Team India hockey player and Steadfast Athlete Suraj Karkera has delivered several medal-winning performances for India as a goalkeeper- most notably helping his team clinch the bronze at the Asia cup 2022 and one at the National Games the same year. Suraj debuted in the senior Indian Men’s Hockey team in 2017 at the xxx championship in Belgium (Pls name the championship). The 28-year-old was a part of the gold-medal winning squad at the Asia Cup 2017- India won the gold after 10 years in the tournament. He helped his team win the bronze at the World Hockey League 2017 championship in Bhubaneswar against the top eight teams and one at the Asian Champions Trophy 2021 where he was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
Suraj was born on October 14, 1995, in Mumbai. He did his schooling at the Children's Academy in Malad and graduated in Commerce from Rizvi College in 2022. The turning point in his life was in 2014 when Suraj played in the junior nationals. He was called for the junior men’s hockey camp in Delhi in 2015. His journey as a hockey player for team India took off.
Suraj made his debut for the Indian junior team in 2015 and was a part of the team on several tours. He helped team India clinch a silver medal in the Junior Asia Cup 2015, a gold in the Four Nations Cup 2016, and a gold in the Hockey India League (year). Suraj debuted in the senior team the following year. In 2017 he has joined Indian Army through sports quota and is currently serving in the Indian army as a junior commissioned officer.
Suraj revealed he initially used to play football. His coach advised him to try goalkeeping since he was good at it. Suraj has had his share of challenges. It was not easy to acquire a kit since he didn’t have a sponsor. It was a difficult task for him.
Suraj’s association with Steadfast Nutrition goes back to 2018. He is all praise for the brand for backing upcoming athletes and not just established ones.
“Steadfast has always kept me stacked with good quality nutrition. Even during the Covid pandemic, I always received my stack on time, a blessing in times of crisis. The amount of research that goes into developing Steadfast products is great and is backed by solid data. I am happy to see that Steadfast is associated not just with established athletes but also with upcoming ones. because the upcoming ones are the ones who need the most support,” Suraj says.
Suraj’s favourite Steadfast Nutrition supplements include the protein supplements Incredible Whey and MiCasein and Multivitamin, which help him recover and improve his performance.
“My favourite products are Incredible Whey, Micasein and Multivitamin, which help me reach my goals.Nutrition plays a big role in fitness. I am happy that Steadfast Nutrition helps me with all my nutrition. A healthy mind and body are required to tackle the challenges ahead. Being a hockey player can get tedious at times and drain one of energy. MiCasein shields against muscle breakdown by providing all the essential amino acids required for muscle recovery, a crucial aspect of life as a player. Consuming micellar casein protein enhances the recovery and repair of cells by providing all the required amino acids. Whey is also an important part of building muscle, for which I take Incredible Whey, a blend of whey protein concentrate and isolate. Taurine in Incredible Whey has strong antioxidant properties while alpha-lipoic acid minimises tissue damage”.
Suraj hopes to win more medals for the country. He aims to help his team win a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
