The Opening Day of the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017 was special for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team skipper Manpreet Singh has achieved the milestone of completing 200 international caps. 
 
He was welcomed on the pitch to deafening cheers from a packed Kalinga Stadium when the Indian Team took on defending Champions Australia in their first Pool B match. “It’s a really special feeling to be completing my 200th match in front of the home crowd,” expressed the midfielder who recently led the Indian Men’s Hockey Team to the Asia Cup title in Dhaka. 
 
For Manpreet, who made his international debut for the Men’s Team in 2011, it was the Asian Games Gold Medal in 2014 Incheon where they beat Pakistan in the Final that is on top of his list of most memorable matches. He said, “I think every match I play for India is special because it’s a matter of pride for me to represent my country. But the most special win thus far in my career is the Asian Games Gold. I think the Asia Cup victory this year too is special. It was an important tournament for us to win and it was a great team effort.”
 
Manpreet further thanked his team for their constant support. “I would like to thank my teammates who have been a big support for me for remaining a constant support through all my struggles. The biggest low for me was losing my father last year before the Olympics (during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup). It was because of the team that I could overcome the loss,” expressed an emotional 25-year-old from Mithapur, Punjab.
 
Manpreet has been part of the Indian Team that participated in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. He was part of the team that clinched a history Silver Medal at the FIH Champions Trophy in London last year, as well as the Silver Medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 
 
Mohd Mustaque Ahmad, Secretary General, Hockey India, congratulated the young skipper for this memorable feat. “On behalf of Hockey India, I congratulate Manpreet Singh on completing 200 International matches for India. He has been an integral part of the Indian Team that has climbed the World Rankings in the recent years and he has also shown his abilities as a good leader, guiding young players in the current squad. I wish he continues to flourish and wish him the very best for this tournament as well as the coming years,” Ahmad stated.