Mohammed Raheel Mouseen was a bundle of feelings. The 25-year-old was awash with nervousness, anxiousness, pleasure and worry as he sat in his lodge room in Bhubaneswar on the eve of his massive day–the Bengaluru participant was ready to debut for the Indian hockey crew.
That was when Raheel received a name from an outdated buddy and Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) hostel mate, to congratulate and in addition remind him of a narrative that calmed nerves and helped him smile.
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“I didn’t even realise. I got here right here to observe the 2014 Champions Trophy with my hostel mates and coach. It was the primary time I noticed a world match,” mentioned Raheel. “A few of our native (Karnataka) gamers like VR Raghunath and SK Uthappa had been taking part in. We put in our cash to journey and watched all matches, together with the India-Pakistan semi-final. I used to be amazed by the environment; I questioned what it could it’s prefer to play on the floor.”
Eight years later, Raheel made his worldwide debut on the Kalinga Stadium within the FIH Professional League. It was towards New Zealand in a well-fought 4-3 victory late final month. Raheel additionally performed towards Spain two days later, in a 2-3 loss for India.
“I regarded on the images from once we got here right here. It was a particular feeling to debut on the similar floor,” mentioned the participant, who works with the Comptroller and Auditor Common of India (CAG). “It was a dream come true. This was the second I used to be ready for and labored so laborious all these years.”
Hockey runs within the blood
It wasn’t tough for Raheel to take up hockey. His father Mohammed Naseeruddin performed the sport at nationwide stage for Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL). His elder brother Mohammed Naimuddin performed for CAG and in addition was in junior nationwide camps.
He represented his college hockey crew, after which Raheel pushed for a hockey profession when he joined the Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) hostel academy in Bengaluru as a 15-year-old in 2012. In these 4 years, Raheel sharpened his expertise, and gained important publicity at nationwide stage, taking part in within the junior nationals and different tournaments representing Karnataka.
Raheel’s performances impressed scouts at Air India, who signed a four-year contract with him in 2016. The centre striker guided Air India to the 2019 Lal Bahadur Shastri event title in Amritsar, ending as the best scorer and finest participant.
Raheel additionally helped Air India attain the senior nationals ultimate in 2020. The crew misplaced to Providers however he ended as the best goal-scorer and finest ahead. He performed for Karnataka within the 2021 nationals, this time ending with a bronze medal. The second win was significantly heartening after the ordeal in the course of the Covid pandemic when Raheel didn’t even get entry to the synthetic turf because of the strict restrictions in Bengaluru.
Third time fortunate
Raheel, whose father works with the Hindustan Aeronautical Restricted (HAL), was referred to as up for the primary time to the senior nationwide camp in 2018. He was dropped from the camp however returned the following 12 months. This time too he was axed after failing to impress the Indian crew administration.
It took him two extra years of high notch performances within the home circuit to be referred to as as much as the nationwide camp for a 3rd time, earlier this 12 months. This time Raheel made it depend, impressing India chief coach Graham Reid together with his expertise.
The Australian coach although determined to first check him by sending him to play Hockey 5s in Lausanne, Switzerland in June. Raheel ended up because the main scorer and Participant of the Event. He returned to information Karnataka to the Nationwide Video games gold final month in Rajkot following which he was lastly chosen within the 22-member India squd for the 2022-23 Professional League season.
“You recognize that feeling you get when you’re getting near your dream, the restlessness, the joy. I believed this was my final likelihood to get chosen and labored actually laborious to ensure I didn’t let this chance slip from my palms,” mentioned Raheel, who idolises former India internationals and state mates Arjun Halappa and VS Vinaya, who was additionally his coach at Karnataka.
Having realised his dream of taking part in for India, the following goal for Raheel, who acquired the ceremonial India cap from Reid forward of debut, is to attain his first objective for India.
“It was a very good match. It might have been a bit particular had I scored. I used to be anticipating to. There’s at all times one other day.”