Gurjot said about this experience, “The atmosphere in the senior team is very good, all the seniors are like big brothers. My debut in the Asian Champions Trophy was a dream come true, I was excited to play against China. I thought I would score a goal in my debut match, but even though I couldn’t, I gave my best. Before the match, Captain Harmanpreet Singh had assured me that there was no need to overthink or fear. I just had to play the way I usually do in the camp.”
Gurjot is from a small village in Punjab called Hussainabad. His father sells milk in a nearby village, his mother is a homemaker, and his sisters are studying.
Got freedom in school in the name of hockey
In childhood, Gurjot was very mischievous. When he was 6 years old, he had a near-fatal bicycle accident. He got seven stitches on the back of his head due to the accident. He said, “After the accident, I was a bit weak for a few years, but when I was 10, I fully recovered and started studying in a nearby government school. In school, I saw that children who played hockey got a bit more freedom. They would come late to class and leave early for practice, so I thought why not try my hand at this sport.” By 2020, Gurjot had to work in a footwear factory to support his family’s expenses. He would practice in the morning and work at night. Despite these challenges, he has come a long way.