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Tag: Manpreet Singh

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FIH Hockey Pro League: Manpreet Singh shines in attacking role as India put four past Ireland

It is not often that a hockey match ends 4-0 with four different goal-scorers and the Player of the Match award goes to someone other than them. As India beat Ireland at the FIH Pro League in Rourkela on Sunday, it was Manpreet Singh who got the nod for the award in the end and it was fitting too, for the classy performance he produced in the midfield. India had somewhat of an unusual collection of scorers in Nilakanta Sharma (14′), Akashdeep Singh (15′), Gurjant Singh (38′), and Jugraj Singh (60′) as they closed out the Odisha mini-tournament with their third outright win, moving up to third place on 15 points. But Manpreet was in dazzling form, dictating India’s attacking pace and showing off his creativity to fashion proactive chances. After Ireland had made a fast start to the match...
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Ahead of Paris Olympics, why Indian hockey team coach Craig Fulton is trying to assemble team of 10 ‘aloos’ and a ‘keeper

In his typical self-effacing manner, Manpreet Singh once said, in a lighter vein, that he is called aloo by his teammates. One of the fittest players in the world, Manpreet was referred to as a humble potato for a simple reason: the utility factor. He could be used anywhere on the field, in any shape the team plays.By extending that logic, India coach Craig Fulton is now trying to assemble a team of 10 aloos and a goalkeeper. A centre-half, Manpreet, has played as a defender and an attacking midfielder. A forward, Gurjant Singh, has dropped back and played on the right of the midfield. Defenders have pushed up, midfielders switch positions among themselves and someone like Hardik Singh has covered literally every part of the field. On Monday, Manpreet started the FIH Pro League match a...
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PR Sreejesh hands India win over Netherlands in FIH Pro League | Hockey News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Indian men's hockey team emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against the world number one Netherlands with a 4-2 win in a shoot-out during the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a pivotal role as he made three crucial saves in the shoot-out, securing the bonus two points for India after the match ended 2-2 in regulation time.Netherlands earned one point from the contest.During the shoot-out, India's captain Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, and Shamsher Singh all successfully scored against the Dutch.In regulation time, Hardik Singh (13th minute) and Harmanpreet (58th) found the net for India, while Jip Janssen (30th) and Koen Bijen scored for the Netherlands.Netherlands applied early pressure on th...
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FIH Hockey Pro League: Eyes on youngsters as Craig Fulton looks to finalise India’s Olympic Games squad in Odisha

The dossiers are getting thicker. And training drills are being designed basis that. As much time is spent indoors – in the meeting rooms of hotels, stadiums, and training centers, plotting the downfall of every opponent – as the minutes spent on the field, where the plans will be put into motion.Every move will be analysed and each match will be an audition. “It’s test matches now. Home stretch,” says coach Craig Fulton. “We are looking to confirm our Olympic squad.” With that, the South African laid down the marker for India’s hockey players. Over the next fortnight, the eight games that India play against the Netherlands, Australia, Spain, and Ireland in the FIH Pro League in Odisha will, in essence, be the selection trials for the Paris Olympics squad. The matches later this year, F...
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Hockey: How Manpreet Singh bounced back from World Cup 2023 low to finish year on high as a more complete player

For some of India’s top stars, 2023 was the year when they had to pause, reflect and reboot. In some cases, to recover from injuries; in a few others, to rediscover lost form. All in the hope that when the big day comes, they’ll be ready and recharged for the challengeIn Odisha at the World Cup in January, after India lost the shootout against New Zealand to fall short of the quarterfinals, Manpreet Singh was on his knees, staring down at the turf in disbelief. It wasn’t supposed to end this way, for the team that won bronze at Tokyo Olympics. It was, to put it mildly, a disaster to go out that early. In Hangzhou at the Asian Games in October, when the final was deadlocked 0-0 against Japan with five minutes left to go in the first half, India were getting a bit desperate for the openin...
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FIH Player of the Year award a recognition of hard work and perseverance: Hardik Singh | Hockey News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Indian men's hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh on Wednesday said the FIH Player of the Year award is a recognition of his "hard work and perseverance" that he has put in over the years to excel in the sport he loves.Hardik on Tuesday became the third male player from India to win the coveted award, joining Manpreet Singh (2019) and Harmanpreet Singh (2020-21 and 2021-22).Besides Hardik, India women's team skipper Savita Punia won the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive time."It's an absolute honour to receive this esteemed award. I am immensely grateful to my teammates, coaches, and supporters who have been the pillars of my success. This recognition fuels my determination to continue giving my best to the sport I love," Hardik said."The journey to ...
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Asian Games: India rout Uzbekistan 16-0 in men’s hockey goalfest – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Indian men's hockey team commenced their campaign at the Asian Games with an impressive 16-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Sunday. Lalit Upadhyay, Varun Kumar, and Mandeep Singh all scored hat-tricks as India dominated the match from start to finish in the Pool A encounter.Ranked third in the world, India entered the match as clear favourites against the 66th-ranked Uzbekistan team, and they lived up to expectations by controlling the proceedings throughout the game.Asian Games Day 1Lalit Upadhyay scored four goals in the 7th, 24th, 37th, and 53rd minutes, while Varun Kumar contributed four goals as well in the 12th, 36th, 50th, and 52nd minutes. Mandeep Singh found the net three times in the 18th, 27th, and 28th minutes. Abhishek (17th), Amit Rohidas (38th), Sukhjeet (42nd)...
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Exclusive: ‘Indian men’s team is the best side in the Asian Games, but their biggest challenge will be…’: Ex-India coach Jagbir Singh on India’s gold medal chances | Asian Games 2018 News – Times of India

