KUALA LUMPUR – France men’s hockey captain Victor Charlet says his pursuit of excellence and longevity in sport is inspired by French handball legend Nikola Karabatić, whom he regards as a major influence on his career.
Charlet made the remarks after netting a hat-trick to help France edge past a spirited South African side 4-3 in a thrilling Group A encounter at the FIH Nations Cup, held at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
Speaking to Scoop after the match, the 31-year-old defender played down his individual achievement and instead emphasised his team’s progress in the tournament.
“We’ve picked up six points from our first two matches, and we’re pleased to have met our target of qualifying for the semi-finals,” he said.
“The final group match will also be tough, but we’ll approach it with the same mindset and intensity as the previous two.”
Despite being the standout performer, Charlet insisted that personal accolades come second to the team’s collective goals.
“I may have scored a hat-trick today, but it’s not about individual glory. As long as I’m playing for the team, I want to contribute by scoring goals to help us improve and become stronger.”
Charlet also opened up about his sporting role model, expressing a desire to emulate the career of three-time Olympic champion Karabatić.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest handball players in history, Karabatić won three Olympic gold medals, four World Championships, and four European titles with France. He was named World Player of the Year three times and was inducted into the European Handball Federation Hall of Fame in 2024.
“My inspiration is Karabatić. I want to have a long and successful career like his. I admire his physicality and discipline, which drives me to keep working hard and striving for more in hockey.”
Now ranked ninth in the world, France have secured their place in the semi-finals of the Nations Cup. Charlet is confident about the team’s prospects of earning promotion to the prestigious FIH Pro League.
“This is a new team, and we’re getting better with every match. I truly believe we have what it takes to reach the Pro League next season.”
France will conclude their group stage campaign with a match against Japan on Wednesday. – June 16, 2025