In a proud moment for Punjab, Jalandhar’s hockey playerManpreet Singh on Tuesday has been named as the captain of the 16-member Olympic-boundIndian men's hockey team.
Midfielder Manpreet Singh will lead the team whileexperienced defenders, Birendra Lakra and Harmanpreet Singh will remain on thesecond-most position to the new captain.
Pertinently, Manpreet hails from the village of formerIndian Hockey player and now Congress MLA Pargat Singh. After 21 years, aPunjabi player has been given a chance to lead the team in Tokyo Olympics 2021. Manpreet, a native of village Mithapur has brought fameand laurels to his birthplace as Mithapur is the only village of Punjab whichhas given three captains to the Indian Hockey Team.
Prior to Manpreet, the Indian Hockey team was led by formerplayer Pargat Singh in Barcelona Olympics held in 1992 followed by Atlanta Olympics1996.
From Punjab, Manpreet is the eighth hockey player to becomecaptain of the Indian Hockey team.
The list of Indian Hockey team captain from Punjabincludes names of ), Balbir Singh Senior (Melbourne Olympics 1956), CharanjitSingh (Tokyo Olmpics 1964), Prithipal Singh (Mexico Olympics- 1968), HarmikSingh (Munich Olympics 1972), Ajitpal Singh (Montreal Olympics 1976), PargatSingh (Barcelona Olympics 1992 and Atlanta Olympics 1996), Ramandeep Singh(Sydney Olympics 2000), Pargat Singh (Barcelona Olympics 1992 and AtlantaOlympics 1996).
It is to be reiterated here, this will be Manpreet'sthird Olympics.
Under Manpreet's captaincy, the Indian team won AsiaCup in 2017, the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018, and the FIH Series Final in2019.
The team led by Manpreet also made it to thequarterfinals of the FIH Men's World Cup 2018 in Bhubaneswar.
Lakra, on the other hand, is a veteran defender who waspart of the 2012 London Olympics but missed the 2016 Rio Games owing to a kneesurgery.
Harmanpreet, since his senior India debut in 2015, hasgrown in his role as a drag-flicker and defender. In the absence of Manpreet in2019, Harmanpreet led the Indian team to victory at the FIH Olympic Test eventin Tokyo.
Chief coach Graham Reid said, "All three playershave been an integral part of the team's leadership over these past couple ofyears and have shown a lot of maturity in guiding the youngsters during thesechallenging times. Naming two vice-captains we believe will also strengthen ourleadership in what is going to be a demanding tournament. We are confident thattogether they will guide the team to success."
Manpreet said, "This Olympics will be truly special,and I am humbled to have this opportunity of representing India at the Olympicsfor the third time, this time as team captain. It is a very proud moment for meto be given this charge. Over these past few years, we have developed a strongleadership group and have successfully overcome the challenges posed by thepandemic to not drop our form and keep our minds and fitness-focused towardsdoing well at the Olympics."
Upon the selection of Manpreet as captain, Punjab HockeyPresident Nitin Kohli expressed happiness and extended best wishes to theplayer for the game.
India will begin their campaign in Tokyo on July 24 whenthey take on New Zealand in their first Pool stage match.