Born November 11, 1990 in Faridkot, punjab. A seasoned drag flicker Rupinder stands tall at 193 cm.
Rupinder made his debut in 2008. His flamboyance has earned him the nick name of ‘bob’ by his teammates in the senior team. This full-back has made contributions that have seen him and the nation at winners podium at several events.
2010 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Gold.
Gold at Asian Champions Trophy, 2011
Silver at The Men’s Hockey Championship Challenge
Bronze at the 2012 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Silver at the 2012 Asian Men’s hockey championship trophy
Silver at the 2013 Men’s Hockey Asia cup
Silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
Gold at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon
Bronze at the 2014-15 men’s FIH Hockey world league
Gold in the 2016 Asian men’s hockey champions trophy
Bronze at 2017 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Bronze in the 2017 Hockey World League Finals held in Bhubaneshwar
Bronze in the 2018 Asian Games, held in Jakarta.
Rupinder has endured injuries and the subsequent uncertainties of losing his place in the side in the wake of stiff competition from the upcoming juniors, during the rehab period, once too often. A hamstring injury in his right leg just before the Hockey World League Semifinal in London, 2017, saw him out of the contention of the playing eleven. He won his place back in the team for Hockey World League (HWL) Final in Bhubaneswar as he regained fitness.
He again found himself out of favour for the team announced for the Hockey World Cup to be played in the country, Nov-Dec, 2018. The most experienced drag-flicker in the team, his omission from the team for the Hockey World Cup 2018 was rued as well by one of the best defenders the country has produced, former captain Sardar Singh. As he shared to the news portal, First Post, “Experience is the key in such tournaments. A player of Rupinder Pal Singh’s calibre deserved a chance because ultimately, it all boils downs to pressure. And with his experience, Rupinder could have been a real asset,”
“Skillwise also, Rupinder offers a lot. He can initiate a quick turnover and can foil counter-attacks. He would have been a real asset.
Rupinder returned for the tour of Australia in April 2019, before being dropped again for the FIH Series Final, hosted in the country, in June. Out of favour for the team owing to a wrist injury and subsequent rehabilitation and pushed out with the mushrooming competition of talented juniors staking their place in the senior side, Rupinder has had to duct through the negativity of being dropped. The selectors looked at fitness besides the form of the available pool of players to send India’s core team to series being played outside the country. Rupinder has had to overcome pressures at all. The keenness of selectors to pick players who could provide value at multiple positions did not help him come early in contention either.
Dropped from the team after the 2018 Asian Games, the Olympic Test Event, August 2019 in Tokyo and FIH Men’s Series Finals, an unrelenting Rupinder has always roared his way back with form and fitness and as a player, motivated than before. He is raring to prove himself again for the Olympics Qualifiers beginning November, 2019.
