Former Indian Hockey Team captain and senior player Manpreet Singh received a grand welcome upon his arrival at his native village, Mithapur. The felicitation ceremony was led by Hockey Punjab President and AAP Jalandhar Central Halka In-charge Nitin Kohli at the Mithapur Hockey Stadium, where Manpreet Singh and his family were honoured with flower garlands.
Manpreet’s achievement is a matter of pride for the nation: Nitin Kohli
Congratulating Manpreet Singh, Nitin Kohli said that by playing 413 international hockey matches, he has created a new world record, bringing immense pride to Jalandhar, Punjab and the entire country. He described Manpreet as an inspiration for the younger generation and expressed confidence that he would continue to contribute to Indian hockey by playing another 100–150 international matches. Kohli also extended his best wishes to the Indian team for its upcoming international tournaments.
Hockey grounds developed with government support are a boon for players: Manpreet Singh
Addressing the gathering, Manpreet Singh urged youngsters to stay away from drugs and embrace sports. He thanked both the Central and Punjab Governments, stating that hockey grounds developed in villages with government support have proved to be a blessing for aspiring players, helping nurture talent from rural areas and strengthening Indian hockey.
Journey began at Mithapur, culminated in a world record: Manpreet Singh
Manpreet said he began his hockey journey at the Mithapur ground, popularly known as the “Mecca of Hockey.” He described it as an emotional and proud moment to return to the same ground after achieving the milestone of 413 international matches. He dedicated the achievement to his village, his family and the nation.
Winning World Cup and Olympic gold remains our goal: Manpreet Singh
Expressing confidence in the Indian team, Manpreet said the squad is fully prepared to perform strongly in the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup, Asian Champions Trophy, Asian Games and the 2028 Olympic Games. He added that the excellent combination of junior and senior players has boosted the team’s confidence and that India is determined to realise its dream of winning Olympic gold.
Olympic gold dream will certainly come true: Mandeep Singh
Indian hockey forward Mandeep Singh congratulated Manpreet on his historic achievement, calling the 413-match milestone a landmark for Indian hockey. He said the blend of experienced and young players would help India excel in major international tournaments and fulfil its dream of winning the Olympic gold medal.
Dignitaries present
The event was attended by SSP Vigilance and Olympian Harpreet Singh Mander, Hockey Punjab President and AAP Jalandhar Central Halka In-charge Nitin Kohli, Deputy Mayor Malkit Subhana, ACP Traffic Ajay Singh, Olympian Sanjeev Kumar, Hockey Punjab Secretary Amrik Singh Pawar, Olympian Mandeep Singh, Navjot Singh, Surinder Singh, Sarbjit Singh Sabi, Kuldeep Singh, Zorawar Singh, Davinder Sangha, hockey player Bhupinder Singh, international hockey player Teja Singh, along with several other distinguished personalities from the fields of sports and administration.
