Born on 26.06.1992, Manpreet Singh is the first Indian player to win the coveted FIH Player of the Year in 2020. He got the Arjuna honour in 2018. He is among the select few to don the Indian colours more than 200 times. The midfielder hails from Mithapur, a hamlet bordering Jalandhar, which produced number of players for the nation.

MANPREET SINGH was part of the Indian Men's National hockey team that took part at the Olympics (2012 & 2016); World Cups (2014, 2018); Asian Games (2014, 2018); Commmonwealth Games (2014, 2018); Asia Cup (2013 & 2017); Hockey World League Tier 4 (Finals) THRICE  (2014, 2015, 2017), Hockey World League Tier 3 (Round 3) THRICE (2013, 2015, 2017) & Champions Trophy FOUR TIMES (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018).

He looks too young to shoulder his family’s ambitions but Manpreet Singh is actually living the dream of not one but three people. He is the first one from his family to play for India and with his selection in the London Olympics squad, he had fulfilled his brothers’ ambitions.

Inspired by his elder brothers Amandeep Singh (28) and Sukhraj Singh (25) – both having played for Punjab at the national championships – Manpreet picked up the stick quite early. However, financial constraints forced his brothers to quit playing, Amandeep moving to Italy, though they managed to push him on.

Manpreet first brushed up his skills at the Olympian Surjeet Hockey Academy in Jalandhar in 2005, at the age of 12. He was considered talented enough to make the national grade but had to wait for his turn on the big stage. A knew injury in 2009 did not help, forcing him out of action for almost a year. In fact, that was soon after he had made his India debut, and was perhaps the worst time for him to get injured, but he had age on his side. A natural leader despite his young age, Manpreet’s leadership skills were tested when he was named skipper for the 2008 Sub-Jr Asia Cup in Myanmar.

That team was selected after controversy on overage players, as a result of which almost every player who played then was absolutely raw. It is a measure of Manpreet’s skills that he is the only one from that side who has not only managed to graduate to the national side but also impressed the coaches and selectors enough to make it to two successive Olympics. On his way, he led India at the 2013 Junior World Cup.

Manpreet finally made his senior India debut at the Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos. He was equally impressive during the Series against South Africa before the 2012 Olympic qualifiers and the Qualifiers main called Road to London. Then there was no stopping the gentle giant.

He was first employed as an Assistant Manager with the Chennai based Indian Overseas Bank, before moving to Punjab Police.

He was made captain of the national side for the first time in 2013 Asian Champions Trophy; and then regularly manning the mantle since 2017 Europe tour to date (June 2020).