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Football

Gurmeet Singh: “I could not contain my happiness when I got the call”

The past week has been nothing short of extraordinary for Gurmeet Singh Chahal. Relaxing in his hometown of Narwana in Haryana after wrapping up the club season with Hyderabad FC, he wouldn’t have guessed that he’ll have to pack his bags and embark on another trip soon – this time to the Indian Senior National Team camp in Bhubaneswar.

gurmeetWhile Phurba Lachenpa unfortunately had to be released from the National camp after suffering an adductor strain, it opened the doors for Gurmeet to become the Blue Tigers’ latest goalkeeper on the block.

“I’ve been here for a week now, and it feels amazing,” says Gurmeet. “I’m learning something new every single day here from my seniors, even the regular stuff like how they live, how they train, what they eat, etc.”

It was a typical day for Gurmeet back home – spending time with his family, and doing his routine training sessions – until he got one of the biggest calls of his life. The next day, he would be at the team hotel in the Odisha capital, sharing a room with Udanta Singh.

gurmeetGurmeet had a breakout 2022-23 season in the Hero ISL, keeping seven clean sheets in 14 appearances and surrendering only nine goals to help Hyderabad finish second in the league stage. While the 23-year-old has previously won the coveted Hero ISL championship, donning the national team gloves is an experience he will never forget.

“Playing for the country is a different sentiment. A proud moment and a very big deal for me. Of course, I really have to thank my club Hyderabad FC as well for this national team call-up. They gave me the chance, and I’m grateful to them with all my heart,” he smiles.

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Gurmeet is also proud to represent his home state of Haryana, which is renowned as an epicentre of Indian sports. All it needed for an adolescent Gurmeet to begin his adventure in the beautiful game was a friend, a ball, a ground, and an encouraging elder.

“One of my friends used to play football at a stadium nearby, and he took me along with him one day,” Gurmeet recalls. “I was in seventh class at that time and started playing in inter-house tournaments in my school, which gradually spiked my interest in the game. Then I regularly began going to the stadium with my friend. I first played at the U-14 level, then represented my district and eventually my state Haryana at the national level.”

 

“A senior of mine asked me to stand in goal,” Gurmeet laughs. “My height was pretty decent, so he saw me as a good fit as a goalkeeper. And that’s how my journey began between the sticks.”

“I later joined an academy in Haryana, which I represented in the Subroto Cup in Delhi. After that, I got a call from DSK Shivajians and joined the club in Pune. I played the U-18 Youth League with them, did well and was signed by NorthEast United FC in 2018. I was there for three seasons before Hyderabad FC came calling in 2021,” recaps Gurmeet.

Kajal S

Kajal S

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