‘Why don't people support us?’ - A hurt Hardik Singh questions fans and media for showing lack of support to Hockey players

Indian hockey vice-captain Hardik Singh expressed his disappointment over getting a lack of recognition despite winning two Bronze medals in a row at the Olympics. The third costliest player at the Hockey India League auction felt the Indian team wasn't celebrated enough by the fans or the media. He felt the need for them to get attention throughout the year, not just during the Olympics.

Hardik felt hurt sometimes to not be appreciated enough despite winning two Bronze medals in a row, a feat achieved by the Hockey team for the first time since 1972. “Now we have won an Olympic medal twice in a row. It sometimes hurt me that the bronze we won this time (Paris) was not celebrated that much by the people. I am sure they understand that what didn't happen for 41 years, didn't happen in 52 years, we did that in four years,” said Hardik.

India had last won a medal in Hockey at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. After failing to win a medal for the first time at Montreal in 1976, they won the Gold medal in Moscow and had a long streak of 41 years without an Olympic medal. In the Tokyo Olympics, India ended the long streak and won the Bronze medal. They defended their Bronze medal in Paris.

Earlier this year, Hardik was in a podcast where he claimed Dolby Chaiwala got more attention than the Indian Hockey players in the airport. He felt the attention for the players are lesser than other types of celebrities in India. Hardik stressed the fact that the players are asked to bring the Gold medal when the Olympics approaches. He asked why they don't get support even during the non-Olympic year.

Why don't people support us: Hardik Singh

“When the Olympic year comes, we are being asked to bring gold, do this, do that. Why don't people support us before that as well, throughout the Olympic cycle (of four years)? There lies the difference,” added Hardik. The Indian Hockey team managed to win back-to-back medals in the Olympics, a feat which was achieved only by Neeraj Chopra in 2024.

Hardik felt the media didn't back the players enough either. He felt apart from PR Sreejesh and Harmanpreet Singh, the fans don't know other players in the squad. “Media also has a big role to play in this. People know (PR) Sreejesh, Harmanpreet (Singh); but you ask anyone to tell the names of players in the Olympic squad and the current squad. They won't know even 10,” added Hardik who was picked for INR 70 lakhs by the UP Rudras at the HIL auction.