Hockey action returned to the national capital at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium after a decade long break. The much-anticipated India versus Germany bilateral series kicked off on Wednesday. However, the series didn’t start on a bright note for the home side. India lost to the reigning World Champions and Paris Olympics silver medalist, 2-0. Despite several penalty corner opportunities and a penalty stroke, India couldn’t find the back of the net.
Not many fans showed up for the clash. The low attendance can be explained by the fact that the game was played on a weekday and in the middle of the afternoon. Nevertheless, the fans that did show up left the atmosphere buzzing with excitement throughout the game. Despite India’s loss, the excitement reached a fever pitch after the match ended and the players took a lap of the ground to thank fans for their support. Both Indian and German players interacted with the fans, handed out a few jerseys and stopped to click pictures with the eager supporters.
But as skipper Harmanpreet, lovingly known as ‘Sarpanch’, walked closer to the crowd after his interaction with the media, fans could hardly contain their excitement. In a display of sheer adoration, fans screamed at the top of their lungs, jumped over fences, desperate for a moment with him. Harmanpreet, who last played in Delhi during his junior days, didn’t shy away from the crowd. Instead, he was visibly moved by the crowd’s adoration and patiently waited to take pictures and shake hands with everyone; even those who had breached security and climbed over the fence.
One unforgettable scene was when a baby was passed down to Harmanpreet from the stands because the parents wanted their child to be in the presence of the Indian skipper. He smiled as he carefully held the baby, posed for a photo and shook hands with the fans. It was almost as if ‘Sarpanch’s’ presence mattered more to the fans than the result of the match itself.
The love and admiration for Harmanpreet is justified and well deserved. Under his leadership, the Indian hockey team secured back-to-back bronze medals at the Paris Olympics 2024. With the captain scoring ten goals in eight matches, the highest in Men’s Hockey at the coveted tournament.
These moments, with fans going to such lengths just to be close to their hero, is proof that hockey still holds a special place in the hearts of many Indians—especially in Delhi, a city deprived of International hockey for a decade. While India may have lost the first game, the true significance of this series goes beyond just a win or loss. It’s about the revival of love for the sport that is deep-seated in every Indian’s heart.
As Harmanpreet stood there, patiently amid the cheering crowd, waving at the security guard to not chase away the fans that had breached security–it was truly a reminder that for Indian hockey, the journey is far from over and the passion is stronger than ever. The connection between the captain and the crowd was heartwarming and more so a reminder of how deep the love for hockey runs in this country.