Mithapur LAD and Indian hockey crew captain Manpreet Singh (29) has been made India’s flag bearer together with London Olympics bronze medalist boxer Mary Kom for the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to be held later this month. Singh, who has turn into the primary Indian hockey participant after former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh (1996 Atlanta Olympics) to turn into the flag bearer on the Olympics, by the way hails from Pargat- Mithapur village in Jalandhar.
“From growing up in Mithapur village and playing hockey to being named the flag bearer for the Indian contingent is a great honor for a player like me. It is a matter of pride as well as inspiration for the entire Indian hockey team as well as fans and I hope we return with a medal from Tokyo,” a Manpreet advised The Indian Express.
The mid-fielder has turn into the sixth Indian hockey participant to be named the flag bearer of the Indian contingent for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Earlier, Lal Singh Bokhari (1932 Los Angeles Olympics), Major Dhyan Chand (1936 Munich Olympics), Balbir Singh Sr. (1952 Helsinki Olympics and 1956 Melbourne Olympics), Zafar Iqbal (1984 Olympics) and Pargat Singh (1996 Olympics) had obtained this honor. met. .
Singh, who has performed 259 worldwide matches for India, began taking part in hockey on the hockey stadium in Mithapur on the behest of his father Baljit Singh and elder brothers Amandeep Singh and Sukhraj Singh. The teenager will make his debut for the Indian senior crew in 2011. Singh performed within the 2016 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. His father handed away earlier than the event started and the mid-fielder joined the crew after the funeral. Indian crew received bronze medal.
Manpreet Singh has performed 259 worldwide matches for India. (file)
On Monday, Singh mentioned his late father would have been very proud. “My father would often accompany me and my brothers to the hockey ground in our village and he would always encourage me to play my best. I wish he was alive to see this proud moment for me. He will be watching me from heaven and will inspire me and the entire team. I spoke to my mother Manjit Kaur today and she said the same thing,” shared an emotional Singh.
Mithapur has a historical past of manufacturing worldwide hockey gamers with Pargat Singh, captain and member of the 1952 Helsinki Olympic gold medal profitable Indian hockey crew Swaroop Singh, member of the 1972 Olympics bronze medal profitable Indian hockey crew Kulwant Singh, in addition to Pargat Singh. Member of the Indian hockey crew on the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Along with Manpreet Singh, one other participant from Mithapur Mandeep Singh can be a member of the Indian hockey crew for the Tokyo Olympics. Earlier, Manpreet had received the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Player of the Year award final yr. Singh turned the primary Indian participant to win this award. While Pargat Singh performed in three Olympics (1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympics), the Tokyo Olympics could be Manpreet’s third Olympics after taking part in within the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics.
“My brothers and I heard stories about Swaroop Singh and Kulwant Singh sir from our father and grew up listening and watching Pargat sir in the village hockey ground. Pargat sir continues to encourage us and it is a big inspiration for me to emulate him,” Singh mentioned.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
