Harmanpreet Singh

Harmanpreet Singh is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a defender for the Indian national team and also captains the national team. He was part of the hockey team that won the bronze medal for India in Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games. He's just second currently to Dhanraj Pillay on modern day turf hockey who claims to have scored most goals for India in modern day turf hockey.

Not to be confused with Harmanpreet Singh (footballer).

Harmanpreet Singh
Singh in August 2022
Personal information
Born (1996-01-06) 6 January 1996
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 70 kg (154 lb)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Petroleum Sports Promotion Board
Senior career
Years Team
2014–2017 Dabang Mumbai
2017– Petroleum Sports Promotion Board
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 India U21 35 (32)
2015– India 197 (168)
Medal record
Men's field hockey
Representing  India
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place2020 TokyoTeam
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2022 HangzhouTeam
Bronze medal – third place2018 JakartaTeam
Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place2017 Dhaka
Champions Trophy
Silver medal – second place2016 London
Silver medal – second place2018 Breda
Asian Champions Trophy
Gold medal – first place2018 Muscat
Gold medal – first place2023 Chennai
Bronze medal – third place2021 Dhaka
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place2022 BirminghamTeam
Hockey World League
Bronze medal – third place2016–17 BhubaneswarTeam
Junior World Cup
Gold medal – first place2016 Lucknow
Junior Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place2015 Kuantan

He was named in the Indian squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[1][2]

He was named men's 'Player of the Year' at FIH Player of the Year Awards for the year 2020–2021,[3] and 2021–2022. Finally he won gold medal in 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.[4]

Junior career

Singh made his debut for India Junior Team against New Zealand. He scored 9 goals at the 2014 Sultan of Johor Cup. His team won the tournament by defeating Great Britain 2–1 in the final. For his outstanding performances he was awarded Man of the Tournament Award. He scored 4 goals at 2015 Sultan of Johor Cup. Unfortunately his team lost in the final to Great Britain in penalties 3-4 after a 2–2 draw. He was the member of the team which won 2015 Men's Hockey Junior Asia Cup. He was the highest goalscorer of the tournament, he scored 14 goals. After his debut appearance at the Olympics, he was selected for 2016 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup.[5] Singh scored a crucial 66th-minute goal against Spain which helped his team win the match 2-1 and reach the semi-finals. His team won the tournament by defeating Belgium in the final 2–1. He scored 3 goals in the tournament.

Senior career

2015

Harmanpreet Singh received his maiden call-up for senior team in April 2015 when he was selected for the 3 match bilateral series against Japan.[6] But he was dropped from the team for next tournament which was the 2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals.[7]

2016

Singh returned to the team for 2016 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.[8] He scored his 1st ever goal for national team against the Japanese team which helped his team win the match 2–1. He then scored one goal in the match against Canada which was won by his team 3–1. He scored only 2 goals in the tournament. His team had a crushing defeat to Australia in the final 4–0.[9]

Harmanpreet was then retained in the squad for 2016 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy.[10] In the 1st match against Germany, scored a goal in the 32nd minute but the match ended in a 3–3 draw and in the next match against Great Britain he scored a goal in the 34th minute which helped his team win the match 2–1. The final against Australia ended in a 0–0 draw. In the penalty shootout only Harmanpreet managed to score. His team lost the final in 3–1 on penalties.[11] Singh scored 2 goals in the tournament and won the Young Player of the Tournament award.

He was named in the Indian squad for 2016 Olympics.[12][13][14] Harmanpreet gave a disappointing performance at the Rio Olympics 2016. He failed to score a single goal. His coach claimed that he had unperformed and had not done justice to the outstanding talent and prowess that he possessed as a player. His team lost to Belgium in the Quarter-finals 1-3 after barely qualify for knockout stage. Out of 6 games, India managed to win only 2 but lost out on 3, which was a disappointing conclusion to their Olympics’ campaign. He was dropped from the team for 2016 Men's Asian Champions Trophy and 4 Nations Invitational Tournament after a disastrous Olympics campaign.

