Maninderjit Singh had a dream of playing in the hockey World Cup and Olympics, and he never regretted giving half his life to the sport.
The two-time Olympian featured in the 1996 Atlanta Games and was among the last national hockey players to see action four years later in Sydney.
Malaysian hockey failed to qualify for the Olympics since then but Maninderjit has a formula to help the national team qualify.
“Dream. Athletes must dream of playing in the Olympics and World Cups before they can claim glory. That was what I did as a youth struggling to play hockey in Klang.
“I dreamed of representing the country in the Olympics, and (after coming up) with a detailed plan and training hard on my own after training was over, I achieved my target of playing in two Olympics.”
And, it was worth the blood, sweat and tears he spilled on the artificial pith over the years.
“When I reached Atlanta in 1996, I was in tears of joy and the Olympic Village was awesome as we could mingle with NBA stars (The Dream Team) and sprinters Michael Johnson and Maurice Greene (Sydney 2000).
“They were icons, and still are. I admired their discipline at the Village, and it stuck with me for the rest of my life.”
Stoic and disciplined, Maninderjit never likes to give up in any match — even in a friendly.
“Play every match like it’s a final. Never take friendlies lightly. If you want to compete as an athlete in the Olympics and World Cup, every time you take to the field, give your very best. Because once it is over, the moment will never return but remain as good or bad memories.”