Manpreet Singh - The Rising Star Of Indian Hockey

Meet the rising star of Indian Hockey who is all set to lead the team at the much awaited 2020 Olympics.

- Pancham Bhardwaj

Sports mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but for professional athletes, it is not just something that you enjoy, but also something that defines you as a person. This is why great athletes always strive to become the best in their field, so they can essentially become the best version of themselves. When this relentless drive is channelled through the right opportunities, we get the emergence of a star player who not only shines the brightest, but also lights the way for the rest of the team, with their endless enthusiasm and admirable resolve. Our guest this month is a person just like this; a decorated hockey veteran, a Red Bull athlete, and the man who will lead our national team at the upcoming Olympic Games, Indian Hockey Captain, Manpreet Singh. Edited excerpts...

Tell us something about your sports journey; how it started, what inspired you to stick with hockey, and when did you decide to pursue it as a lifelong profession?

I was inspired by the former Indian hockey captain Padma Shri Pargat Singh, who also hails from Mithapur, Punjab. I used to be attracted by the prizes my elder brothers won while playing hockey as well. Around 2002, I started to play hockey regularly. By the time I turned 10, my obsession with the sport had reached such a point, that my mother locked me in my room, just to prevent me from playing hockey. Somehow I escaped the room, and got my coach to talk with my elder brother and calm him down. He talked them into giving me a chance to explore the sport, since I was so keen to play. My family started to support me completely, after I won my first prize of ₹ 500 cash, in a tournament. In 2005, I enrolled in one of India’s most sought-after institutions—Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar; following which I made my International debut.