K. ARUMUGAM
Double Olympic medallist Manpreet Singh has just scaled a new high, 400th international cap. Only second Indian after Dilip Tirey to sport the feat, Manpreet’s name is synonymous with present resurgent India. His team lost to Australia on Sunday, but his feat partly covered the defeat. I first saw him at Perth in the Tri-Series (other teams being Pakistan and Australia) in 2011 which was only his second international outing after Ordos Asian Champions Trophy. There was no inkling that the lean looking novice from Punjab would become a living legend as he is today. Michael Knobbs was the coach, who used him sparingly. He shone whatever time was given. Its not every time that a youngster gets to make international debut in a major continental event as ACT and win the gold. He is veritably the golden boy of modern India.
Manpreet, who has got every sporting award that his country can offer, is a complete players now. He is the only the two Indians who have won Asian Games gold twice, the other being PR Sreejesh. His career highlight of course is when he led India to bronze at Tokyo four years ago.
A stick2hockey graphics released before the 2020 Olympics
He was a leadership material, as is evident from the fact that he led India in his very first international outing = Sub-Jr Asia Cup (Myanmar) in the early 2010s.
When I saw him at Perth, in only his second international outing, I was impressed for his energy levels.
The fitness levels he maintained all through his 15-year long international career is something a copy book case.
Many thought he will retire, like many others, after Paris Olympics, his fourth, but he continued. This showed his insatiable apatite for competitive hockey. With young Hardik Singh puhsing him at the coveted midfield position, he keep working hard to remain rooted, keeping next World Cup in mind.
Manpreet Singh is known for his fitness, and commitment. He hardly missed any event, even if Covid struck him before Tokyo. He overcame everything to stay rooted.
A no-sayer to defeat, he worked hard for wins, sometimes his enthusiasm even landing him with cards.
He is not just a pivot on the field, but a prompter of moves. Whenever the team used to be in dire straits it looked upon him to propel a move or create a goalbound spin. Its often seen him play like a possessed forward. This if his defence spiliting long reverse slap shots did not enter the rivals’ D.
He was an exponent in using slap shot for goals.