Indian Hockey's 11 Players Emerge as Double Olympic Medallists with Paris Bronze

The Indian hockey team secured a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal on Thursday, featuring 11 players who will return as two-time medallists. This article delves into the lives and careers of some key players who made individual history while contributing to the team's collective success.

Manpreet Singh, the captain of the Tokyo squad, ended India's 41-year Olympic medal drought. The 32-year-old from Mithapur in Jalandhar saw his mother, Manjeet Kaur, work hard to support the family after his father faced mental health issues. Manpreet's father passed away in 2016 during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. He debuted internationally in 2011 at 19 and played in the 2012 London Olympics. Under his captaincy, India won the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, and he was named FIH Player of the Year in 2019.

PR Sreejesh: Veteran Goalkeeper

PR Sreejesh, born in Kizhakkambalam village in Kerala's Ernakulam district, is considered one of the world's best goalkeepers. The 36-year-old made his senior team debut in 2006 at the South Asian Games in Sri Lanka. His father, PV Raveendran, sold a cow to buy Sreejesh's goalkeeping kit. Despite advice to switch sports, Sreejesh persisted and led India to silver medals at the FIH Men's Hockey Champions Trophy in 2016 and 2018.

Harmanpreet Singh, India's captain for the Paris Games, hails from Jandiala Guru township near Amritsar. He debuted internationally in 2015 and played pivotal roles in winning silver at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and FIH Men's Champions Trophy in 2016. Harmanpreet's childhood fascination with his father's tractor helped him develop strength for his powerful drag-flicks. In Paris, he scored 10 goals, aiding India's bronze medal win.

Hardik Singh: A Family Legacy

Hardik Singh comes from a family deeply rooted in hockey. Born in Khusropur, Jalandhar, he trained under his uncle Jugraj Singh, a former Indian drag-flicker. His other uncle, Gurmail Singh, was part of India's gold-winning team at the 1980 Olympics. Hardik's father Varinderpreet Singh Ray also played for India and works as a police officer. Hardik debuted internationally at the 2018 Hero Asian Champions Trophy where India won gold.

Mandeep Singh didn't score any goals in this Olympics but remained a constant threat with his agility upfront. Born in Jalandhar, he honed his skills at Surjit Hockey Academy. Mandeep debuted for India during the second round of the 2012–14 Hockey World League against Fiji. Besides Tokyo bronze, he has a gold medal from the 2022 Asian Games and a bronze from the 2018 Jakarta Games.

Gurjant Singh: Rising Star

Gurjant Singh gained fame after India's victory at the 2016 Junior World Cup in Lucknow. He became an essential part of the senior team, earning a bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics and gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Other notable twin Olympic-medallists include key defender Amit Rohidas, striker Lalit Upadhyay, Sumit, Shamsher Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad.

The achievements of these players highlight their dedication and resilience. Their stories inspire many young athletes across India to pursue their dreams despite challenges.