Manpreet Singh is an Indian field hockey player, who took over the captaincy of the Indian men’s national field hockey team on 18 May 2017. The halfback player gained huge popularity when India won the bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics (Tokyo) under his captaincy. First Olympic medal in field hockey since 1980.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Manpreet Singh was born on Friday, 26 June 1992 (age 31 years; as of 2023), and hails from Mithapur, Punjab. Located on the outskirts of Jalandhar city, Mithapur is famous for its hockey heritage, having nurtured famous Indian hockey legends like Swaroop Singh, Kulwant Singh and Padma Shri awardee Pargat Singh. As a result, Manpreet dreamed of pursuing a career as a professional hockey player since childhood. Keen to learn the game, he spent his childhood playing hockey with his elder brothers. While sharing an incident from his childhood in an interview, he said,
One day, when I was 10 years old, when I was about to leave for coaching, my brother locked me in a room. However, I managed to get out and join him at the coaching ground. My brother got angry and was about to hit me, but the coach said I should be given a chance to learn the game because I am very curious.
The achievements of former Indian hockey team captain Pargat Singh ignite Manpreet’s passion for hockey. Talking about his inspiration in an interview, Manpreet said,
My first inspiration to play the game came from Pargat Singh, former captain of the Indian hockey team and DSP of my district…Also, I was attracted by the rewards my brothers received when they won matches.”
When Manpreet’s family was going through financial instability, Pargat took care of their needs. In 2005, he joined the Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar, considered one of the best sports institutes in India.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 6”
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family and ethnicity
Manpreet Singh was born in a middle-class Sikh family.
parents and siblings
When Manpreet was young, his father Baljeet Singh had to leave his job because he was suffering from mental health problems. His mother Manjeet Kaur was forced to do various odd jobs to support her family. Although his mother was not initially supportive of his decision to play hockey, she joined in when Manpreet earned her first cash prize of Rs 500 by playing hockey.
Manpreet Singh’s parents
Manpreet received the news of his father’s death on 6 April 2016, hours before the opening match between Japan and India in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. As a result, Manpreet was flown back to India midway through the tournament to undergo death rituals. While he was still mourning his father’s death, his mother encouraged him to return to tournaments. Describing this incident with a heavy heart, he said in an interview,
My mother told me that my father always wanted me to do my best on the field, so I should go back and play well. And my teammates and even members of the rival teams helped and supported me during those tragic days.
Manpreet Singh with his mother
As a tribute to Manpreet’s father, the Australian team observed a minute’s silence and wore black armbands during their match with India in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (2016). His elder brothers, Amandeep Singh and Sukhraj Singh, are former skilled hockey players who played for Punjab in national level championships. Due to poor financial condition of his family, Amandeep went to Germany. Later, with the help of Manpreet’s idol-cum-godfather Pargat Singh, Amandeep moved to Italy, where he worked as a truck driver.
Manpreet Singh with his brother Amandeep Singh
Manpreet Singh’s family members
wife and children
On 16 December 2020, Manpreet Singh tied the knot with his longtime Malaysian-Pakistani girlfriend, Illy Najwa Saddiqui. The two first met in 2013 when India’s junior men’s team won the Sultan of Johor Cup. After the win, Saddiqui, an avid fan of field hockey, approached the team for a photo. After dating for a year, the couple got engaged in 2014.
Manpreet Singh and Illi Najwa Saddiqui
Saddiqui inherited his passion for sports from his mother, who was also a hockey player. In an interview, Manpreet revealed that Saddiqui is his best critic. He said,
And Eli is my best critic. He is completely honest with me. This does not mean that she looks down on me. Instead, she inspires me.”
livelihood
international
junior field hockey
Manpreet Singh first demonstrated his leadership skills when he was named captain for the Junior Asia Cup in Myanmar in 2008, which was his international debut. Due to an injury in 2009, he had to stay away from the game for almost a year. In 2013, he served as the captain of the Indian junior men’s field hockey team at the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup. In the same year, his remarkable captaincy led the Indian team to win the gold medal in the 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup held in Malaysia. In the tournament, the Indian men’s team made its way to the gold medal by defeating England, Argentina, Pakistan, South Korea and finally the host country Malaysia 3-0.
