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Manpreet Singh connected Wednesday (June 17, 2026) became India’s most-capped hockey subordinate with his 413th quality for the state during the FIH Pro League lucifer against Germany here.
The 33-year-old midfield prima surpassed erstwhile skipper and existent Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey who has represented the state 412 times successful his decorated career.
In designation of his monumental achievement, Hockey India announced a currency reward of ₹10 lakh for the prima playmaker.
"As Indian hockey continues to observe 100 years of its affluent legacy, Manpreet Singh, who is 1 of the top servants of the crippled successful the modern era, has achieved a feat nary Indian subordinate has managed before," HI said successful a release.
"For much than a decennary and a half, Manpreet has been the heartbeat of Indian hockey -- the relentless motor successful midfield, the person successful moments of unit and the embodiment of consistency astatine the highest level. Since making his elder debut arsenic a fearless 19-year-old successful 2011, helium has been astatine the centre of India’s resurgence connected the satellite stage, helping signifier 1 of the astir palmy eras successful the country’s modern hockey history.
"Now, with a grounds that erstwhile seemed untouchable, Manpreet has cemented his bequest among the top players ever to deterioration the Indian jersey," HI said.
Expressing his happiness connected reaching the milestone, Manpreet said, "It is simply a precise arrogant infinitesimal for maine to person played truthful galore matches for India. Representing the state has ever been the biggest honour of my beingness and reaching this milestone makes maine highly happy.
"I dedicate this accomplishment to my teammates and convey Hockey India for its enactment each measurement of the mode during my career. Every subordinate who has shared the tract with maine has contributed to this journey.
"Through each the highs and lows of my career, my teammates person stood by maine and supported me. I would besides similar to dedicate this milestone to my family, particularly my mother, brothers, woman and children, who person supported maine unconditionally from the precise beginning," helium added.
Speaking astir what continues to thrust him, Manpreet, who volition crook 34 aboriginal this month, said, "What motivates maine is that I person ever had a imagination to play for India and triumph medals for the country. I americium truthful arrogant to person won medals successful back-to-back Olympics with the team.
"The World Cup and the imagination of winning Olympic golden proceed to animate maine each day. My children besides motivate maine a lot. The enactment of my household and teammates fills maine with vigor to springiness my champion whenever I measurement onto the tract and marque them proud." With 413 planetary appearances, Manpreet present sits 5th connected the all-time database of men’s players with astir planetary caps, down Belgium’s John-John Dohmen (481), Netherlands' Teun de Nooijer (453), Australia’s Eddie Ockenden (451) and Great Britain’s Barry Middleton (432).
Manpreet is besides up of chap legends successful the 400-caps nine -- Pakistan’s Waseem Ahmed (410) and Netherlands’ Jeroen Delmee (401).
Remarkably, Manpreet is the lone progressive subordinate successful satellite hockey with implicit 400 caps, underlining not lone his longevity but besides an bonzer level of consistency and excellence sustained implicit 15 years astatine the highest level.
From enduring a challenging Olympic debut astatine London 2012 to captaining India to a historical bronze medal astatine the Tokyo Olympics successful 2021, Manpreet's travel has mirrored the resurgence of Indian hockey connected the planetary stage.
Along the way, helium played cardinal roles successful India's gold-medal-winning campaigns astatine the 2014 and 2022 Asian Games, Asia Cup triumphs successful 2017 and 2025, aggregate Asian Champions Trophy titles and back-to-back Olympic bronze medals astatine Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games.
One of the finest and fittest midfielders of his generation, Manpreet, who hails from Mithapur, Jalandhar, was conferred with the Arjuna Award successful 2018 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna successful 2021 successful designation of his exceptional publication to Indian hockey.
Congratulating Manpreet connected the historical achievement, Hockey India President Tirkey said, "Becoming the most-capped subordinate successful Indian hockey past is genuinely an bonzer accomplishment and 1 that reflects Manpreet's singular dedication, consistency and passionateness for the sport. To correspond the state astatine the highest level for truthful galore years and support specified exceptional standards is simply a uncommon achievement."
"Manpreet has played a cardinal relation successful galore of the team's top successes successful caller times, including the historical instrumentality to Olympic podium with a bronze medal successful Tokyo. Records are meant to animate aboriginal generations and I americium delighted to spot this milestone achieved by a subordinate who has fixed truthful overmuch to Indian hockey."
