for it. When asked about his choice, Abhishek replied, “We’ll play with confidence and our aim is to leave China with no regrets at the conclusion of the campaign.
Abhishek’s school teacher Shamsher Singh pushed him to take up the stick when he was nine years old when he was attending school in Sonepat, Haryana, and he hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down since. In his first 48 games, he has scored 18 goals.
“I played on grass for the first 10 years of my career, and when I went to the National Hockey Academy (NHA) for a few years, that’s when I first played on turf. I participated in the U-18 Asia Cup while attending the National Hockey Academy, and I was selected for the Junior Indian Men’s Hockey Team in 2017. Following that, in 2018, I joined the Punjab National Bank Hockey Team and played there for three years before being selected for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team based on my performance at the first Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship in Bangalore in 2021, according to Abhishek.
In the 2021–22 FIH Hockey Pro League, Abhishek made his professional debut. He later established himself on the world stage by earning two Players of the Match honors during the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar–Rourkela.
Abhishek responded when asked about his team’s preparations for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022: “We will face some good teams, and we are working very hard in training to make sure we are in the best physical and mental shape when we step onto the pitch.”
The 9th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2022 will include India in Pool A with Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.
“All of my teammates and coaches are willing to assist me; they cheer me on and help me keep going ahead if I make any errors in training. Abhishek praised the team’s togetherness, saying, “I frequently turn to Mandeep and Lalit for support if I have any issues with the structure; they are always willing to talk on and off the pitch.”
