Varun finds the right path

Academics or professional sport? This is a question that often haunts aspiring athletes in India. While many tend to go with academics and an assured career path that it promises, there are a few who end up taking the latter and chart their own career. Varun Kumar is one among them.

Up until fifth standard, studies took prominence for this young lad from Mithapur, a village in Jalandhar. And why wouldn’t it be? His father was a truck driver, mother a housewife and his elder brother, an aspiring army officer. A decent job and a decent salary were his only aims in life. Though he used to play hockey, a career in the game was never in his sights.

But then, a scholarship took him to Baba Uttam Singh Hockey Academy in Amritsar and things started changing. “There was a stage when I was really confused. In Amritsar, I was doing well in both studies and hockey. I didn’t want to sacrifice either of them,” said Varun.

“But then things slowly started changing. I used to spend more time on the pitch than in the classroom, and that’s the reason where I am here today.”

The 21-year-old is now a vital cog in the Indian team preparing for the Junior World Cup in Lucknow. Known to be a clean defender, Varun is likely to form the Indian rearguard along with Harmanpreet Singh. The duo will also shoulder the responsibility of getting India goals from penalty corners. Something the Punjab player is really looking forward to.

“I am all charged up, just can’t wait for it to get started. I have had a good run so far in the tournaments we have played and the team has also done well. And I hope we continue our form at the World Cup too.

Though he was not fortunate enough to break into the senior team this season, Varun has had a fine run on the junior circuit. After quality performances in the Australian Hockey League followed by another good show at the four-nation invitational tournament in Valencia, the 21-year-old is brimming with confidence.

“I would say, both the outings -- in Australia and Spain -- were good. Spain in particular because it was our last tournament before the World Cup. It was a learning experience, where we made mistakes, corrected it and tried avoiding it in the next game. But above all, I think, the two wins over Germany – the defending world champions –helped us a lot in believing in our abilities,” remarked the drag flicker.