Manpreet Singh is an Indian hockey player who captained the Indian men’s national hockey team on 18 May 2017. The centre-back earned huge popularity when he led India to a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics (Tokyo) during his tenure as captain. First hockey Olympic medal since 1980.
Wiki/Biography
Manpreet Singh was born on Friday, June 26, 1992 (31 years old as of 2023) and hails from Mittarpur, Punjab. Located on the outskirts of Jalandhar city, Mittapur is famous for its hockey heritage, having produced the likes of Swarup Singh, Kulwant Singh and Padma Shri Award winner Par Famous Indian hockey veterans like Pargat Singh. Therefore, Manpreet has dreamed of becoming a professional hockey player since he was a child. Passionate about learning the game, he played hockey with his brothers during his childhood. He shared his childhood experiences in an interview, saying:
One day, when I was 10 years old, my brother locked me in a room as I was getting ready to coach. Still, I managed to get out of the car and join him at the coaching field. My brother got angry and wanted to hit me, but the coach said I was too enthusiastic and should give me a chance to learn. “
Manpreet’s passion for hockey was sparked by the achievements of former captain of the Indian hockey team, Pragat Singh. In an interview, Manpreet said about his inspiration:
My first inspiration to play this game came from Pargat Singh, former captain of the Indian Hockey team and DSP of my district… Apart from this, the prizes my brothers got when they won the game attracted me. “
When Manpreet’s family faced financial instability, Pragat met his needs. In 2005, he enrolled at Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar, which is considered one of the best sports academies in India.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5’6”
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family and race
Manpreet Singh was born into a middle-class Sikh family.
Parents and siblings
When Manpreet was young, his father Baljit Singh had to quit his job because he suffered from mental health issues. His mother, Manjit Kaur, was forced to do various odd jobs to support the family. Although his mother initially did not support his decision to pursue hockey, she came on board when Manpreet won his first cash prize of Rs 500 by playing hockey.
Manpreet Singh’s parents
Manpreet learned about his father’s death on April 6, 2016, just hours before Japan’s opening match against India in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. As a result, Manpreet was sent back to India for ritual death mid-match. While he was still mourning the death of his father, his mother inspired him to return to the game. In an interview, he recounted the incident with a heavy heart, saying:
My mom told me that my dad always wanted me to be my best on the court, so I should go back and play well. My teammates and even members of the opposing team helped and supported me during those sad days. “
Manpreet Singh and his mother
In tribute to Manpreet’s father, Australia observed a minute’s silence and wore black armbands during their match against India in the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy (2016). His elder brothers Amandeep Singh and Sukhraj Singh were skilled hockey players and represented Punjab in national level tournaments. As the family’s financial situation worsened, Amandeep moved to Germany. Later, with the help of Manpreet’s idol and godfather Pargat Singh, Amandeep moved to Italy where he worked as a truck driver.
Manpreet Singh and his brother Amandeep Singh
Manpreet Singh family members
wife and children
On December 16, 2020, Manpreet Singh tied the knot with his Malaysian-Pakistani girlfriend Illi Najwa Saddique. The two first met in 2013 when the Indian junior men’s team won the Johor Sultan Cup. After the victory, Sadiq, an avid hockey fan, approached the team for a photo. The couple got engaged in 2014 after a year of dating.
Manpreet Singh and Ili Najwa Sadiq
Sadiq’s passion for the sport comes from her mother, who was also a hockey player. Manpreet revealed in an interview that Sadiq was his best critic. He said,
Eli is my best critic. She was completely honest with me. That doesn’t mean she disappointed me. Instead, she inspired me. “
Profession
International
youth hockey
Manpreet Singh first showcased his leadership qualities when he was named captain in the 2008 Myanmar Junior Asia Cup, making his international debut. An injury in 2009 kept him out for nearly a year. In 2013, he captained the Indian junior men’s hockey team in the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup. In the same year, his brilliant captaincy led the Indian team to a gold medal at the 3rd Johor Sultan Cup in Malaysia. In this tournament, the Indian men’s team defeated England, Argentina, Pakistan and South Korea 3-0, and finally defeated the host Malaysia 3-0 to win the gold medal.