senior field hockey
In 2011, Manpreet made his senior debut at the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy, China, where the Indian men’s hockey team became champions. He represented India at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which took place in London, UK. The Jalandhar player was part of the gold-winning Indian team in the Asian Games (2014), which defeated arch-rival Pakistan 4-2 in the final match. Later, in the same year, he was part of the Indian team that earned a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland after losing 4–0 to Australia in the final match. In the international field hockey tournament HCT (Hockey Champions Trophy), India reached the final after 38 years and won the silver medal after losing 3-1 to Australia. During the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (2016), in between the tournaments, Manpreet had to return to India to complete the rituals of his father’s death. Although India managed to win the first match of Japan vs India by 1-2 in Manpreet’s absence, the Indian team lost against world champions Australia by 1-5. On April 10, 2016, he returned to the tournament and played in the Canada vs India match which India won 1–3. He came into limelight for scoring a goal within the first 4 minutes of the Pakistan vs India match, which India won 1–5. Although India did not win the cup, they finished second after a 4–0 defeat against Australia. After he was appointed captain of the Indian men’s hockey team on 18 May 2017, the country witnessed several spectacular victories, including gold at the 2017 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup, silver at the 2018 Champions Trophy and gold at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy. , Under his captaincy, India also won bronze medals at the Men’s FIH Hockey World League Final (2017) and Asian Games (2018). At the 2020 Summer Olympics, under his captaincy India won the bronze medal, the first Olympic medal in hockey since 1980.
Indian men’s team posing with the bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics
domestic
During the 2014 Hockey India League, he was a member of the team ‘Ranchi Rhinos’. He has played for the BPCL team (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited), which won the Scindia Gold Cup Hockey Tournament (2014) held in Gwalior by defeating Central Railways 3–1.
Manpreet, with his BPCL team, at the Scindia Gold Cup hockey tournament (2014)
He was a part of the champion team ‘Ranchi Rays’ in the 2015 Hero Hockey India League.
Manpreet Singh posing with the Hero Hockey India League trophy along with Illy Najwa Sadiq.
Awards and Honors
- Asia’s Junior Player of the Year (2014)
- Earned the title of Midfielder of the Year at the Hockey India Annual Awards (2015)
- AHF (Asian Hockey Federation) Player of the Year (2015)
- Arjuna Award (2018)
Manpreet Singh receiving the Arjuna Award (2019) from Honorable President of India Ram Nath Kovind
- FIH (Fédération Internationale de Hockey) Player of the Year (2019)
- Hockey India Dhruv Batra Player of the Year Award (2019)
- Earned the title of Player of the Decade at the ACES Awards (2021)
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2021)
Favorite
- Sports: Hockey, Football
- Hockey Players: Moritz Fürste, Sardar Singh, Pargat Singh
- Football players: Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Eden Hazard
- Football Club: Real Madrid CF
- Movies: Chak De! India (2007), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
- Exercise: Leg Press and Squats
Facts/General Knowledge
- In 2018, German sportswear company Adidas announced Manpreet Singh as its brand ambassador in India. Additionally, he is the ambassador of the online hockey platform called Scord, which aims to connect hockey players, coaches, fans and clubs. Furthermore, he is one of the Red Bull sponsored athletes on the social media platform.
- For his remarkable performance on the hockey field, he was awarded the rank of DSP in Punjab Police by the Government of Punjab.
Manpreet Singh in Punjab Police uniform
- Born to a farmer father, Manpreet hailed from humble beginnings. He follows his inspiration Cristiano Ronaldo’s belief that one should always remember one’s roots. In an interview he said,
I have read a lot of books about Ronaldo and have also seen films related to him. Ronaldo says that even when you are successful, you should never forget your humble beginnings. I completely follow that philosophy.
- Apart from being an accomplished hockey player, he is also a PlayStation enthusiast. While talking about his important qualities in an interview, he said,
The one thing I take with me wherever I go is my PlayStation. I always carry it with me wherever I go. Be it our training camps or international tours, I carry my PlayStation with me.”
- For the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Manpreet carried the flag for India.
- In an interview, Manpreet’s mother had revealed that in childhood, due to his fast speed, his fellow players used to call him ‘Korean’. Apparently, in those days, Korean hockey players were known for their speed. He also told that Manpreet’s surname is ‘Money’.
- His hobbies include meditating, yoga, listening to music, playing PlayStation, hanging out with friends and watching movies.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn