AI Generated Summary
- Punjab will have a commanding presence in the Indian men’s hockey team at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, with eight players from the state selected for the prestigious tournament.
- He overcame the setback to return to the national side and later represented India at the Paris Olympics, where the team secured a bronze medal.
- Having recently become the country’s most-capped men’s hockey player, the former captain continues to play an important role in the team with his composure, leadership and understanding of the game.
Punjab will have a commanding presence in the Indian men’s hockey team at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, with eight players from the state selected for the prestigious tournament. The World Cup will be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30.
The Punjab contingent comprises captain Harmanpreet Singh, former skipper Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Germanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh.
Jalandhar remains central to the story of Punjab’s continuing contribution to Indian hockey. Manpreet, Hardik, Mandeep and Sukhjeet belong to the district, while several of the other selected players have trained extensively at the city’s Surjit Hockey Stadium.
Manpreet Singh will enter the tournament as one of the most experienced members of the Indian squad. Having recently become the country’s most-capped men’s hockey player, the former captain continues to play an important role in the team with his composure, leadership and understanding of the game.
Sukhjeet Singh’s selection marks another significant chapter in an extraordinary sporting journey. A few years ago, the forward suffered partial paralysis, raising serious doubts about his future in professional hockey. He overcame the setback to return to the national side and later represented India at the Paris Olympics, where the team secured a bronze medal.
Reflecting on that achievement earlier, Sukhjeet had recalled spending the night after the bronze-medal victory thinking about the difficulties he had endured and the distance he had travelled in his career.
Hockey Punjab president Nitin Kohli and general secretary Amrik Singh Powar congratulated the players and described their selection as a proud moment for the state.
They said Harmanpreet Singh’s continuation as captain was a matter of great honour for Punjab, while Manpreet Singh’s experience would provide stability and guidance to the national team during the tournament.
The officials described the squad as a balanced combination of seasoned international players and emerging talent. Expressing confidence in the team’s prospects, they said India possessed the quality and depth required to mount a strong challenge for the World Cup title.
The selection of eight players also reinforces Punjab’s longstanding status as one of Indian hockey’s most productive centres, with Jalandhar once again emerging as a major nursery for international talent.