Senior Hockey
In 2011, Manpreet made his debut at the Asian Champions Cup in China, where the Indian men’s hockey team won the championship. He represented India at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. The player from Jalandhar was part of the Indian team that won the gold medal, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan 4-2 in the final of the Asian Games (2014). In the same year, he won a silver medal with the Indian team in the final of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland where they lost 4-0 to Australia. In the international hockey tournament HCT (Hockey Champions Trophy), India reached the final again after 38 years, but lost to Australia 1-3 and won the silver medal. During the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy (2016), Manpreet had to return to India to perform the death rites of his father. Although India beat Japan 1-2 in their first match against India in Manpreet’s absence, India lost 1-5 to world champion Australia. On April 10, 2016, he returned to the tournament and played in Canada’s match against India, which India won 1–3. In Pakistan’s match against India, he came into the limelight when he scored a goal in the first 4 minutes, which India won 1-5. Although India did not win the cup, they defeated Australia 4-0 to seal the second spot. After he was appointed as the captain of the Indian men’s hockey team on May 18, 2017, the country has witnessed various glorious victories, including the 2017 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup gold medal, the 2018 Champions League silver medal and the 2018 Asian Champions Cup gold medal. His captaincy also led India to bronze medals in the Men’s International Hockey World League final (2017) and the Asian Games (2018). At the 2020 Summer Olympics, he captained India to win a bronze medal, the first Olympic hockey medal since 1980.
Indian men’s team poses with bronze medals at 2020 Summer Olympics
domestic
He was a member of Ranchi Rhinos during the 2014 Indian Hockey League. He played for the BPCL team (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited), which won the Scindia Gold Cup Hockey Championship in Gwalior (2014), beating Central Railway 3-1.
Manpreet and his BPCL team compete in Scindia Gold Cup Hockey Championship (2014)
In the 2015 Hero Hockey India League, he was a part of the championship team “Ranchi Rays”.
Manpreet Singh holds the Indian Hockey League of Legends trophy with Illi Najwa Saddique
Awards and Honors
- Asian Youth Player of the Year (2014)
- Won 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 receives Arjuna Award from President of India Ram Nath Kovind (2019)
- FIH (International Hockey Federation) Player of the Year (2019)
- Hockey India Dhruv Batra Player of the Year Award (2019)
- Won the ACES Award for the Best Athlete of the Decade (2021)
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2021)
Favorites
- 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
- Movie: Chak De! India (2007), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), MS Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016)
- Exercises: Leg press and squats
Facts/Trivia
- In 2018, German sportswear company Adidas announced Manpreet Singh as its brand ambassador in India. In addition, he is an ambassador for Scord, an online hockey platform that connects hockey players, coaches, fans and clubs. Additionally, he is one of the athletes sponsored by Red Bull on the social media platform.
- For his outstanding performance in the field of hockey, the Punjab government awarded him the DSP rank of Punjab Police.
Manpreet Singh in Punjab Police uniform
- Born to a farmer father, Manpreet embraced his humble beginnings. He follows Cristiano Ronaldo’s inspiration that people should always remember their roots. He said in an interview,
I read a lot about Ronaldo and even watched movies about him. Ronaldo said that even if you succeed, you should never forget your humble beginnings. I totally follow this philosophy. “
- In addition to being a skilled hockey player, he is also a gaming console enthusiast. In an interview, when talking about his must-haves, he said:
No matter where I go, the one thing I carry with me is my PlayStation. I always carry it with me wherever I go. Whether it’s our training camps or international tours, I always take my PlayStation with me. “
- Manpreet carries the flag for India at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
- Manpreet’s mother revealed in an interview that his teammates often called him “Korean” due to his impeccable speed during his childhood. Apparently, Korean hockey players at the time were known for their speed. She also revealed that Manpreet’s nickname is ‘Money’.
- His hobbies include meditation, yoga, listening to music, playing PlayStation, hanging out with friends, and watching movies.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education