FIH awards: Captain Harmanpreet Singh wins 'Player of the Year; PR Sreejesh best goalkeeper
Both the players played a significant role in India's bronze medal achievement at the Paris Olympics 2024.
PTC News Desk: Indian Hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has been awarded with FIH player of the year award while PR Sreejesh has been accorded with Men's FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award at the 49th FIH Statutory Congress in Oman on November 8. Both the players played a significant role in India's bronze medal achievement at the Paris Olympics 2024.
Yibbi Jansen of Netherlands won the best player award in women's category, while Ye Jiao of China was the women's Goalkeeper Of The Year. The FIH Rising Stars of the Year award was presented to Zoe Daz of Argentina (women’s) and Sufyan Khan of Pakistan (men’s). For the second consecutive year, Alyson Annan from Australia, head coach of China’s women’s team, was named FIH Coach of the Year in the women’s category, while Jeroen Delmee of the Netherlands received the same honor in the men’s category.
“First off, I would like to thank FIH for this great honour. After the Olympics it was so great to go back home and have such huge crowds there to greet us and welcome us. It was a very, very special feeling. I would like to mention my teammates, none of this would have been possible without you all. Special thanks to Hockey India as well for always giving us every opportunity to succeed at all levels. My wife and daughter are here today and receiving this award in front of them means the world to me. So thank you to everyone who made that possible!” said Harmanpreet.
Sreejesh was elated and like Harmanpreet, dedicated the award to his teammates.
“I am so happy today. Thank you for this last playing honour of my playing career. As most people know, Paris 2024 was the last tournament I played for my country and I just want to thank Hockey India for all the support and guidance offered over all the years I have played the sport. This award completely belongs to my team, the defence who made sure most attacks never got to me, and the midfielders and forwards who covered up my mistakes by scoring more goals than I conceded,” said Sreejesh.