Om Kumar Yadav, a young forward from Basantpur, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, has earned the distinction of being the sole representative from his state at Hockey India's U-18 National Coaching Camp currently underway at SAI Bhopal. The teenage hockey prospect secured his berth after a standout performance at the 16th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2026 – Division 'B' held in Rajgir, Bihar earlier this month, where he netted an impressive six goals.

A Small-Town Journey That Began at Age Six

Yadav's hockey story started in the most organic way possible — watching his elder brothers play. His eldest sibling, Rinku Yadav, and another brother, Arjun Yadav, both currently train at the Lucknow Hockey NCOE (National Centre of Excellence), and their passion for the sport ignited Om Kumar's own love for the game.

"My eldest brother — Rinku Yadav — used to play hockey. I started playing after seeing him. I've always loved watching hockey, it's the only sport that I follow. My journey began when I was six years old, and I've been playing the game ever since," Yadav said.

This kind of grassroots inspiration — one sibling sparking another's sporting ambition — is a recurring story in India's hockey revival, particularly from non-traditional hockey states like Chhattisgarh, which has historically been overshadowed by powerhouses like Punjab, Odisha, and Jharkhand.

Harmanpreet Singh: The Idol Behind the Drive

Like many young Indian hockey players of his generation, Yadav draws deep inspiration from Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian Men's Hockey Team and a two-time Olympic Bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

"Harmanpreet Singh is my idol. The way he moves on the hockey field, the timing of his passes — he doesn't keep hold of the ball for too long. He's always got an eye for goal, whether it's from open play or the dragflick from set-pieces. Everything he does on the field inspires me a lot," Yadav stated.

The influence of Harmanpreet — a dragflick specialist and defensive stalwart — is visible in how Yadav approaches his own positional play, combining vision with a goal-scoring instinct that made him stand out in Rajgir.

Training at Khelo India Centre Under Former Olympian Ajit Lakra

In the lead-up to the Sub Junior National Championship, Yadav sharpened his skills at the Khelo India Centre in Bilaspur, training under the watchful eye of former Olympian Ajit Lakra. The structured coaching environment provided by the Khelo India initiative played a significant role in preparing him for the national stage.

This underscores the growing impact of Khelo India as a talent pipeline — especially in states like Chhattisgarh that lack the deep-rooted hockey infrastructure of traditional strongholds. Yadav's selection is, in many ways, a validation of that investment.

Learning Under Sardar Singh at the U-18 National Camp

At the SAI Bhopal camp, Yadav is now training under Sardar Singh, the legendary former Indian hockey captain and two-time Olympian, who serves as head coach of the U-18 setup. The experience has already proven transformative for the young forward.

"It has been five days since we joined the camp. Meeting Sardar Singh sir and interacting with him has been really special. So far, we're focusing on basics in the camp and also learning some new things. He makes us understand what we're doing wrong and is helping me improve my game on a personal level. So, it has been a great learning experience," Yadav shared.

The camp is a selection trial for the 24-player squad for the U-18 Asia Cup Kakamigahara 2026, scheduled to be held in Japan from May 29 to June 6, 2026. Before that, Yadav will also compete in matches against Australia's U-18 teams from May 11 to 21 — a crucial proving ground ahead of the Asia Cup squad announcement.

What Yadav's Rise Means for Indian Hockey's Geographic Expansion

Yadav's journey from Rajnandgaon to Bhopal is more than a personal success story — it signals a meaningful broadening of India's hockey talent map. Traditionally, Indian hockey has drawn its core talent from Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Manipur. The emergence of players from Chhattisgarh reflects the success of decentralised sports infrastructure programmes like Khelo India and NCOE in reaching underserved regions.

Notably, Hockey India's Sub Junior Division 'B' Championship format itself is designed to give states with developing hockey ecosystems competitive exposure at the national level — and Yadav's six-goal haul is proof that the model is producing results.

As Yadav continues to develop his passing range, spatial awareness, and goal-scoring ability under Sardar Singh's mentorship in Bhopal, all eyes will be on whether this young forward from a non-traditional hockey region can break into the U-18 Indian Men's Hockey Team and carry Chhattisgarh's flag on the international stage.