The Indian hockey team has undergone a revival, bringing back the glory and rekindling the nation’s deep-rooted connection with the sport. In the last few years, India has achieved back-to-back podium finishes at the Olympics, along with thrilling victories on the Asian and world stages. This clearly shows that India has emerged as a dominant force in hockey. The Indian team has a blend of youthful energy, seasoned leadership, and tactical brilliance. However, one player who has been there through all of India’s triumphs is Harmanpreet Singh. This year, “Sarpanch Saab” is nominated for the FIH Player of the Year Award again, and he’s the favourite to win the prestigious prize.
The glory of FIH Player of the Year
The FIH Player of the Year Award started in 1998, with Dutch player Stephan Veen being the first to win this prestigious honour. It took 21 years for an Indian to win this award. Indian team’s midfielder, Manpreet Singh was the first Indian to achieve this recognition. Later, in 2021, Harmanpreet Singh won the award, and he claimed it again in 2022. Finally, in 2023, Hardik Singh was the recipient of this prestigious honour.
Contenders for FIH Men’s Player of the Year 2024
Five players are in contention for the Player of the Year award in 2024, including Harmanpreet. The others are the Netherlands’ Thierry Brinkman and Joep de Mol, Germany’s Hannes Müller, and England’s Zach Wallace.
FIH Men’s Player of the Year nominees record in 2024
| Player | Matches | Goals | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Singh | 37 | 33 | Olympics (Bronze), Asian champions trophy (Gold) |
| Thierry Brinkman | 20 | 6 | Olympics (Gold) |
| Joep de Mol | 19 | 1 | Olympics (Gold) |
| Hannes Müller | 26 | 0 | Olympics (Silver) |
| Zachary Wallace | 13 | 2 | None |
Harmanpreet Singh in 2024
Harmanpreet Singh’s achievements in the last three years are remarkable. Looking at this year’s performance, India won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics with Harmanpreet’s leadership in the team. Recently, he also helped India win the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy. He wasn’t just part of the team; he actively contributed to both wins.
Harmanpreet’s role in India’s success in 2024
Among the nominees, Thierry Brinkman and Joep de Mol might have won gold at the Paris Olympics, and Hannes Müller might have claimed silver with his team, but it was Harmanpreet who was the top goalscorer in Paris, netting 10 goals. Australian Blake Govers was second with 7 goals. In the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy, Harmanpreet was India’s second-highest goalscorer with 7 goals and second overall in the tournament. The selection for the Player of the Year award is based not only on international performances but also on consistency, impact on the team, and fair play.
Harmanpreet Singh’s consistency
Harmanpreet hasn’t just won trophies and topped goalscoring charts, but he’s shown remarkable consistency. In addition to his performances in top tournaments, he is currently the third-highest goalscorer in the FIH Pro League season, with 12 goals. He is just behind Dutchman Jip Janssen, who has 15 goals, and Blake Govers, who also has 12 goals.
Top-tier sportsmanship
Harmanpreet Singh has demonstrated excellent sportsmanship over the last year. As the captain of the Indian team, he has shown strong leadership. He has also solved conflicts between teammates and opposing players on different occasions. Harmanpreet has proven to be the most valuable asset for his team, and these qualities make him the top contender to win the prestigious award for the third time.
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