Mithapur’s Two Names in an Exclusive List
The four-World-Cup record is particularly noteworthy for Mithapur because two of the five Indian players who have achieved it belong to the same village. Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh have represented India together across the 2014, 2018, 2023 and 2026 World Cups, giving Mithapur a unique presence in this list.
Their achievement connects the village with players from vastly different periods of Indian hockey. Ashok Kumar represented India in the 1970s, Dhanraj Pillay in the 1990s and early 2000s, Sardar Singh from 2010 onwards, while Manpreet and Mandeep have carried the record into the latest generation.India’s hockey team is carrying high expectations into the Hockey World Cup, with the country hoping to see another strong performance from the national side. Among the five Indian players who have represented the country in four different World Cups, two belong to Mithapur — Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh — making the achievement especially significant for the Jalandhar village known for its hockey legacy.
A 55-Year Journey From 1971 to 2026
India’s association with the Hockey World Cup has now completed a journey of 55 years. During this period, only five Indian players have managed to represent the country in four different editions of the World Cup. These five players are Ashok Kumar, Dhanraj Pillay, Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh.
What makes the record particularly notable is that these five players belong to four different generations of Indian hockey. Among them, Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh are from Mithapur, adding another significant chapter to the village’s connection with Indian hockey.
Four World Cups Across Different Generations
The five players achieved the four-World-Cup milestone in different eras. Ashok Kumar represented India in the 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1978 World Cups. During this period, India remained one of the major forces in world hockey, and the country went on to win the 1975 World Cup.
After Ashok Kumar, Dhanraj Pillay carried the legacy forward by representing India in the 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups. Pillay played across four editions and became one of the most celebrated and recognisable faces of Indian hockey.
The next player to achieve the feat was Sardar Singh, who represented India in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups. His career represented another important phase of Indian hockey, as the team continued its efforts to establish itself strongly on the international stage.
The latest additions to this exclusive list are Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, both of whom have represented India at the 2014, 2018, 2023 and 2026 World Cups. The fact that both players come from Mithapur makes their achievement particularly significant for the village.
Both Mithapur Players Were Part of the Olympic Bronze-Winning Team
Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh have also been part of India’s Olympic bronze-winning team. Their careers have therefore extended beyond the World Cup to some of the biggest tournaments in international hockey.
Manpreet Singh is among the most experienced players in Indian hockey. He is the only player to have played more than 400 international matches while also featuring in four World Cups. In June 2026, Manpreet played his 413th international match, surpassing Dilip Tirkey’s record of 412 matches and becoming the Indian hockey player with the highest number of international appearances.
Manpreet had already established himself as one of the senior players in the national setup, and his continued presence across multiple World Cup editions reflects the consistency and longevity of his international career.
Mithapur’s Two Names in an Exclusive List
The four-World-Cup record is particularly noteworthy for Mithapur because two of the five Indian players who have achieved it belong to the same village. Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh have represented India together across the 2014, 2018, 2023 and 2026 World Cups, giving Mithapur a unique presence in this list.
Their achievement connects the village with players from vastly different periods of Indian hockey. Ashok Kumar represented India in the 1970s, Dhanraj Pillay in the 1990s and early 2000s, Sardar Singh from 2010 onwards, while Manpreet and Mandeep have carried the record into the latest generation.
A Rare Achievement in Indian Hockey
Representing the country at four World Cups is a rare achievement, considering the level of competition and the physical demands of international hockey. The record becomes even more notable when seen across different generations, with players continuing to remain part of India’s World Cup squads over several years.
For Mithapur, having two players among these five names is a matter of particular significance. Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh have not only represented India at four World Cups but have also been part of the country’s Olympic medal-winning campaign.
The five-player list — Ashok Kumar, Dhanraj Pillay, Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh — therefore represents a journey through different eras of Indian hockey. And with two of those five names coming from Mithapur, the Jalandhar village has earned a distinctive place in this remarkable World Cup record.
