Raising the bar pays off for hockey coach Sangwan

A SNUB can either break one down or spur the individual on to scale new heights. Unfortunately, a majority of people end up heartbroken. But a better future awaits those who manage to swallow the bitter pill. Haryana hockey coach Sandeep Sangwan falls under the second category.

- FIROZ MIRZA @Chennai

In 2021, Sangwan felt humiliated when he learnt his name was removed from the national sports award list despite being recommended by the committee. The setback meant he even moved the Delhi High Court but soon gathered himself to set the bar high instead of crying over the snub. He led the Haryana men's team to senior national crown in 2022 and followed it up with maiden National Games gold for the team in 2023 in Goa. The team also finished runners-up in the 2023 and 2024 senior national championships. "Getting demoralised was easy but I chose the second option," the 47-year-old FIH Level 3 coach Sangwan told this daily.

The approach paid dividends as he was chosen for the Dronacharya Award in the regular category for 2024.