Hockey India League 2024: Jeremy Hayward excited for reunion with Harmanpreet Singh at Soorma Hockey Club

Hockey India League 2024: Jeremy Hayward excited for reunion with Harmanpreet Singh at Soorma Hockey Club

Jeremy Hayward had 30-odd international caps and the tag of a world champion to his name when the 21-year-old was picked by Dabang Mumbai for the 2015 season of the Hockey India League (HIL). The Australian defender went on to represent the same side in the next two seasons as well before the league shut down.

After seven years, HIL is set to make its much-awaited return in a revamped form. And a much improved and experienced Hayward – who won two Commonwealth Games gold medals, two FIH Pro League titles and an Olympic silver medal since 2017 – is also going to take part in it. 

Just like he did at Dabang Mumbai, Hayward is going to form the defensive unit of the same team with Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh – the Soorma Hockey Club.

“It was a really good experience last time. I was on the same team as Harmanpreet and Gurjant (Singh). Now, I’m playing with them again. You make really good friends with the Indians and all the other international players. It also gives the chance to experience India in a different manner and to explore the country. Things that India has to offer are really quite special and I was really happy and grateful that I got the opportunity to come back,” Hayward told  Sportstar.

At Rs 42 lakh, Hayward is one of the top five overseas picks this time. However, the 31-year-old does not feel that it is something that is going to be at the back of his mind while playing. “There’s always pressure but when I play hockey, I do it for fun. I do it for the love of the game and for the competition. If I’m playing for lots of money or a little bit of money, I would treat it no differently. Of course, there’s pressure, but I think I will just enjoy the moment,” he said.

For Hayward and Australia, it has been a year of major disappointment. The team did clinch its second FIH Pro League title but it could not retain or upgrade its silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics and finished sixth in Paris.

The campaign also included a 3-2 defeat to India, its first loss to the tricolour nation at the Summer Games in more than 50 years. Hayward appreciated India’s performance and also admitted that the Kookaburras are set for a transition period.

“You have to give credit to India. They are improving. They are definitely one of the best in the world. The Pro League and stuff like that are bringing the top teams much closer together. Belgium, Netherlands, Argentina, India, Australia, or even Great Britain could have won that tournament in Paris,” said Hayward.

“Yes, a disappointing result for us. We started our transition period after the Olympics and are getting ready for the cycle of Los Angeles 2028 because we have a few retirements and changes in the squad. So, it’s gonna be an exciting period,” he added.

Five members of Australia’s Olympic squad – skipper Aran Zalewski, Andrew Charter, Matthew Dawson, Edward Ockenden and Jake Whetton – have already retired while a new head coach, Mark Hager has been appointed.

Hayward had a small holiday following the Olympics before he went to Germany to play the first half of the Bundesliga season with Der Club an der Alster, scoring 12 goals – joint third-highest.

He returned to Australia for a little rest but is now ready to make his presence felt once again in the HIL.