New Delhi. Shahrukh Khan’s ardent fan Aditya Arjun Lalge was so impressed by the film ‘Chak De India’ that he decided to become a hockey player despite no one in his family having any connection with the game and now he is going to be a hockey player in this week’s two matches against Germany. Getting a chance to debut in the Indian team through Test.
Lalge, who belongs to a farmer family from Satara, Maharashtra, has got a place in the Indian team for the two Test matches to be held against Germany on October 23 and 24 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. 21 year old young forward Lalge, who scored three goals in six matches for the Indian team which finished fourth in the Junior Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur last year, said in an interview to Bhasha, “I have been a fan of Shahrukh Khan since childhood. I saw the film ‘Chak De India’ in which he became a hockey coach and only after that I became interested in playing hockey.”
He also wishes to meet Shahrukh one day. He said, “I have never met him yet but I want to meet him one day.” Aditya, the youngest of four siblings, started playing hockey at the age of ten at the Maharashtra Government Academy in Pune and the family supported him fully in this.
He said, “Even though no one in my family played, I was given complete freedom to play.” This made my journey easier.” Aditya, who considers Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh as his role model, aims to play in the Olympics and win a gold medal. He said, “Harmanpreet Singh is my role model in hockey who plays brilliantly without taking pressure. It was a lot of inspiration to see the team winning the bronze medal under his captaincy in the Paris Olympics. “In the future, I also want to play Olympics and win a gold medal.” Olympic medalist players like Mandeep, Sukhjeet, Abhishek are in the Indian forward line and now there is very healthy competition for every spot but Aditya considers it a positive.
He said, “This healthy competition inspires best performance.” There is very good coordination between everyone inside and outside the field. The captain and coach have also asked me to play openly. He also said that with two consecutive Olympic medals and the start of the Hockey India League, the future of Indian hockey looks very good.
He said, “The matches against Germany will be good and victory will not be difficult if you give your 100 percent.” Now this Indian team has the power to defeat any team in the world. “We do not concede goals in the last minute and are winning the matches by coming back from behind.” Aditya, who is going to play for SG Pipers Delhi in the Hockey India League which is returning after seven years, did not get a chance to play with Sreejesh but Sreejesh will be the mentor of his team in the league. He said, “I could not play with him but hopefully I will learn a lot from him in the league.” He is a legend and it is a matter of pride to be in his team.”