Sardar Singh opens up about Khel Ratna nomination, preparations for Tokyo Olympics

Bengaluru, Aug 4: Sardar Singh is elated after his name was recommended for the prestigious Rajiv Khel Ratna award but the India's hockey star is setting his focus on the imminent future.

He was caught up over phone from Bengaluru where he had just finished training session at the ongoing senior national preparatory camp.

Having represented India for consecutive 13 years and being bestowed with several laurels such as Padma Shree and Arjuna awards, the 31-year-old still feels scared that upcoming breed of junior national players might supersede him in terms of fitness and performance with the stick!

The former and youngest senior Indian captain said, "I had the same thought after getting Padma and Arjuna award. I used to tell myself that you must have to be the fittest player in the preparatory camp."

Even at the age of 31, Sardar has been scoring the maximum points in the beep test at the preparatory camp.

He informed, "In the last beep test, measured in the national preparatory camp I scored 20.3!"

The top scorer in the test was Harmanpreet Singh with 20.5. Sardar now wants to take this score to 21 before the next preparatory camp ends before the World Cup.

In a bid to maintain the depth of his fitness and endurance, the crafty midfielder has recently appointed a personal dietitian, fitness trainer and masseur.

He revealed, "The senior national team, comprising a couple of new faces in the team will be going to Europe on Sunday and we have been asked to go on a holiday. So, after returning home I will resume fitness training under the observation of personal trainers.

"At the same time I have been maintaining my diet. I have left oily food in spite of the fact that in there is a lot of spicy and attractive Punjabi food," he said.

Sardar did not forget to mention that he will be extremely happy if he receives the country's most prestigious sporting award and that it will inspire him to continue till 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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