In a proud moment for Punjab, Jalandhar’s hockey player Manpreet Singh on Tuesday has been named as the captain of the 16-member Olympic-bound Indian men's hockey team.

Midfielder Manpreet Singh will lead the team while experienced defenders, Birendra Lakra and Harmanpreet Singh will remain on the second-most position to the new captain.

Pertinently, Manpreet hails from the village of former Indian Hockey player and now Congress MLA Pargat Singh. After 21 years, a Punjabi player has been given a chance to lead the team in Tokyo Olympics 2021. Manpreet, a native of village Mithapur has brought fame and laurels to his birthplace as Mithapur is the only village of Punjab which has given three captains to the Indian Hockey Team.

Prior to Manpreet, the Indian Hockey team was led by former player Pargat Singh in Barcelona Olympics held in 1992 followed by Atlanta Olympics 1996.

From Punjab, Manpreet is the eighth hockey player to become captain of the Indian Hockey team.

The list of Indian Hockey team captain from Punjab includes names of ), Balbir Singh Senior (Melbourne Olympics 1956), Charanjit Singh (Tokyo Olmpics 1964), Prithipal Singh (Mexico Olympics- 1968), Harmik Singh (Munich Olympics 1972), Ajitpal Singh (Montreal Olympics 1976), Pargat Singh (Barcelona Olympics 1992 and Atlanta Olympics 1996), Ramandeep Singh (Sydney Olympics 2000), Pargat Singh (Barcelona Olympics 1992 and Atlanta Olympics 1996).

It is to be reiterated here, this will be Manpreet's third Olympics.

Under Manpreet's captaincy, the Indian team won Asia Cup in 2017, the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018, and the FIH Series Final in 2019.

The team led by Manpreet also made it to the quarterfinals of the FIH Men's World Cup 2018 in Bhubaneswar.

Also Read: Punjab’s Gurjit Kaur selected for Indian Women Hockey Team for Olympic Games

Lakra, on the other hand, is a veteran defender who was part of the 2012 London Olympics but missed the 2016 Rio Games owing to a knee surgery.

Harmanpreet, since his senior India debut in 2015, has grown in his role as a drag-flicker and defender. In the absence of Manpreet in 2019, Harmanpreet led the Indian team to victory at the FIH Olympic Test event in Tokyo.

Chief coach Graham Reid said, "All three players have been an integral part of the team's leadership over these past couple of years and have shown a lot of maturity in guiding the youngsters during these challenging times. Naming two vice-captains we believe will also strengthen our leadership in what is going to be a demanding tournament. We are confident that together they will guide the team to success."

Manpreet said, "This Olympics will be truly special, and I am humbled to have this opportunity of representing India at the Olympics for the third time, this time as team captain. It is a very proud moment for me to be given this charge. Over these past few years, we have developed a strong leadership group and have successfully overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic to not drop our form and keep our minds and fitness-focused towards doing well at the Olympics."

Upon the selection of Manpreet as captain, Punjab Hockey President Nitin Kohli expressed happiness and extended best wishes to the player for the game.

India will begin their campaign in Tokyo on July 24 when they take on New Zealand in their first Pool stage match.