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The midfield maestro is only the second Indian hockey player to reach 400 international caps.
Indian hockey star Manpreet Singh
As the sun set behind the stands of Wilrijkse Plein in Antwerp, and the Indian national anthem echoed once again, a familiar figure stood poised and composed, with eyes full of determination. For the 400th time, hockey icon Manpreet Singh donned the India jersey, joining an elite group of legends known for their unwavering consistency and passion on the world stage. In that moment, Manpreet wasn’t just lining up against Australia in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 – he symbolised longevity, leadership, and the era of Indian hockey’s resurgence.
The 33-year-old midfielder from Punjab, a region synonymous with Indian hockey, is now the second-highest capped Indian men’s player, behind only former captain and current Hockey India President Dr Dilip Tirkey (412 caps). Remarkably, Manpreet’s story is far from over.
From his debut in 2011 as a spirited 19-year-old to becoming the heart of the Indian midfield, Manpreet’s career mirrors Indian hockey’s revival.
He has won:
- 4 Asian Champions Trophy titles (2013, 2018, 2023, 2024)
- 2 Asian Games Gold medals (2014, 2023)
- 2 Olympic Bronze medals (2020, 2024)
- 2 Commonwealth Games Silver medals (2014, 2022)
- Podium finishes at the 2014-15 and 2016-17 FIH World League and Hockey Champions Trophy in 2018
Manpreet’s on-field consistency is matched by his off-field recognition, underlining his immense contribution to Indian sport:
- Arjuna Award – 2018
- FIH Men’s Player of the Year – 2019
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award – 2021
- Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Player of the Year – 2019
- Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year – 2014, 2021
For Manpreet, it has never been solely about the medals. It has always been about showing up – every game and every training session – with the same passion he felt when he first picked up a stick on the dusty fields of Mithapur, Jalandhar.
Reflecting on the milestone, an emotional Manpreet said, “I still remember the goosebumps from my debut game. Standing here, 400 games later, is beyond anything I imagined. This milestone is shared with every coach who pushed me, every teammate who supported me, and every fan who believed in me when I needed it most. I’m still learning, still growing, and I play with the same hunger today as I did at 19.”
Hockey India president and the only Indian player ahead of Manpreet in the all-time caps list, Dr Dilip Tirkey, praised the achievement, stating, “Very few athletes achieve this level of consistency and endurance. Manpreet has been the backbone of Indian hockey through its most transformative decade. His fitness, leadership, and composure under pressure set him apart. We are proud to see him carry forward the legacy with such grace.”
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh added, “400 caps is not just a number – it’s a legacy built on sacrifice, discipline, and devotion to the sport. Manpreet has set the bar for professionalism and pride in wearing the India jersey. He has been a true ambassador of Indian hockey and a generational role model.”
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov… Read More
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