Former junior captain hopes to participate in hil next season, says he doesn't regret his wsh stint.
In 2011, after leading the Indian junior hockey team in a six-nation tournament in Malaysia, 18-year-old Devendra Walmiki had dreamt of playing alongside his brother Yuvraj in the senior national team. More than a year on, his wait continues.
Speaking to DNA after his side Central Railway drubbed Sports Authority of India 5-1 in a Super Division encounter of the MHAL League, Devendra was almost at a loss of words to explain his wait on the sidelines.
“I was removed from the junior team after participating in the inaugural edition of the World Series Hockey. But I kept performing in the local leagues and waited for a chance to showcase my talent,” he said, adding he did not regret playing the WSH.
The Mumbaikar, who lives in a small shanty in Marine Lines with his family, had to go through some tough times in the past year, with even his brother being overlooked for the Olympic squad.
But things are looking better this year. He switched to Central Railway from Air India due to better prospects, and is a part of a larger pool of 48 players identified for the national team as standbys. It does not satisfy the right-winger, though. “I want to get into the Indian team and if the selectors know me well and have seen me, it will happen soon,” he said.
Also on his radar is a stint in the Hockey India League, which he wasn’t a part of. “I hope to play the league next season. Such leagues are good in terms of hockey as well as the money involved,” he added.
With Yuvraj, too, fighting to return to the team after being excluded for the ongoing Hockey World League Round 2 in New Delhi, Devendra hopes it will be a happy ending for both the brothers. “It’s still my dream to play with him in the national team, and I’m sure it will happen,” he said.
Stopwatch: Central Railway 5 (S Topno 24th; A Mirza 27th, 66th; N Bahadur 31st; R Yadav 64th) bt SAI 1 (A Khaire 3rd)
@RutvickMehta
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