Quick Info→
Age: 31 Years
Hometown: Mithapur
Wife: Illi Najwa Saddique
Some Lesser Known Facts About Manpreet Singh
- Manpreet Singh is an Indian subject hockey participant who grew to become the captain of the Indian males’s nationwide subject hockey group on 18 May 2017. He rose to prominence in 2021 when India received a bronze medal within the 2020 Summer Olympics (Tokyo), the primary Olympic medal in subject hockey since 1980, beneath his captaincy.
- He was born in a Punjabi farming family in Mithapur village, located on the outskirts of Jalandhar metropolis of Punjab. The wealthy hockey legacy of the village has fostered Indian subject hockey veterans like Swarup Singh, Kulwant Singh, and Padma Shri awardee Pargat Singh. Therefore, Manpreet was intrigued by hockey and was eager to study the game since childhood. He grew up taking part in hockey together with his two elder brothers, skilful subject hockey gamers who performed for Punjab on the nationwide championships. In an interview, whereas remembering a childhood incident, he stated,
One day, once I was 10 years outdated, as I used to be about to go away for teaching, my brother locked me in a room. However, I managed to get out and be part of him on the teaching floor. My brother bought offended and was about to hit me, however the coach stated I must be given an opportunity to study the sport since I used to be so eager.”
- Manpreet’s mom, Manjeet Kaur, pursued a number of odd jobs to assist her family after his father suffered from psychological well being points and needed to stop his profession.
- During his childhood days, Manpreet’s mom wasn’t supportive of him taking part in hockey. She was anxious that Manpreet too may break his nostril throughout a recreation similar to his elder brother. His mom got here on board when his first hockey win earned him a money prize of Rs. 500. Thereafter, she determined to not hold him away from the sport.
- In 2005, he started coaching at Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar, thought-about certainly one of India’s greatest institutes for the game.
- Manpreet was impressed by the previous captain of the Indian hockey group Pargat Singh, who hails from Manpreet’s village, Mithapur. In an interview, he stated,
My first inspiration to play the sport got here from Pargat Singh, the previous captain of the Indian hockey group, and DSP of my district…Besides that, I used to be attracted by the prizes my brothers acquired after they received matches.”
Besides being Manpreet’s inspiration, Pargat Singh additionally performed the function of a godfather in his life. During Manpreet’s preliminary years, Pargat Singh took care of Manpreet and his family’s monetary wants. Pargat additionally helped Manpreet’s elder brother Amandeep to migrate to Germany.
- Although monetary constraints compelled his brothers to stop taking part in, Manpreet continued his journey as an expert subject hockey participant.
- Manpreet had his fair proportion of hardships earlier than securing his place within the Indian males’s subject hockey group. A knee damage in 2009 sidelined him for nearly a 12 months.
- In 2012, he represented India within the males’s subject hockey event on the 2012 Summer Olympics, held in London, UK.
- In 2013, he grew to become captain of the Indian junior males’s subject hockey group within the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup, held in New Delhi, India.
- Later, in the identical 12 months, he got here into the limelight when he captained the junior males’s group within the third Sultan of Johor Cup, held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. India’s junior group displayed extravagant abilities to defeat England, Argentina, Pakistan, and South Korea on this prestigious event. India defeated the host nation’s group, Malaysia, within the remaining match by 3-0 and earned the gold medal.
- In 2014, he was part of the BPCL Team, which received the Scindia Gold Cup Hockey Tournament after beating Central Railways by 3-1 in Gwalior.
- His efficiency paved the way in which for him into the senior Indian males’s hockey group. In 2014, he was part of the Indian group that secured a Gold medal within the Asian Games, defeating arch-rival Pakistan within the remaining match by 4-2.
- In the identical 12 months, the Jalandhar-born participant was part of the silver medal-winning Indian group on the Commonwealth Games in Scotland. India received the silver medal after dropping to Australia within the remaining by 4-0.
- In 2015, his group ‘Ranchi Rays’ received the Hero Hockey India League.
- In 2016, after 38 years, India made it to the finals of the Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy and received the silver medal after dropping to Australia within the remaining by 3-1.
- On 6 April 2016, few hours earlier than Japan vs India opening match on the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Manpreet acquired the information of his father’s sudden dying. Consequently, Manpreet was despatched again residence mid-tournament. As quickly because the dying rituals had been over, Manpreet’s mom inspired him to return to the event. In an interview, whereas remembering the incident heavy-heartedly, he stated,
My mom advised me that my father all the time needed me to provide my greatest on the sector, so I ought to return and play effectively. And my teammates and even members of rival groups helped and supported me in these unhappy days.”
The Australian group paid a heartwarming tribute to Manpreet’s father by observing a minute’s silence and sporting a black armband. Although India received the Japan vs India opening match by 1-2, in Manpreet’s absence, the Indian group misplaced in opposition to the world champions Australia by 1-5. After returning to the event, Manpreet performed Canada vs India match, which India received by 1–3, on 10 April 2016. He gained immense appreciation for scoring a aim throughout the first 4 minutes of Pakistan vs India match, which India received by 1-5. India secured itself second place after dropping the finals in opposition to Australia by 4-0.
- On 18 May 2017, he marked the start of his captaincy within the Indian males’s subject hockey group after which he went on to steer India to gold on the 2017 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup.
- Later, in the identical 12 months, his captaincy led India to win bronze on the Men’s FIH Hockey World League Final (2016-17).
- Under his captaincy, India earned bronze on the 2018 Asian Games, silver on the 2018 Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy, and gold on the 2018 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy.
- In 2018, the German sportswear firm Adidas signed Manpreet Singh as its model ambassador in India.
- For his achievements in subject hockey, Punjab Government honoured him with a DSP Rank within the Punjab Police.
- In the identical 12 months, he bought engaged to Illi Najwa Saddique, a Malaysian woman of Pakistani origin. The couple made acquaintance in 2013 when the Indian group received the Sultan of Johor Cup. Manpreet skilled love at first sight when Saddique approached the group for an image.
- Born to a subject hockey participant mom, Saddique is passionate concerning the recreation. Furthermore, she additionally serves as Manpreet’s greatest critic. In an interview, whereas speaking about Saddique, Manpreet stated,
And Illi is my greatest critic. She is completely trustworthy with me. This doesn’t imply she places me down. Instead, she motivates me.”
- Manpreet complies together with his inspiration Cristiano Ronaldo’s perception that one ought to always remember their humble beginnings. In an interview, he stated,
I’ve all the time seen them assist others. I’ve learn a whole lot of books about Ronaldo and even watched films associated to him. Ronaldo says that even if you end up profitable, you need to always remember your humble beginnings. I completely go by that philosophy.”
- He is a Playstation fanatic and carries it wherever he goes. In an interview, he stated,
One factor that I take with me wherever I am going is my PlayStation. I all the time carry it with me anyplace I am going. Whether it’s our coaching camps or worldwide excursions, I carry my PlayStation with me.”
- He was the flag bearer for India in the course of the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo. Under his captaincy, India received a bronze medal within the 2020 Summer Olympics, the primary Olympic medal in hockey since 1980.
- He is an envoy of Scorrd, a web-based hockey platform that connects hockey gamers, coaches, followers, and golf equipment. He can be one of many Red Bull-sponsored athletes on the social media platform.