Located in the outskirts of Jalandhar city in Punjab, Mithapur village and its inhabitants have got something to be proud of. Their son of the soil, Manpreet Singh, captain of the Indian hockey squad has been named as the flag-bearer for the Indian contingent in 2020 Tokyo Olympics. What really makes it really special for Mithapur is that it is the second time, their resident is being bestowed this honour, the first time it was Pargat Singh.
Pargat did the honours in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Manpreet with be the flag bearer along with India’s legendary boxer, Mary Kom, who won the bronze for India in the London Olympics.
Thrilled and happy, Manpreet talking to the Indian Express said: “From growing up and playing hockey in Mithapur village to being named the flag bearer for the Indian contingent is a big honour for a player like me. It is a matter of pride as well as motivation for the whole Indian hockey team as well as fans and I hope we return with a medal from Tokyo.”
For Indian hockey too, it was an achievement as mid-fielder Manpreet is the sixth player to bear the flag at the Olympics opening ceremony. Others who were bestowed this honour are: Lal Singh Bokhari, Los Angeles, 1932, Major Dhyan Chand, Munich, 1936, Balbir Singh Senior, Helsinki, 1952 and Melbourne, 1956, Zafar Iqbal, Los Angeles, 1984, and Pargat Singh, Atlanta, 1996.
Singh has so far donned the Indian colours in 259 international matches and he took to the stick very early as he was inspired and encouraged by his father, Baljit Singh along with his elder siblings, Amandeep Singh and Sukhraj Singh.
He made his debut for the national squad in 2011 and played the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in 2016. Before the tournament commenced he lost his father but he joined the team after the funeral. The team won the bronze there.
Recalling his association with his father, he told IE: “My father would often accompany me and my brothers to the hockey ground at our village and he would always encourage me to play my best. I wish he was alive to see this proud moment for me. He will be watching me from the heavens and will be inspiring me and the whole team. I had a talk with my mother Manjeet Kaur and she too said the same thing.”
The village Mithapur boasts of producing many international hockey players. Some of them are Swarup Singh, member of gold winning team at Helsinki Olympics (1952); Kulwant Singh, part of the squad which got bronze in Munich in 1972; and Pargat Singh who captained the side in Atlanta Olympics, 1996.
Interestingly, another player from Mithapur, Mandeep Singh, will be donning the national colours along with Manpreet.
Sharing his thoughts about the legendary players, Manpreet told IE: “My brothers and I heard stories about Swarup Singh and Kulwant Singh sir from my father and grew up listening to and watching Pargat sir at the village hockey ground. Pargat sir keeps encouraging us and to emulate him is a big motivation for me.”
