Manpreet Singh Pawar is an Indian field hockey player who has served as the captain of the India men's national field hockey team. A central midfielder known for his ball distribution, stamina and defensive work, he was part of the Indian squad that won the bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, India's first Olympic medal in men's hockey in 41 years.
Key facts
| Full name | Manpreet Singh Pawar |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 June 1992, Mithapur, Jalandhar district, Punjab, India |
| Position | Midfielder (central midfield) |
| National team | India |
| Senior debut | 2011 (Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Ipoh) |
| Captain of India | From 2017 onwards (across multiple cycles) |
| Major medal | Bronze, 2020 Tokyo Olympics |
| FIH Player of the Year | 2019 |
| Honours | Arjuna Award (2018), Padma Shri (2022) |
Background
Manpreet Singh was born and raised in Mithapur, a village near Jalandhar in Punjab, a region with a long tradition of producing Indian hockey internationals. He took to hockey at an early age, training initially in his home district before moving through the junior development structure of Hockey India. He attended Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar, named after the late Indian international Surjit Singh, which has historically nurtured several Punjab-based players.
Junior career
Manpreet captained the India under-21 team at the 2013 Junior World Cup held in New Delhi, where India finished tenth. He had earlier been part of the Indian junior side that won bronze at the 2013 Sultan of Johor Cup and other age-group tournaments, building a reputation as a calm and tactically aware midfielder.
Senior career
Early years (2011–2014)
Manpreet made his senior debut for India at the 2011 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia. He was part of the Indian squad at the 2012 London Olympics, where India finished twelfth. He was a member of the team that won gold at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, a result that secured India a direct berth at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Established international (2014–2018)
Manpreet became a regular in the Indian midfield through the cycle leading to the 2016 Rio Olympics, where India reached the quarter-finals. He played a central role as India won the Champions Trophy silver medal at London in 2016 and won the Asian Champions Trophy in 2016 and 2018. India also retained the Asian Champions Trophy and won the Asia Cup in 2017 in Dhaka with Manpreet in the squad.
Captaincy and Tokyo Olympics
He was appointed captain of the senior India team in 2017 and led the side at multiple FIH Pro League seasons, the 2018 Asian Games (where India won bronze), and the 2018 Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar. In 2019 he was named the FIH Men's Player of the Year, becoming the first Indian to win the award.
At the rescheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, Manpreet captained India to the bronze medal, with India defeating Germany 5–4 in the third-place match. The medal ended a 41-year wait since India's last Olympic men's hockey medal at Moscow 1980.
Post-Tokyo
After the Tokyo cycle, Manpreet continued as a senior member of the squad. India won the 2022 Asian Champions Trophy and the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy at Chennai, with Manpreet in the playing group. He was part of India's gold-medal winning team at the 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023) in Hangzhou, which secured a direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where India again won the bronze medal.
Playing style
Manpreet plays primarily as a central midfielder. He is regarded for his stamina, two-way running, accurate distribution and ability to recycle possession from defence into attack. He is also used in penalty corner defence and as a calming presence in the build-up phase.
Honours and awards
- Olympic Games: Bronze – 2020 Tokyo; Bronze – 2024 Paris
- Asian Games: Gold – 2014 Incheon, 2022 Hangzhou; Bronze – 2018 Jakarta–Palembang
- Champions Trophy: Silver – 2016 London, 2018 Breda
- Asian Champions Trophy: Multiple titles, including 2016, 2018, 2023
- Asia Cup: Gold – 2017 Dhaka
- Commonwealth Games: Silver – 2022 Birmingham
- FIH Men's Player of the Year: 2019
- Arjuna Award: 2018
- Padma Shri: 2022
Domestic and league career
Manpreet has been associated with various franchises in the Hockey India League (HIL), including Dabang Mumbai, where he played during the original editions of the league. He has also represented Indian Oil Corporation in domestic hockey, as part of his employment with the public-sector undertaking, which is a long-standing patron of Indian hockey.
Significance
Manpreet's tenure as captain coincided with a sustained revival of Indian men's hockey at the elite level, including consistent participation in the FIH Pro League, the Tokyo Olympic bronze and renewed dominance in continental competitions. His individual recognition as FIH Player of the Year in 2019 marked the first such honour for an Indian player.
Related topics
- India men's national field hockey team
- Hockey India
- Field hockey at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Field hockey at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
- FIH Pro League
- Surjit Hockey Academy
- Arjuna Award
- Padma Shri
References
- Hockey India – Player profile, Manpreet Singh.
- International Hockey Federation (FIH) – Player of the Year 2019 announcement.
- Government of India – Padma Awards 2022 list, Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports – Arjuna Award 2018 list.
- Official reports of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, men's hockey tournament.