Exclusive/ Indian hockey goalkeeper Suraj Karkera reflects on consecutive Asian Champions Trophy wins

India’s men’s hockey team has been riding a wave of success. After claiming the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics , the Indian team led by Harmanpreet Singh went on to win the gold medal at the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in China. One name that stands out in this journey is Suraj Karkera. The young goalkeeper has recently cemented his place in the national team, stepping into the shoes of Indian hockey legend PR Sreejesh. 

Also Read: Harmanpreet Singh nominated for FIH Player of the Year after Olympic bronze heroics

Suraj Karkera opens up on recent wins and Indian hockey's future 

In an exclusive interview to Republic Media Network, Suraj Karkera opened up about India’s triumph in the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy , where they clinched the title for the second consecutive time, and how the team is gearing up for future challenges.

Q. How does it feel to have won the Asian Champions Trophy for the second consecutive time?

A. It feels great to win the Champions trophy for the second consecutive time. I think the competition in Asian Hockey has grown and every team is a fighting team and a great team to play against with. I think it’s great winning a tournament after the Olympics , We have been very successful in this tournament winning all our matches.

Q. Can you take us through the final match against China? What was going through your minds?

A. The final match is always exciting. The crowd was packed and China had a lot of supporters in the crowd, Being a home team china fought very well and restricted us in our attack but we came through, found a way, scored a goal and won the match. The final match was really exciting.

Q. How does this victory set you up for the upcoming major tournaments?

A. Every victory counts. I think every victory builds confidence in you and it helps you to better your skills in the coming matches and it is very important when playing major tournaments. Yes, victory does play a key role in building the confidence of all the players.

Q. Suraj, as a goalkeeper, can you share your perspectives on how your roles contributed to the team's success in this tournament?

A. As a goalkeeper you get to see the whole field from behind. You know what the team is attacking and what is their strong side and what is their weak side and as a goalkeeper you command down instructions you tell the defence what is needed, and You tell the players to mark man to man that completely is a defensive role for a man and I think we defended very well throughout our tournament and it was a great thing to win Asian Championship.

Q. How does the team plan to build on this momentum and prepare for future challenges?

A. After the team's success in the Olympics the team has been growing and we have not stopped working hard. I think it is a big responsibility after winning this tournament to keep this momentum going and to play well in the international circuit.

Q. What message would you like to share with your fans and supporters back home?

A. I think the supporters back home were great. I think in every match we get best of the support and a lot of confidence and people were cheering for us. The support was brilliant as usual. Nowadays people support, They track sports and keep watch on a team and the support is always been great.

Q. Can you tell us about a particularly memorable moment or a turning point in the tournament for you?

A. In the memorable moment is of course winning a tournament. But it was special because it was the 50th Match and I played my 50th Match in the final and I think it was a very special moment for me.

Q. What's a typical day like for you in terms of diet and nutrition? How do you fuel your bodies for optimal performance on the field?

A. In terms of diet and nutrition, you know as a professional sport what your body needs throughout the day on match days and I rely on the nutritional support provided by Steadfast Nutrition to improve my performance on the field. 

Also Read: 'Every save I made in Olympics ...': PR Sreejesh Dedicates All His Saves in Paris Olympics to India

India dominated the tournament, winning all their matches. However, the final match against hosts China was anything but easy. The Chinese team, backed by a fervent home crowd, made it a challenging encounter. India eventually defeated the hosts 1-0 to win the title. With the victory in the Asian Champions Trophy under their belts, Karkera and the Indian hockey team are now looking ahead to their future challenges.