Indian Hockey Champion Sandeep Singh Inspires Students of Oakridge International School, Mohali

Be punctual. Be disciplined. Be sincere. Be a hard worker. Be positive. Be fearless. And, respect everything that life tosses at you. These are the key lessons Indian Hockey Player, Sandeep Singh learnt from his life experiences. “Nothing can break you if you have these lessons with you,” said Sandeep Singh a.k.a. Flicker Singh, the renowned Indian professional field hockey player from Haryana as he interacted with kids from the No.1 School in Punjab, Oakridge International School Mohali, as part of a talk series called OAK INSPIREON, where experts from various fields interact with kids and inspire them.

Sandeep Singh Interacts and Inspires Students at Oakridge International School, Mohali

He shared his motivational life journey with the kids from how he started playing hockey inadvertently to how he became a passionate hockey player. This 32-year-old Former captain of the Indian National Team has acquired a plethora of world records and awards at a very young age. Sandeep started playing for domestic hockey teams and made his international debut in 2004. He believes that to be a successful person, you should always keep setting higher goals and aim to achieve them. "You should always keep working hard, to be on top. And even if you are at the top of your achievements, maintain the stability,” said Sandeep as he addressed a packed classroom for students.

Sandeep Singh with Students at Oakridge International School, Mohali

At a point, the classroom became intense when he shared the darkest days of his life, as he has been accidentally gunshot while on his way to join the national team for the World Cup in Africa. The injury compelled him to take bed rest for a year. Against all odds, the passion for hockey and his “Never Give-up” attitude brought him back to the national and international tournaments. Under his captaincy, the Indian team managed to clinch the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup for the first time in 13 years in 2009, defeating Malaysia in the finals at Ipoh. Inspiring kids he also said, “Be a person to whom people will follow and admire.”

Speaking on the occasion, Oakridge Mohali Principal, Ms. Ramanjit Ghuman said, “At Oakridge, we believe in grooming successful and well settled global citizens. Hard work, grit and perseverance are the traits that are pivotal in achieving success in any field. In this context, children met and interacted with Sandeep Singh and were inspired by his determination and the spirit of following his dream and never giving up. The School believes in creating these learning opportunities for children where they will learn from real life heroes.”

Sandeep Singh concluded his inspiring talk with a few pieces of advice for kids,"You should always respect the two ideals of your life- parents & teachers. If you respect your ideals, life will respect you back and make you a successful being. Aim for bigger and better. Stay away from the tech-based games and dedicate yourself in physical activities which will not only help improve your lifestyle but also your health. Most importantly, avoid eating junk food, which will only harm your body and your ability to do things that you are capable of.”

Oakridge Mohali Campus has been Ranked no 1 Best International Day School in Punjab for the three consecutive years at the Education world rankings 2018, the most prestigious rankings in the education sector today. Oakridge is dedicated to nurturing responsive and motivated students through a dynamic and success-oriented education program. The program empowers students to gain an indigenous as well as global perspective on various aspects.