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Keegan Pereira keeps the migrants' flag flying high
Canadian hockey player Keegan Pereira keeps the hopes of the migrants flying high
Keegan in a game / LinkedIn
Keegan Pereira, who is one of two players of Indian origin, representing Canada in the ongoing Santiago 2023 Pan Am Games, has achieved a rare distinction. He has 202 caps to his credit, two more than the team captain, Gordon Johnston.
Canada sits at the top of the table with two wins from as many matches while the arch-rivals and neighbours, the US, is placed second with a win and a loss.
It was Gordon Johnston who scored a penalty corner goal to celebrate his 200th cap in the match against the US on Friday.
Both teams are represented well by the migrant Indian community. Canada has two while the US has four players of Indian origin in its ranks.
Ajai Dhadwal is leading the US team while other players of Indian origin in the US team are Mohan Gandhi, Parmeet Paul Singh, and Mehtab Grewal. The chief coach of the US team is Harendra Singh, who was earlier chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team.
“I got my 200th cap in the last Commonwealth Games,” says Keegan who immigrated to Canada from Mumbai in India when he was only nine. “Canada has been my home now for the past 20 years. It is an honour to represent the country of my present abode,” he says hoping that “Canada will make it to the 2024 Olympic games by winning the hockey gold medal at Santiago. “We are well within a chance. Our last pool game is against young and fit Trinidad and Tobago,” he said in a brief interaction with New Canadian Media.
He agrees that the representation of the players of Indian origin in the Canadian team has come down as most of the senior players, including Sukhpal Panesar, have taken a break.
Sukhpal and his brother, Balraj, have been regular in the Canadian hockey team for the past several years. This time only Balraj is playing for Canada in Santiago.
Balbir Panesar, the father of Sukhpal and Balraj, who is also in Santiago to watch his younger son play in the 2023 edition of the Pan Am Games, is hopeful of Canada making the grade.
“Sukhpal has taken a break as he is concentrating on his work,” reveals Balbir Singh. Accompanying him to Santiago is his wife.
Sukhpal and Balraj play for the United Club in Surrey. They are among several players of Indian origin who have donned Canadian colours in various international hockey tournaments, including the Summer Olympic Games and the World Cup for men.
“You will see more players of our community – migrants from India – in the ensuing FIH Junior World Cup for men to be played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in December,” says Keegan Pereira.
“In Santiago, we also have Harbir Sidhu as a standby. In case we need a replacement, he will join the squad,” adds Keegan Pereira.
According to the International Hockey Federation, the teams winning the continental championships including the Pan Am Games will get direct entry to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris next year.
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