Following their exhilarating triumph in the Asian Champions Trophy, the Indian men's hockey side will be eager to further stamp their continental dominance at the 19th edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.While India appear to be one of the top favourites to grab the gold by the end of the campaign, history and past records in the respective competition suggest that the third-ranked side in World Men's Hockey currently finds themselves as the third most successful overall when it comes to achieving the coveted feat. Pakistan lead the charge with eight gold medals, South Korea follow them with four, and India are third with three titles won in 1966, 1998 and 2014.India have finished 15 times on the podium overall, with nine defeats in the final resulting in nine strokes of silve...
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Asian Champions Trophy 2023: Clinical India tame Japan for a place in the final against Malaysia | Hockey News – Times of India

CHENNAI: When Karthi Selvam scored the fifth goal, which proved to be the final nail in the Japanese coffin, the 9000-strong crowd at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium unanimously cheered "Karthi...Karthi" to show their love for the local hero. By then, a clinical Indian display, led by some remarkable playmaking by Manpreet Singh, had stamped the verdict, which finally read 5-0 in India's comprehensive win over Japan in the semifinal of the Men's Asian Champions Trophy here on Friday.As It HappenedIt was one-way traffic once Akashdeep Singh broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, after a goal-less first quarter that saw the teams more focused on defence and not give away an early lead.But veteran striker Akashdeep's goal opened the floodgates and India scored twice more before half-time, ...
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Manpreet Singh after win against Pakistan: We are not under pressure for semifinals | Hockey News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: After registering a resounding victory against arch-rivals Pakistan, India midfielder Manpreet Singh hailed his team's performance and said that Men in Blue are not under any pressure for their semifinals clash in the Asian Champions Trophy. India defeated Pakistan 4-0 to finish on top of the table.The Indian hockey team will face Japan in the semifinals on Friday."I think our overall performance was very good.Unfortunately, we missed many chances. Overall the game was fantastic as everyone gave their 100 per cent because we knew this match was crucial for us to top the pool. We started our tournament with an easy win against China. Our coach believed that if our defence is good then we can score more goals. We worked really hard on our defence and comprehend how can we stop ...
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Hockey World Cup: India fire ‘many firsts’ to rout Japan 8-0 in placement game | Hockey News – Times of India

BHUBANESWAR: India's silent guns finally found some ammunition to fire as fans in Rourkela put the disappointment of team's failure to reach the Men's Hockey World Cup quarterfinals behind them to once again pack the stands at the gigantic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. And the Indian team responded in style to hammer the 2018 Asian Games champions Japan 8-0.It was a game of many firsts for the home team that was pushed out of the title race by New Zealand in the crossovers.As it happened: India vs JapanFive of India's eight goals came off penalty corners (PC), including skipper Harmanpreet Singh's drag-flick managing to beat a goalkeeper on a PC for the first time in the tournament. India's PC conversion rate was the best in five matches -- 5/11.Abhishek (36th and 44th minute) and Harmanp...
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Indian Men’s Hockey World Cup Squad: Harmanpreet to lead as India hope to end 47-year wait | Hockey News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Defender Harmanpreet Singh, who has been leading India since the later half of 2022, will continue to captain the national side at the upcoming FIH World Cup in Odisha, as the 18-member squad was announced by Hockey India on Friday. The 16-team tournament begins on January 13 next year with the final scheduled for January 29. It will be hosted by two cities in Odisha -- Rourkela and Bhubaneswar. The No.6-ranked India have been clubbed in Pool D alongside England, Spain and Wales. The hosts will open their campaign against the Spaniards on January 13 in Rourkela at the new, purpose-built Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. The core-group of 33 players were put through a two-day selection trial at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru to pick the squad that will be expected to end India's 47-yea...