Asian Champions Trophy hockey: Mentor figure Raj Kumar Pal combines with Uttam Singh for fine team goal, India beat Korea to reach final

Uttam Singh in action against Korea. (Hockey India)

Raj Kumar Pal started playing hockey at the Karampur village stadium in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, after seeing his two elder brothers play the sport. As he started rising through the ranks, Raj Kumar turned out to be a brotherly figure to Uttam Singh at that very stadium.

It made for a lovely moment on Monday at Moqi Hockey Training Base in Hulunbuir on Monday, as the two were part of India’s well-worked opening goal in the semifinal of the men’s Asian Champions Trophy. As Uttam tapped in to complete a flowing passing move, it was Raj Kumar who was the first to rush to the former Under-21 captain and embrace him. (Read more)