MANPREET SINGH: The Inspirational Leader
The 29-year-old hails from a small village of Mithapur in Jalandhar. The Indian skipper made his international debut in 2011 at the age of 19. His first big tournament as member of the senior team was the 2012 London Olympics. He has since represented the country at all major tournaments and featured in India’s fine victories including the Gold at the 2014 Asian Games.
Under Manpreet’s captaincy, India were crowned champions at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy. In 2019, he was named the FIH Player of the Year.
P R SREEJESH: The Great Wall of India
Born in Kizhakkambalam village in Kerala’s Ernakulam district to a family of farmers, India’s custodian is arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the world, standing tall as the team’s last line of defence.
The 35-year-old made his debut for the senior team in 2006 at the South Asian Games, and has been an integral part of the national team since 2011.
Appointed captain in 2016, Sreejesh led the side to Silver medals at the FIH Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy in 2016 and 2018.
HARMANPREET SINGH: Drag-flick King
The son of a farmer in Jandiala Guru township, a village in the outskirts of Amritsar, Harmanpreet made his international debut in 2015. He was part of the Silver winning teams at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy in 2016.
He also played a pivotal role in India’s Gold-winning campaign at the FIH Men’s World Series Finals as well as 2019 Olympic Qualifiers.
RUPINDER PAL SINGH: Another Drag-flick Genius
‘Bob’ to his teammates, Rupinder is one of the most lethal drag-flickers in the world. The lanky defender made his international debut in 2010 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament, where India clinched the Gold.
Named vice-captain in 2014, Rupinder has had a topsy-turvy journey as he was dropped from the team for the 2018 Champions Trophy squad, but was recalled for the Asian Games later in the year, where he made a solid comeback to the side by scoring a marvellous hat-trick against Sri Lanka and the team went on to clinch the Bronze.
SIMRANJEET SINGH: Super Striker
The 24-year-old, who scored a brace in the Bronze medal playoff against Germany on Thursday, was added to the squad following the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow ‘alternate athletes’ in team events because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Simranjeet, a product of Jalandhar’s Surjit Singh Hockey Academy, was also a member of India’s 2016 Junior World Cup-winning side.
His cousin and junior World Cup teammate Gurjant Singh is also a part the squad.
HARDIK SINGH: Upcoming midfield star of Indian team
Hockey runs in Hardik’s genes. From his father to his uncle and aunt everyone has played hockey for the country.
The 22-year-old midfielder born in Khusropur in Jalandhar honed his skills under his uncle Jugraj Singh, the former Indian drag-flicker.
His other uncle — Gurmail Singh — was part of the 1980 Summer Olympics where India clinched the historic Gold. Gumail’s wife and Hardik’s aunt Rajbir Kaur was the former women’s team captain.
Hardik’s father Varinderpreet Singh Ray also played for India and grandfather Preetam Singh Ray was a hockey coach with the Indian Navy.
Hardik made his international debut with the senior team at the 2018 Hero Asian Champions Trophy where India clinched the Gold medal.
He soon became a regular feature in the team’s midfield and was a part of India’s Gold medal-winning feat at the 2019 FIH Men’s Series Finals in Bhubaneswar, as well a part of 2019 Tokyo Olympic Qualifiers.
GRAHAM REID: The Master tactician
A veteran of 130 international matches, Reid was a member of the Australian hockey team that won the Silver medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
A disciple of the legendary Ric Charlesworth, Reid was his assistant in the Australian team for five years before being elevated to the top position in 2014. Under his tutelage, the Australia team finished sixth at the Rio Olympics after being eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
The 57-year-old was appointed the Indian men’s team coach in 2019.
He has often spoken about pursuing a process and investing in youth to get the results at a big stage like the Olympics.