“We Were Playing for Punjab”: Jugraj Singh Reflects on Championship Win and Stunning Comeback

Jugraj Singh was the standout performer as Hockey Punjab clinched the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025, showcasing his drag-flicking prowess throughout the tournament. The 28-year-old finished as the second-highest goalscorer, netting five goals, including a brace in the final against Hockey Madhya Pradesh.

Reflecting on the triumph, Jugraj said, “Overall, it was a wonderful experience. We had a strong team and we were confident. In the final, we defeated a very strong team in Hockey Madhya Pradesh with a dominant scoreline, so I’m really happy with the way the team performed.”

The championship final saw an intense battle where Hockey Madhya Pradesh struck first in the 28th minute. But Hockey Punjab responded with authority, scoring four unanswered goals to seal a 4-1 victory. Jugraj credited a motivational halftime discussion for the comeback. “After we conceded the first goal, we had a very good talk in the dressing room. We discussed how we couldn’t afford to lose this match, and that more than ourselves, we were playing for Punjab. So the team was very determined in the second half, and we scored four goals,” he explained.

Their journey wasn’t without hurdles. Punjab’s only defeat came in the Pool stage, ironically against the same Madhya Pradesh side, who beat them 3-2. Jugraj noted that the team learned valuable lessons from that game. “We were very disappointed after our loss to Hockey Madhya Pradesh because we felt we could have won. We missed a lot of scoring opportunities, and things just didn’t go our way. Later, we watched the match carefully and analysed our mistakes because we knew we could face them again in the tournament,” he said.

Jugraj’s current form is an extension of a phenomenal year. He was instrumental in the Hero Hockey India League 2024/25, leading Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers to the title with 12 goals, including a hat-trick in the final. He also played a crucial role in India’s home leg success in the FIH Hockey Pro League (Men), where the national team won five of eight matches and currently ranks third.

Revealing the key to his sharp performances, Jugraj shared, “I’ve been training very hard and working a lot on my drag-flicking. I’ve started reading the goalkeeper’s movements before striking the ball, which has really helped me because I can change the direction at the last moment. In drag-flicking, more than power, the angle of the shot is very important — so I’ve been focusing on that.”

With his consistent brilliance, Jugraj Singh continues to lead from the front and reinforce his status as one of India’s premier hockey talents.