Surjeet Singh proud to have fulfilled deceased brother’s kabaddi dream

Surjeet Singh has been an important figure for Haryana Steelers throughout their debut season in VIVO Pro Kabaddi. Though he hasn’t always been a part of the starting 7, he has consistently managed to make a mark by scoring in the hour of need. In the injury-forced absence of their star raider Vikas Kandola lately, he has banded together with Wazir Singh, Deepak Kumar Dahiya and Prashanth Kumar Rai to ensure that his side has kept the opposition defence under pressure.

Besides the desire to make a name for himself, the 27-year-old’s passion for kabaddi stems from another, more personal reason. “Initially I did not play as well as I do now. But I remember my elder brother always dreamed of playing kabaddi in the Asian Games. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1998 without fulfilling his dream,” revealed Surjeet in an exclusive interview with prokabaddi.com, “After my brother passed away I decided to chase his dream. It was a difficult journey but I knew that if I did not give up, I would one day reach my dream.”

After that there was nothing that could come between him and his dream of representing India. He went on to represent the country in the Asian Games and win gold for his country. “I fulfilled my brother’s dreams by playing in the Asian Games and securing a gold medal for the country. To date that is the most memorable moment in my life. My family also supported me a lot and are truly responsible for the player that I am today. So it was memorable for them as well,” said the Haryana raider.

However, it hasn’t always been an easy road for Surjeet. He has had to struggle to overcome multiple injuries on his way to the top. “Both my knees had to undergo operation,” said Surjeet, “I did not play kabaddi for a year after that. It is really difficult to recover after getting operated but I took it as a challenge. My team was also very supportive. It really felt good when the team put so much trust in me. It motivates me to perform well for them as well.”

The raider also revealed how his easy-going attitude helps him get through difficult phases in life. “I am very mischievous and like to have a lot of fun with my friends in my free time. I don’t take life too seriously and prefer to smile through my sorrows,” concluded Surjeet with his trademark smile.