Manpreet Singh hits 400: A testament to unyielding grit

India Today

4 hours ago

For long, Manpreet Singh, that ball of zest and fiery energy in the Indian midfield, has confounded opponents across the globe; pivot in the middle, the side tackling, stick outstretched, terrier in the defence and when in that mood, he's a blur, zipping past the opposition defences, slipping to the right before slamming the ball past the startled, rather astonished goalkeeper.advertisementAfter the Pro League game against Australia in Antwerp, which India lost 2-3, match No. 400 was up for Manpreet. A win would have been ideal. Yet, Manpreet, the Mithapur Kid, at 400 games and counting, has outlasted many of his contemporaries. Irrespective of the talent, the grind through junior levels, and the yo-yo nature of Indian hockey, this longevity stems from consistency and resolve. Four hundred international matches suggest he may well touch five hundred, a milestone in modern hockey.I've known Manpreet since his early days in junior hockey — back then, he wasn't someone who immediately stood out. Some players are groomed and moulded; Manpreet shaped his own career, becoming central to Indian hockey. The fire within a player — whether it's about performing in matches or sustaining a long career — must be stoked by the player himself. Plenty of talent has fallen by the wayside or faded away for all kinds of reasons. But the one thing most of them lacked was that old, reliable trait: grit.advertisement
Last June, at the Dartmouth College commencement ceremony, Roger Federer said: 'It's not about having a gift. It's about having grit.'Players often chase numbers, yet when Manpreet says, 'It's just a number,' you believe him. In a conversation three years back, at The Kalinga Stadium, while the team prepared for the World Cup, I had asked him, if he became captain at Paris 2024, he would be the only one after Pargat Singh to captain India at two consecutive Olympics, both come from the same village Mithapur, near Jalandhar and Paris would put him in a rare group of Indian players to have played four consecutive Olympic Games. His response was brief: 'It doesn't matter.' Then, he added, 'It's important that I play well. I enjoy the sport. It's not about how much you play, but how much you win. Look at the Aussies — fewer games, more medals.'Manpreet's approach reflects that of top athletes. Bill Bertka, a former Lakers assistant coach, once said of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James: 'They're both intelligent and dedicated.' Abdul-Jabbar played till 42. LeBron, this year, at age 40, could set a 23-season record. If Manpreet makes it to the 2028 LA Olympics, it would be a fifth appearance — a record for Indian hockey.advertisementIndian hockey once struggled with motivation, especially when results at the Olympics and World Cup fell short. Careers often ended due to selectors' fixation with age. The Tokyo 2020 bronze ended a 41-year Olympic medal drought. It re-energised Manpreet. He lost the captaincy but redefined his role. The Tokyo success freed him. Fitness and mindset evolved. The only Indian with more caps than him is current Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey (412). Among internationals, Belgium's World and Olympic Champion midfielder, John-John Dohmen leads with 481.Had India not medalled in Tokyo; selectors may have phased out seniors, also called 'ageing legs.' Manpreet acknowledges that 400 is a significant milestone: 'It's a moment to be proud of, but this is a team's achievement. Each player has contributed.'He has slipped into the robes of a sage smoothly. From finishing last at the London 2012 Olympics to leading the junior team in 2013 and winning gold at Incheon 2014, the arc has been gradual. The Champions Trophy final appearance in 2016 and again in 2018, followed by a podium at Tokyo, showed the team's evolution. Working with coaches like Oltmans, Walsh, Reid, and now Fulton, Manpreet learned how to close the gap between performance and results.advertisementNow 32, Manpreet says his reading of the game is sharper, and he's more self-critical. 'I admit my mistakes,' he says.In the still somewhat chaotic battle that Indian hockey gets entangled during particular quarters where space dries up and whatever you did on the board doesn't translate onto the pitch, Manpreet, is straining at the leash, breaking forth, slapping the ball ahead, switching the team into an offensive transition and popping up on the top of the circle to receive and take a shot. In seconds, he has broken a high-pressure moment with his speed and unpredictability.Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey calls Manpreet's 400th game a testament to 'dedication and commitment.' Tirkey believes the team's composure today comes from players like Manpreet — players who understand and manage situations calmly.The 2026 World Cup will mark 50 years since India's last world title. That podium finish is still elusive. Manpreet doesn't dwell on it but knows its importance. 'It's not enough to just play well at the World Cup,' he says. 'Only a podium finish can ease the pain, end the wait.'advertisementBefore that, the Asia Cup in September looms. 'We need to qualify for the World Cup. That's the target. I just must keep fit, and we'll do it.'Motivation isn't measured by appearances. For Manpreet, it's his family — wife Illi Saddique and mother — who provide grounding and honest feedback. 'My wife especially is my sounding board. She doesn't hesitate to point out what could be better.'Anything is possible in modern sport. From teams that propel themselves into winning positions after being locked down to players who change a team's complexion. In a sport where teams are made up of various inter-locking parts, Manpreet, as an individual, one of the parts, makes it fun, the range of possibilities expanding when he is on the pitch.In a sport built around teamwork, Manpreet remains one of those parts that enhances the whole. Four hundred-plus may just be another number — but the contribution behind it, isn't.Must Watch