When she played, Pritam Siwach was fiery on the field — aggressive, attacking, unstoppable. At the ongoing Pro League matches in Bhubaneswar, Yashdeep Siwach is the exact opposite — calm, defensive, and entrusted with stopping the opposition.
The 23-year-old, who debuted for India at the 2022 Asia Cup, has waited for another chance while striving to meet his mother’s standards – a bona fide legend in every way, both as a player and coach. So far, in the two games he has played here, Yashdeep has been impressive with his positioning, composure, and game intelligence.
“I try to be aggressive, though not as much as her, of course. But she was a centre-forward – she could get away with it. As a defender, I need to stay calm, or I will end up making mistakes,” he laughed.
Unlike in other countries, hockey players in India do not commonly encourage their children to take up the sport. In the Siwach household, however, hockey is a way of life. Pritam’s husband, Kuldeep, is also a former player, and together they run the Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy. Their daughter, Kanika, is also part of the national camp and, by all accounts, on the cusp of earning an India cap sooner rather than later.
It hasn’t been easy, though, this waiting. “But such is an athlete’s life – there was someone before you and someone after. So we are in or out. We all work hard and give our best in camps. Everyone knows the structure and the plans; you just have to wait for your opportunities and seize them when they come. As a team, we all keep track of what is happening in international hockey, and I take advantage of that,” Yashdeep admitted.
It helps to have parents who understand the struggle. “There is a comfort level, and I can talk to her openly about anything I might feel, on and off the field – about the game or otherwise. I know there is someone I can always turn to for mental relaxation, and she always helps me,” he added.
In the shadow of a legend
Pritam herself is clear on what her children need to do. “It’s a fact that whatever either of them achieve, there will always be the shadow of a hockey parent over them. They will have to prove themselves repeatedly, and I have told them they need to be prepared for it. They must carve out their own identity, separate from me. It won’t be easy, but it is necessary to refute any accusations of bias.
“Abroad, no one gives a second thought to a child following their parent into sports. Here, it is a challenge either way – if they play, there is a bias charge; if they don’t, their viability is questioned,” she said.
Yashdeep is aware of the challenge and is more than ready for it. “It might sound filmy, but my mum always says, ‘Tune Pritam Siwach ka doodh piya hai, tujhe Pritam ne pala hai. Main bahut aggressive thi field pe, woh tere khoon mein honi chahiye. Woh khundak honi chahiye hamesha ki kaise koi chala jaye beat kar ke.’ (You have been brought up by Pritam Siwach. That aggression should be in your blood, that indignation of how anyone can get past you.)
“It is there, but not as much as hers,” he smiled.
Pritam, an Arjuna awardee as a player and a Dronacharya awardee as a coach, continues to contribute to Indian hockey. Three of her girls were part of the Indian team at the Tokyo Olympics, 11 played in the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League, and five are with the national team in Bhubaneswar. She is currently overseeing trials for the Haryana women’s team ahead of the National Championships. And she is still learning.
“I want my kids to enjoy whatever they play. Yashdeep took up horse riding, played football, and even accompanied me as a seven-month-old when I was trying to get fit for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. He is also an excellent swimmer and even won silver at the Junior Nationals, which developed his leg strength and helped when he seriously decided to take up hockey.
Swimming to success
“And through him, I learnt that swimming is the mother lode of all sports. Every child should learn it for at least a year when starting out as a sportsperson – it builds overall strength and stamina that can help in any sport. I also learn a lot from my girls every day; it’s a never-ending process,” she explained.
The mother in her gets upset when Yashdeep makes a mistake. The coach in her is furious. “I feel it’s an advantage that there are eyes solely focused on me – a personal coach, as it were. I know whenever I go back to my room, she will call me, point out my mistakes, and try to help me improve,” Yashdeep said.
Pritam agreed. “It is difficult to strike that balance, but on the field, I am only a coach. At times, they complain about not getting preferential treatment during training, but when I’m on the job, everyone is my child,” she shrugged.