Indian men's hockey group midfielder Chinglensana Singh Kangujam said on Tuesday that is named for the Arjuna Award will motivate him to improve in upcoming competitions. The National Sports Awards are set to occur on Thursday and the 27-year-old is among the 19 competitors assigned for the Arjuna.
'It is a huge honour. I have taken pride in representing India, and having completed more than 200 international caps for India, this award motivates me to keep giving my all in the upcoming tournaments,' he said.
'I am grateful to everyone who has played a part in my journey so far.' The midfielder, who made his international debut for the senior group at the Champions Challenge in 2011, is one of only a few players in the present group to have finished in excess of 200 tops.
He hails from Manipur and is known for his poise and specialist in the middle. After making his debut, he won his first medal with the senior group at the 2013 Asia Cup where the group won the silver medal. He was additionally an individual from the group that won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
His first gold medal came at the 2014 Asian Games when India beat Pakistan 4-2 in the final.
'Indian hockey has evolved in the eight years I have been with the national team, and I feel that our domestic structure has also helped in making sure that we have a huge pool of players who can step up and play at the international level.'
