Harmanpreet Singh: From Amritsar’s Fields to the World Stage of Hockey

In a small village near Amritsar, where tight lanes meet the golden stretch of Punjab’s farmland, a young boy once picked up a hockey stick with more curiosity than ambition. His name was Harmanpreet Singh. Today, he is one of the finest drag-flickers in the world and the vice-captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, a symbol of Punjab’s deep and unbroken connection with the sport.

Born on January 6, 1996, in Timmowal village, Harmanpreet grew up in a farming family. Like many boys in rural Punjab, he first played hockey on makeshift fields, barefoot, chasing the ball with friends for hours. His early talent caught the eye of local coaches, and soon he was training at the Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar, a nursery that has produced many of India’s top players.

Specialising in drag-flicking, a highly technical skill in hockey, Harmanpreet showed remarkable precision and power from a young age. His breakthrough came in 2015 when he starred for India at the Junior Asia Cup, scoring nine goals and helping the team lift the title. The same year, he made his senior debut, and his rise since then has been unstoppable.

Harmanpreet was part of the Indian squad at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but it was the Tokyo 2020 Games that cemented his name in history. India’s men’s team won the bronze medal, ending a 41-year Olympic medal drought in hockey. Harmanpreet’s drag-flicks were central to that campaign, his goals bringing both relief and pride to a nation that had waited decades to see its hockey glory restored.

Beyond the Olympics, he has been a consistent force in the FIH Pro League and other major tournaments. In 2021, he was named the FIH Men’s Player of the Year, an award that recognised not only his skill but also his leadership on the field. His ability to step up under pressure, convert penalty corners, and inspire his teammates has made him one of the most feared players by opponents.

Off the field, Harmanpreet remains grounded. He often speaks about his village, his family, and the role Punjab’s hockey culture played in shaping him. He represents a tradition that goes back generations, where hockey sticks and farming tools are often kept in the same household, each symbolising hard work in its own way.

For young players across India, Harmanpreet’s story is a reminder that world-class talent can come from the humblest of beginnings. From the narrow lanes of Timmowal to Olympic podiums, he has carried not just the tricolour but the hopes of an entire sporting tradition.

When Harmanpreet Singh steps onto the turf, the crowd knows that a single penalty corner could change the game. And in that moment, the boy from Amritsar’s fields becomes what he has always been for India: a dependable striker, a proud son of Punjab, and one of the finest ambassadors of Indian hockey.