Hockey
'A honor,' Harmanpreet Singh on FIH Player of the Year nomination
At 28, Harmanpreet was the top scorer in the tournament, netting 10 goals across eight matches.
Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has received a nomination for the FIH Player of the Year Award, thanks to his outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics, where he led India to a bronze medal.
At 28, Harmanpreet was the top scorer in the tournament, netting 10 goals across eight matches.
This marks his third nomination for the award; he previously won it in 2020 and 2021.
In a statement, Harmanpreet expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s an honor to be nominated again. My success comes from the support of my team, who created the opportunities for me to score.”
He is in the running alongside other top players, including Thierry Brinkman and Joep de Mol from the Netherlands, Hannes Müller of Germany, and Zach Wallace from England. The nomination considers performances in all international matches from 2024.
Harmanpreet scored most of his goals from penalty corners, demonstrating his precision under pressure. He described the Olympics as a career highlight, emphasizing how his teammates stood by him during tough moments, especially after a challenging World Cup.
After the Olympics, he captained India at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy in Moqi, China, where he again excelled, scoring seven goals and earning the title of Player of the Tournament. With a remarkable total of 205 goals in 226 matches, he joins the ranks of hockey legends like Major Dhyan Chand.
As the team looks ahead to future competitions, Harmanpreet encourages fans to support Indian hockey. Voting for the Player of the Year Award is open until October 11.