New Delhi: Manpreet Singh has not decided about his future plans but the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024 will be his fourth and last Olympics. The former India men’s hockey skipper has said that he wants to give his best shot at the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza. Although he has not commented about his retirement in the recent past, yet his career is in its last phase.
Manpreet was the captain of the Indian team that broke a 41-year-old Olympic medal jinx at the Tokyo Olympics by bagging the bronze. Besides, he has been a member of the team that won 2014 and 2022 Asian Games gold medals.
“I never thought that I would be able to play four Olympics. It is every player’s dream to play in the Olympics and win medals. I consider myself very lucky that this is my fourth Olympics,” Manpreet told PTI Bhasha.
“I am going to Paris thinking as if it is my last Olympics and I have to give my best. I haven’t thought about quitting the game yet and my complete focus is on the Paris Games,” the experienced midfielder, who made his debut for India in 2011 at the age of just 19,” he added.
After the Tokyo Olympics, Manpreet had to endure the worst phase of his career when former coach Sjoerd Marijne levelled serious allegations against him. Marijne accused that Manpreet asked a player to underperform so that his friends could get in the team during 2018 Commonwealth Games, an allegation which both the men and women’s teams jointly denied, stating that the Dutchman did so to publicise his book.
Manpreet is no longer captain of the side with Harmanpreet Singh taking over the responsibility, but the star mid-fielder knows his role in the team as one of the senior-most member. India have been placed in tough pool in the Paris Olympics along side Australia, Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
(With PTI inputs)
Manpreet Singh was the captain of the Indian team that broke a 41-year-old Olympic medal jinx at the Tokyo Olympics by bagging the bronze. Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
