Harmanpreet
Singh is the vice-captain of the Indian national hockey team and has one of the key
players in the team’s run to the semi-finals of the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. India
had an impressive tournament so far, having lost just once – a 7-1 drubbing against
Australia – before losing 5-2 to world champions Belgium in the semis on Tuesday.

Harmanpreet,
a defender and a drag-flick specialist, converted from a penalty corner to bring India back on terms in the loss against Belgium, taking his goal tally for the tournament to five.

Player bio:

Harmanpreet
was born on January 6, 1996 on the outskirts of Punjab’s Amritsar. He developed an interest in hockey from a young age and was supported by his father in pursuing his dreams of becoming a professional hockey player. 

He helped
his parents in the farm as a child and claims that his work in the fields
helped him hone his hockey skills.

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In 2011, he joined
the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Academy in Jalandhar with the hopes of becoming a forward. He played
for India’s Under-19 team and first attained international acclaim in 2014 when he
scored nine goals at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia, where he won the player
of the tournament award.

After a
number of excellent international performances, Harmanpreet was picked up by the
Dabang Mumbai franchise in the Hockey India League (HIL). Experts said he is a
prime example of what proper grooming, polishing, and guidance can do for a professional
player.

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“In two
years’ time, Harmanpreet may become the best drag-flicker in the world. But he
needs to be more consistent,” Sportskeeda quoted former Indian junior hockey
team coach Harendra Singh as saying.

A low-point came in Harmanpreet career at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio, where India won just two of five games and finished last. His coach said he was disappointed by Harmanpreet performances in the tournament, adding that he did not do justice to his talents as a player. 

However, he was central to the Indian hockey team’s revival in the years since, and was named the Asian Player of the Year by the Asian Hockey Federation in 2018.  

He idolises former Indian hockey player Jugraj Singh and Rupinderpal Singh along with former British hockey player Ashley Jackson. 

“Work hard, train hard, and everything else will fall into place,” is his mantra in life.