Hardik Singh will play for UP Rudras team in Hockey India League 2024-25 after being picked for Rs 70 lakh during the players’ auction in Delhi on Sunday.
Hardik was an important member of India’s bronze medal winning campaign at Paris Olympics.
Hardik’s base price was Rs 10 lakh. Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Team Gonasika and Tamil Nadu Dragons initially engaged in a bidding war for the services of the midfielder. Delhi SG Pipers and Hyderabad Toofans then joined them as the bidding went past Rs 35 lakh.
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However, it was the Lucknow franchise who got him eventually.
Trained by his uncle and former India drag-flicker Jugraj Singh, Hardik made his senior team debut at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, where India secured the gold medal. Five years later, at the same tournament, he was one of the stars of another gold medal-winning campaign.
Hardik, who hails from Khusropur village of Jalandhar district, was part of the Indian team that won the bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and he was also instrumental in the gold medal-winning campaign at the 2022 Asian Games.
