India’s star hockey player Sardar Singh and drag-flicker Sandeep Singh are set to play in the Euro Hockey League (EHL) for Dutch side Laren this year, subject to permission from Hockey India and their employers Haryana Police.
If everything goes according to plan, the duo expect to leave for The Netherlands in the first week of September for a period of two months, where they will get the opportunity to rub shoulders with the crème de la crème of world hockey.
“Both Sandeep and I have got offers to play for Laren in the Europe Hockey League. We will approach HI within a day or two for permission. We are just waiting for the contract papers to arrive,” Sardar told PTI.
“We will also need the NOC (No Objection Certificate) from Haryana Police with whom we are employed,” he said.
“If HI and Haryana Police permit us we will be leaving for Holland in the first week of September,” added the midfielder, who has been recomended for the Arjuna award this year. Both Sardar and Sandeep, who are close friends, are working as DSPs in the Haryana Police.
The EHL is an annual men’s hockey competition organised by the European Hockey Federation involving the top hockey clubs in Europe.
Featuring many of the world’s best players like Moritz Fuerste, Teun de Nooijer, Jamie Dwyer, Rob Short among others, the EHL is now seen as the pinnacle of club hockey in Europe -- hockey’s equivalent of the UEFA Champions League.