Harmanpreet Singh is the answer to Indian hockey Cristiano Ronaldo (Except the heel turn at the end of his career). The 28-year-old defender and drag-flick specialist is a charismatic individual – an international superstar who scores goals for fun, a leader both on and off the field, and one of the game’s chief architects. Indian The recent resurgence of hockey.
He played a key role in breaking India’s 41-year medal drought at the Olympics, with his goals leading the team to a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Four years later, he did it again, this time as team captain. His leadership, and his ability to get things done in difficult moments, has earned him the nickname “Sarpanch Saheb”.
He is a three-time winner of the FIH Player of the Year award, international hockey’s most prestigious individual honour. On top of that, Surma Hockey Club of Punjab paid Rs 78 lakh for his services in this year’s Hockey India League auction, making him the most expensive player ever in the league.
With all these accomplishments, you’d forgive Leo for a bit of arrogance, the chip on your shoulder that comes with being recognized as one of the best in the world. But Leo is humble and soft-spoken, a true son of the soil. When we sit down to talk, he is patient and thoughtful, and punctuates his responses with a respectful “sir.”
“My father keeps me grounded,” he says, speaking over Zoom from his home in Amritsar. “Even when I won the Olympic medal, after two days of celebration, I got a message from him, ‘That’s it’. Get back to work, focus on your next goal. Don’t be too complacent.”
born into farming Family In the village of Timmowal in Punjab, Singh early learned the virtues of hard work by watching his father Sarabjit Singh toil in the fields. Although they came from a humble background, the elder Singh was diligent in encouraging both his sons to take advantage of every opportunity, be it in education, sports or music. “I was interested in everything, I even took singing classes at school,” Singh says. “I will also play every sport – volleyball, football, athletics, cricket. I didn’t have any main focus or goal, so I tried everything.”