2017

After his good performances at the 2016 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup, Singh again returned to the national team for 2017 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.[15][16] He scored 2 goals(27th minute and 47th minute) in the match against New Zealand which was won by his team comfortably 3–0. He then was the lone scorer(26th minute) in the match against Australia which his team lost 1–3. He scored 3 goals in the tournament and his team finished 3rd.

Harmanpreet Singh was named in squad for 2016–17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals.[17]

He was selected for 2017 Men's Hockey Asia Cup.[18][19][20] He scored 2 goals in the 35th minute and 48th minute in the 1st match against Japan. India easily won the match 5–1. He again scored 2 goals in the next match against Bangladesh in the 28th and 47th minute. Hus team again easily win the match 7–0. He then scored a goal in the 45th minute of match against arch-rivals Pakistan which was also won by his team 3–1. His team topped the Pool and qualified for Super 4s stages. He scored a goal in the 19th minute in a thrashing win over of 6–1 over Malaysia.[21] He then scored a goal in the 51 minute in the match against Pakistan which was won by his team 4–0 to enter the finals. His team won the tournament by defeating Malaysia 2–1 in the final to win their 3rd title. Harmanpreet was joint high scorer with Malaysian Faizal Saari with 7 goals.[22]

2022

In 2021–22 Men's FIH Pro League match against England, Harmanpreet scored his 100th goal. He went to score a Hat-trick in the same match which helped his team to win the match 4–3.[23] He then scored 2 goals in the match against Germany which helped his team win the match 3–0. In modern AstroTurf hockey he is just second to Dhanraj Pillay in scoring most international goals for India. [24]

Club career

The young drag-flicker was bought by Dabang Mumbai for $51000 in the 2015 Hockey India League, he scored 5 goals in his first edition. He went on to win the Ponty Chadha award for the most promising player of the tournament in 2015. Mumbai Dabangs retained him for the 2016 edition.[25] He scored only 2 goals in the whole season but his good defensive skills helped to retain him. He scored 6 goals in 2017 edition. He won the Upcoming Player of the Tournament award.

References
  1. "Harmanpreet Singh". Hockey India. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  2. Judge, Shahid (14 November 2014). "Harmanpreet Singh's shift from driving tractors to being a drag-flicker". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  3. "Hockey: India sweeps FIH annual awards".
  4. "Asian Games Results". 2022 Asian Games, Hangzhou. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  5. "Hockey India announces Team for Junior World Cup Men". Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  6. "India name 24-member hockey team for Japan series". Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  7. "Indian Men Hockey Team announced for the upcoming FIH Hockey World League Semi-Final". Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  8. "Hockey India names squad for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup". Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  9. "Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Australia Beat India 4-0 to Reclaim Title". Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  10. "Hockey India announces squad for Champions Trophy; Sreejesh, Raghunath return". Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. "Champions Trophy Hockey Final, India vs Australia Highlights: AUS Beat IND 3-1 Via Penalties". Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  12. "Hockey India announces squad for the Rio Olympics 2016". Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  13. "India announce hockey squads for Rio Olympics; PR Sreejesh to lead men's team". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  14. "HOCKEY INDIA ANNOUNCES SQUAD FOR THE RIO OLYMPICS 2016". Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  15. "Hockey India announces team for 26th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup". Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  16. "26th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Four debutants in national hockey squad". Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  17. "Hockey India names squad for Men’s Hockey World League Semi Final LondonÂ". Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  18. "Hockey India announces 18-Member Indian Men's Hockey team for Hero Asia Cup 2017". Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  19. "Hockey: 18-man Indian squad for Asia Cup announced, Manpreet Singh to lead the team".
  20. "Men's squad for Asia Cup announced". Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  21. "India vs Malaysia, Asia Cup hockey, highlights: IND light up Diwali, thrash MAS 6-2". Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  22. "India beat Malaysia 2-1 to win third Asia Cup title". Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  23. "FIH Pro League: Harmanpreet Singh Nets Hat-trick as India Beat England 4-3". Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  24. "Men's FIH Pro League hockey: India thump Germany 3-0 in first leg". Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  25. "Harmanpreet Singh Biography: The Drag-Flick Expert And Flawless Defender in Indian Hockey". Retrieved 22 April 2019.
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