Tokyo Olympics: Indian hockey team captain Manpreet Singh vows to return with an Olympic medal
Manpreet Singh is one of the best midfielders in international hockey and is the engine on which the Indian team operates.
The 29-year-old, with an experience of 259 international caps to his name, will lead the men’s hockey team for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. He will also be India’s flag-bearer along with London Olympics bronze medalist boxer MC Mary Kom at the Opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.
Manpreet is only the sixth Indian hockey player to be named the flag bearer of the Indian contingent. Earlier, Lal Singh Bokhari (1932 Los Angeles Olympics), Major Dhyan Chand (1936 Munich Olympics), Balbir Singh Senior (1952 Helsinki Olympics and 1956 Melbourne Olympics), Zafar Iqbal (1984 Olympics), and Pargat Singh (1996 Olympics) had the honour.
India Today.In caught up with Indian men’s hockey captain Manpreet Singh and asked the tenacious mid-fielder a range of questions related to the Indian team.
Excerpts from the interview
Olympics are around the corner now. So, how is the mood in the camp?
Everyone is very excited to be part of the Olympics. To play for your nation at the Olympics is every athlete’s dream. We have all waited very patiently for this Olympics, as it got postponed for a year.
How is the preparation going on?
Preparations are on point. The focus is on fitness as we will be competing against the world’s top teams and will hardly get any easy matches. Since the weather in Tokyo will be very hot at this time of year, we are practicing in the afternoon to get used to the heat.
Leading your team on the ground is one thing, but keeping your players together during the pandemic is different. Do you think, as captain, your responsibility has gone up?
To be honest, the last year-and-half has been very challenging. But it did turn out to be a blessing in disguise for us. It helped us in team bonding. We got to know about each other’s struggles, their journey, and dreams. As a result, the team is pumped up, and the boys can’t wait to hit the ground running.
The team was peaking up at the right time just before the Olympics got cancelled last year. Was it a jolt?
You’re right; we’re playing some great hockey. We defeated the top teams regularly, but then the unthinkable happened. The Olympics were cancelled for a year. It was a setback because we were eager to do well in this Olympics after what happened in Rio. But, a few things are not in your hands, and we can’t do much about it.
Defeating Olympic champion Argentina in their backyard must have been very pleasing. It must be a confidence booster for the team. Your reactions?
It was a litmus test for the team before the Olympics. As we all know, Argentina are the most difficult team to play against. They are very physical. Their one-to-one marking is very difficult to break, and they hardly give you breathing space.
The thing that impressed me the most in the tour was how we came back into the match after conceding an early goal. The players were not ready to give up, and that, for me, was the biggest takeaway of the Argentina tour.
The way your team has played in recent years, the expectations from your team have gone up. How do you see the chance of this team finishing at the podium?
We do have a target in our minds. We want to finish at the podium, but it is a process. We will have to take one game at a time. We can’t take any team lightly in the Olympics. I vividly remember that we played a draw against Canada in Rio. As a team, we will have to be at our very best in every single match.
Do you know that you are not the first flag bearer at the Olympics from your village (Mithapur, Jalandhar)?
Yes, yes, I know it. My idol and former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh was India’s flag-bearer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. I grew up hearing stories from my late father (Baljit Singh) about Swarup Singh (1952 Helsinki Olympics), Kulwant Singh (1972 Munich Olympics). They are all from my village. In this team, alongside myself, Mandeep is also from Mithapur. My village has a rich hockey legacy.
Your father played a pivotal role in your career.You must be proud of what you have achieved?
My father’s dream was to see me at the podium with a medal. That dream is still unfulfilled. I remember we were playing the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (2016) when I got the news that my father is no more. I came to the funeral, and the first thing my mother (Manjeet Kaur) said, why are you not with your team? Your father has always put your country above everything. I was sent back the very next day, and I re-joined the team. We ended up winning the bronze.
