Come August, only one will be able to live it. Devinder, the younger sibling by a year, made the cut when the 16-member men's hockey team for the upcoming Rio Games was announced in New Delhi on Tuesday.
During this month last year, the Walmiki brothers, Devinder and Yuvraj, were singing the national anthem alongside each other while playing hockey at the international stage for the first time ever. At that time, the Hockey World League semifinal, they had another dream – of doing the same together at the Olympics.
Come August, only one will be able to live it. Devinder, the younger sibling by a year, made the cut when the 16-member men's hockey team for the upcoming Rio Games was announced in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Yuvraj, who has been sidelined from the team for quite some time now, expectedly found no place. But true to their brotherly spirit, Devinder picked up the phone and spoke with his brother first after his selection.
"This Olympic spot is a gift to my brother," the 25-year-old Devinder told dna on Tuesday. "Yuvraj dreamt of this, and I have fulfilled it today. He's a proud brother, really happy about my selection when I spoke with him. And he should be, for he has been my idol ever since I picked up the stick."
In many ways, Devinder is fulfilling his elder brother's ambition. Despite being part of the national team for more than five years, Yuvraj couldn't get his name next to the Olympian tag. He was set for his maiden appearance at the Games in 2012 but a hamstring injury ended his hopes. This time, he found himself sidelined despite making a comeback last year.
"Devinder has healed my pain of missing out in 2012 as well as this time," Yuvraj said. "I'm really happy for him, because he is carrying the legacy of the Walmiki family forward. Till noon on Tuesday, I was the one who had played the biggest tournament in hockey from our family, which is the World Cup. Now, it will be Devinder. And though I've been a constant guide for him since his younger days, the entire credit for his should go to him," the 26-year-old Yuvraj added.
It, indeed, should. From picking up the sport at the age of nine to shining for his local clubs – Bombay Republicans, Union Bank of India, Air India – to graduating from junior to senior national team, Devinder's rise has been tremendous. That he made the Olympic squad after having made his senior debut only last year gives credence to that fact.
"Once I got selected for the senior team, I told myself that it's show time for the next one year. Obviously, I didn't expect to be a part of the Olympic squad then, but I just took it match and match, and I feel I did a decent job," Devinder said.
The midfielder is the only hockey player from Mumbai to make the squad for the 2016 Olympics. "It's a really special feeling to be the only player to represent my city as well as my state. Dhanraj Pillay was in New Delhi during the squad announcement, and he came and hugged me after my name was selected. That just made my day," Devinder, who has been coached by Mezbaan Patel as well as Pillay during his club days, said.
True to his attitude, the Mumbaikar isn't satisfied by just becoming an Olympian. He wants to play a big part in achieving history for the country.
"My personal target is the same as the team target: I want to finish at the podium. It's going to be challenging, but I want to make an impact whenever I get a chance. This is just the beginning for me," Devinder said.
Bet his elder brother will agree.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Devinder")
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}