Manpreet Singh isn’t considering retirement soon, but the former captain of India’s men’s hockey team is aware that the Paris Games will be his fourth and final Olympics. Determined to give his best performance at this ultimate global sporting event, Manpreet aims to leave a lasting mark. As he prepares for the Paris Olympics, he remains focused on delivering a standout performance, recognizing the significance of this final opportunity on the world stage. His dedication to the sport and his country drives him to excel one last time.
Manpreet Singh Talks Ahead of Olympics:
Manpreet, as captain, led the Indian team to end a 41-year Olympic medal drought by securing bronze in Tokyo. Furthermore, he has contributed significantly to the team’s success, being part of the squads that clinched gold at the Asian Games in 2014 and 2022. His leadership and contributions have been instrumental in India’s achievements on both the Olympic and continental stages.
Ahead of the upcoming Olympics, Manpreet opens up about his Olympic journey. He said, “ I never thought that I would be able to play four Olympics. It is every player’s dream to play in the Olympics and win medals. I consider myself very lucky that this is my fourth Olympics. I am going to Paris thinking as if it is my last Olympics and I have to give my best. I haven’t thought about quitting the game yet and my complete focus is on the Paris Games.”
Manpreet’s path from Mithapur village in Jalandhar to Paris was anything but difficult. He faced significant hardships, including battling poverty and confronting false accusations. Moreover, he watched his mother endure numerous struggles. Despite these daunting challenges, Manpreet persevered and succeeded in making a name for himself.
Following the Tokyo Olympics, Manpreet faced a challenging period in his career when former coach Sjoerd Marijne accused him of asking a player to underperform to favor friends during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Both the men’s and women’s teams denied the allegations, suggesting Marijne made them to promote his book.
He further said, “ That was the most difficult phase for me. I could never even think of such things. I was broken and lost faith in everyone. I told (PR) Sreejesh with whom I share everything. My mother also encouraged me to keep playing to fulfil my father’s dream and my whole team supported me.”
He added, “ In bad times, the support of the family and team is very important because at that time the player finds himself very lonely. When the team stands together, it gives a lot of encouragement and also helps in making a comeback. We have also seen Hardik Pandya making a great comeback recently. When I look back now, it seems like a dream. I come from a humble background where we have seen struggles for the basic needs.”
He also said, “ In bad times, the support of the family and team is very important because at that time the player finds himself very lonely. When the team stands together, it gives a lot of encouragement and also helps in making a comeback. We have also seen Hardik Pandya making a great comeback recently. When I look back now, it seems like a dream. I come from a humble background where we have seen struggles for the basic needs.”
Manpreet has handed over the captaincy to Harmanpreet Singh, yet the star midfielder remains crucial to the team. As one of the most senior members, he understands his important role in guiding and supporting his teammates. He said, “ Even if I am not the captain now, it does not make any difference. Every player has his own role in hockey. The effort is to take everyone along. Being a senior, we have to inspire the youngsters.”
Manpreet, who looks up to Pargat Singh, also from Mithapur, stated that their preparation for the Paris Games is consistent with the methods used for the Tokyo Olympics. He highlighted that they are following the same rigorous process and training routines to ensure success in Paris, drawing inspiration from the strategies that worked well previously. He said, “ Before the Tokyo Olympics, we spent maximum time together due to COVID that resulted in excellent team bonding. We will continue the same because 11 players are the same who were in Tokyo. We are sharing our experiences with the five debutants.”
India Placed in Competitive Group:
India has been grouped in a challenging pool for the Paris Olympics, facing formidable opponents like Australia, Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. This lineup promises intense competition as each team brings a strong presence to the field. India’s preparation and strategy will be crucial as they go up against these highly competitive teams in their quest for Olympic success.
He concluded, “ Our pool is tough and we cannot take any team lightly. New Zealand has defeated us in the World Cup and Ireland has recently defeated Belgium. Our focus is on ourselves as to how we can execute our strategy. We get less chances against good teams but converting 50-50 chances is the mark of a champion. We are well prepared to do that in Paris.”
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