Indian hockey forward Mandeep Singh may not have achieved the iconic status of his captain Harmanpreet Singh or former captain Manpreet Singh, but when he positions himself upfront, opposing defenders cannot afford to underestimate him.
Also Read | Neeraj Chopra‘s Coach Confirms Full Recovery and Intense Training Regime
Mandeep Singh’s sister narrates brother’s commitment to the game of Hockey
As a crucial component of India’s strategy for the Paris Olympics, the 29-year-old striker, who was part of the bronze-winning team at the Tokyo Games, remains deeply committed to hockey. According to his sister Bhupinderjeet Kaur, Mandeep’s dedication to the sport has only intensified over time. She reveals that even a brief absence from the national camp leaves him feeling restless.
“He was so crazy about playing hockey that he would come home from school, skip meals, and head straight to practice. As Mandeep grew older, his commitment only deepened.
“Even now, whenever I talk to him during a break, he says he has fun at home but starts missing the camp after 15 days,” Kaur said in an episode of ‘Hockey Te Charcha’, highlighting her brother’s passion for the sport.
Mandeep’s blinder against Belgium in the semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics and his speed left the rivals confused but the Red Lions regrouped to beat India 5-2 to end their hopes of a gold medal.
India, though, returned with a bronze, making every player a national hero. But Kaur says, Mandeep just doesn’t want to be in the limelight.
“He prefers to be seen as a simple boy rather than a star,” said Kaur.
Recalling the celebrations at home when India won the bronze medal in Tokyo beating Germany, Kaur said it filled everyone with pride.
“We were all watching it on TV. Mandeep looked up with tears in his eyes, having a silent moment to himself. At home, everyone was praying, fingers crossed, hoping for victory. When we finally won, it felt like we had achieved something monumental. The atmosphere at home was electric with joy and pride,” she said.
Mandeep’s prolific goal-scoring has seen him being a part of several successful campaigns, including the Junior World Cup title triumph in Lucknow in 2016, Asia Cup gold in 2017, Asian Champions Trophy titles in 2018 and 2023, Commonwealth Games silver in 2022 Birmingham and the Hangzhou Asian Games gold in 2023, which helped India qualify automatically for Paris.
Kaur herself has forged a bond with the entire India team and she says all the players respect her and she wants them to return from Paris a successful bunch.
“Once Harmanpreet asked where his rakhi was, and from then on, I started sending it to all of them (players). They call me their sister, and I feel the same way.” She is confident India will come back with a gold medal from Paris.
“The team has become so perfect that they will win and bring (home) the gold,” she said.
