Manpreet Singh, an Indian field hockey player, became the captain of the Indian men’s national field hockey team on 18 May 2017. |
He was born in a Punjabi farming family in Mithapur village near Jalandhar, Punjab. |
Manpreet’s mother, Manjeet Kaur, took up various jobs to support the family after his father faced mental health issues and left his career. |
During his childhood, Manpreet's mother was initially concerned about him playing hockey due to safety worries. |
He started training at the Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar in 2005, a renowned institute for hockey in India. |
Former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh, from Manpreet’s village, Mithapur, served as his inspiration and mentor. |
Manpreet overcame a knee injury in 2009 before making his mark in the Indian men’s field hockey team. |
He represented India in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. |
In 2013, he led the Indian junior men’s team at the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup in New Delhi. |
The same year, he captained the junior men’s team in the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia. |
In 2014, he played a significant role in BPCL Team's victory in the Scindia Gold Cup Hockey Tournament. |
His performance in 2014 helped India secure a gold medal at the Asian Games and a silver at the Commonwealth Games. |
In 2015, his team 'Ranchi Rays' triumphed in the Hero Hockey India League. |
India reached the 2016 Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy final after 38 years under Manpreet's captaincy. |
He received the heartbreaking news of his father’s sudden passing hours before a match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on 6 April 2016. |
His leadership led India to podium finishes at the 2018 Asian Games, Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy, and Men’s Asian Champions Trophy. |
Adidas appointed him as its brand ambassador in India in 2018 for his contributions to field hockey. |
Manpreet was honored with a DSP Rank in the Punjab Police by the Punjab Government in recognition of his achievements. |
He got engaged to Illi Najwa Saddique, a Malaysian woman of Pakistani descent, in the same year. |
A fan of PlayStation, he always carries one with him. |
Manpreet was India's flag bearer at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the team won a bronze medal, marking India's return to Olympic hockey success after 41 years. |
He serves as an ambassador for Scorrd, an online hockey platform, and is sponsored by Red Bull as an athlete on social media. |