In a stunning display of attacking prowess, Indian forward Dilraj Singh has emerged as the team's leading goalscorer at the ongoing FIH Junior World Cup. The 19-year-old from Gurdaspur, Punjab, etched his name in a high-scoring match, netting three goals as India routed Oman 17-0. However, his path to becoming a prolific striker is a tale of remarkable transformation, financial hardship, and a mother's unwavering faith.
The Unlikely Transition: From Goalkeeper to Forward
Dilraj Singh's hockey journey began not with dreams of scoring goals, but of saving them. Back in 2015, he started as a goalkeeper at the Cheema Hockey Academy in Batala. He played in that position for a year before a deep-seated feeling pushed him to change. "My heart was not in it. I felt I could score goals. So I decided I wanted to be a forward," Dilraj recalls. The switch felt natural and empowering from the very start. Interestingly, he has kept this goalkeeping chapter a secret from the team's head coach, the legendary PR Sreejesh, and laughs off the idea of revealing it.
The Coach, The Ground, and The Struggle for Facilities
The real turning point came when Dilraj began training under coach Kulwinder Singh at the Ghuman Kalan hockey ground, not far from his village. Coach Kulwinder identified raw talent and an unmatched work ethic in the young player. "His biggest strength was his willingness to work hard, his stick skills were sensational, and his quickness is loved by all coaches," Kulwinder says. He prepared Dilraj on the small grass field at Ghuman Kalan before securing him a trial in Jalandhar.
Dilraj's selection at the prestigious Surjit Hockey Academy on his first attempt was rare for a player trained primarily on grass. His success story, however, highlights a persistent infrastructure gap. Ghuman Kalan still lacks a proper astro-turf pitch. Coach Kulwinder hopes Dilraj's achievements on the world stage will finally spur authorities into action, benefiting the 60 other children who train there.
A Mother's Golden Sacrifice and Unbreakable Support
Behind every goal Dilraj scores is the immense sacrifice of his mother, Rupinder Kaur. While his farmer father remained indifferent to his sporting ambitions, his mother became his pillar. The family faced severe financial constraints, at times having no money at home, which even forced Dilraj to miss tournaments.
The most poignant sacrifice came when a young Dilraj, still a goalkeeper, needed a full kit. His mother sold her gold earrings to buy it for him. "Only my mother and I know about this," shares the emotional youngster. She constantly encouraged him, using his nickname 'Raja', assuring him that his time would come and to keep playing through the hardships. For Dilraj, his mother is also his closest confidante; the first person he called after wearing the Indian jersey for the first time at the 2024 Sultan of Johor Cup was her.
His determination was ironclad even in the face of poverty. A close friend remembers a time when Dilraj didn't have even 20 rupees for daily expenses. Yet, he would train alone until 9:30 PM, driven by a single-minded focus to make hockey his career.
Today, as he aims to top the scoring charts at the Junior World Cup, Dilraj doesn't look up to any idol. He carries a unique self-belief: "When I started playing as a forward, I didn't want to be like anyone. I just thought that I am my own person who will set an example so that someone could become like me." His journey from the goalposts to the goal charts is a powerful testament to that very ideal.
