Hockey
Manpreet Singh answers 22 questions from fans
After his stellar performances in Tokyo which won India a bronze medal, the Indian hockey team captain was part of an Ask Me Anything session online.
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Manpreet Singh became the first Indian to be named FIH Player of the Year when he won the award in 2019.
As captain of the Indian national hockey team, he has led the team to success several times, the most recent of which was the world’s biggest multi-sport event which took place in Tokyo in 2021.
Fresh off winning the bronze medal for India in Tokyo, Manpreet has been adulated with much love from all quarters of the country. Taking some time out amid all the devotion, he participated in an Ask Me Anything session on social media to interact with fans digitally.
Below are a few of the questions and Manpreet’s replies.
Manpreet during hockey drills
© Ali Bharmal
How did you feel when you won the bronze for India?
Actually I went blank that time. I was so happy that I didn’t know what to do and went blank in that moment.
What are three things you miss the most when you are away for a big tournament?
My family’s love, home-cooked food, and my two dogs – Sam and Rio.
What was your daily workout routine going into the tournament in Tokyo?
My daily workout was core strength, lower body gym work, and conditioning on the field.
2 min
Manpreet Singh's Tactical Training
How does Indian national field hockey team captain Manpreet Singh trian for a upcoming major tournament?
What was your diet before you played this huge tournament in Tokyo?
My diet was no oily food, no fast food, no cold drinks, no sweets, and no masala-heavy foods. I was avoiding all those things.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to give to aspiring hockey players in India?
I have two pieces of advice for young hockey players. One: Keep doing hard work. Two: Focus on the goals that you want to achieve.
Do you follow any pre-match ritual during tournaments?
My pre-match routine is to play FIFA and listen to music before the match.
What advice did Coach Graham Reid give the team during this tournament?
“Enjoy the game and just give your best.”
Manpreet Singh
© Ali Bharmal | Red Bull Content Pool
What did downtime look like for the team and you?
During our free time as a team, we would like to play table tennis, badminton and football. We always play these games.
What sports do you follow other than hockey?
Football and Formula 1.
What other tournaments are really important for Indian hockey?
There are three big events coming up next year – Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Hockey World Cup. So those are very important for us right now.
What is your favourite cheat meal?
My favourite cheat meal is pizza.
Manpreet practices some hockey drills
© Ali Bharmal | Red Bull Content Pool
Who is an Indian athlete or hockey player you look up to?
My favourite Indian athlete is Mary Kom. Everyone knows how she won a lot of medals for India even though she went through tough times. So she is someone I look up to.
What is your go-to exercise at the gym?
My go-to exercises in the gym are core strength exercises. I do sit-ups and front planks every other day.
Manpreet Singh in training
© Ali Bharmal | Red Bull Content Pool
Can you share your favourite memory while playing hockey for India?
I have a lot of special memories. But let me pick two for right now. First, when I represented India at the 2014 Asian Games and we won the gold medal. Second, when I captained India at the 2017 Asia Cup and we won the gold medal.
What is the most challenging thing about hockey?
The most challenging thing about hockey is fitness. It is extremely important in the game and something we pay a lot of attention to. Our coaches really make us run a lot!
Which is your favourite shot in hockey?
My favourite shot is the slap shot. I really like it and tend to use it a lot in matches.
Manpreet Singh performs the slap shot
© Ali Bharmal
What kind of music do you like listening to during a gym session?
I mostly listen to Punjabi music. Songs by Diljit Dosanjh, Garry Sandhu and Kara Aujla are usually on my gym playlist.
What is one exercise/fitness routine you do every day?
There are two fitness routines that I do daily. The first is cycling and the second is skipping rope. I do these daily before going to a ground and often after our training sessions also.
Manpreet Singh on the exercise bike
© Ali Bharmal / Red Bull Content Pool
What is one thing you take with you wherever you go?
One thing that I take with me wherever I go is my PlayStation. I always carry it with me anywhere I go. Whether it is our training camps or international tours, I carry my PlayStation with me.
Which is your favourite training/fitness drill?
I have two favourite exercises. Since we work on our lower body a lot, I enjoy doing leg press and squats.
Manpreet Singh performs squats
© Ali Bharmal
If there was only one hour left on Earth, what would you do?
If it was my last hour on Earth, I would like to spend that time with my family.
Name one truth about hockey that most people don’t know.
Everyone knows about the Yo-Yo fitness test and how it is one of the tough fitness tests in the world. It is used in hockey as well. A lot of people don’t know this but there are a lot of hockey players who have completed the Yo-Yo test comfortably and are much fitter than that. So sometimes hockey players are fitter than the existing tests for fitness; you can’t test our true fitness.
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