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Harmanpreet Singh scored a whopping 10 goals at the Paris Olympics(PTI)
India’s captain, Harmanpreet Singh, shares his thoughts on the improbability of comparing the two Olympic medals he has won, the return of the Hockey India League (HIL), and more.
It’s been an eventful year for Harmanpreet Singh and the Indian men’s hockey team. Amid a series of high-stakes matches and prestigious titles, the highlight was the Paris Olympics, where Harmanpreet led India to their second consecutive bronze medal. He netted an impressive 10 goals, finishing as the top scorer at the Paris 2024 Games, marking India’s first back-to-back Olympic medals since 1972. The team further solidified their dominance by clinching the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy, and Harmanpreet’s prominence in Indian men’s hockey was further cemented when he was purchased by Soorma Hockey Club from his home state of Punjab for INR 78 lakh during the HIL auction, the highest price paid for any player. Despite his busy schedule, Harmanpreet graciously took some time to speak with Hindustan Times during his well-earned break.
How would you sum up this year?
It has been amazing. We have achieved a lot this year as a team, achieved most of our targets. Our target was gold at the Olympics of course, but we performed really well. We got a lot of love and support from the people which was wonderful. So quite happy with it.
It feels quite incredible to even ask this question but I will put it to you anyhow: among the two Olympic medals that you have won can you say which one was the more difficult one to win?
Bhai (laughs), you can’t ask that. This is like asking which roti was better, the one you had yesterday or today. Ye hamari rozi roti hai (this is our bread and butter). Both of them are equally valuable and important. It was very difficult to win both. So no there is no answer to that question apart from the fact that they both are priceless.
It has been such a hectic year for all of you and now you are on a break before the Hockey India League. How much were you looking forward to this downtime, how good has it been for you?
Certainly, the entire year was packed so finally getting some time off. Spending it with my family. We also have our responsibilities with some training routines which I am sticking to. But yes, the focus is on spending as much time as possible with my family. In fact my daughter is asleep in my hands right now. It’s a wonderful time at the moment.
Could you tell me what kind of light training you do even on break to stay in shape?
Our trainers and coaches give us certain routines to maintain and we keep following up with them. We can’t lie around on the bed for too long on our break days. Fitness is very important and you understand its value even more once you become an experienced player. Of course, we do give a break of 3-4 days to our bodies and mentally we try to just relax. So we spend time with our family, train somewhat according to our schedule, it is just a change of scene and a different atmosphere and that is quite important.
Oh yes, I was just following the women’s team (India beat Paris 2024 silver medallists China in the final to win the 2024 Women’s Asian Champions Trophy). They performed so well and won the trophy, very happy to see that. The boys are at the Asia Cup (Men’s Junior Asia Cup in Muscat). There was a match against Japan today (India won 3-2) and there was a big win before that (India beat Thailand 11-0). I do like following the matches, in fact I do watch any of the matches at the national level and in the age-group levels whenever I can.
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