What makes midfielder Manmeet Singh one for the future

4 days ago 9

ARTICLE AD BOX

News
Sports
Hockey
What makes midfielder Manmeet Singh one for the future

Hailing from Akashdeep Singh’s hometown, scores and creates goals, besides wielding authority at the heart of the midfield

Manmeet Singh in action at the FIH Junior World Cup. (Photo: Hockey India)

It’s a drill, Manmeet Singh says, that he and defender Priyobarta Talen have repeatedly practised in training. But to execute it on the FIH Junior World Cup takes a lot of skill.

Story continues below this ad

So when Talem started winding himself up for a drilled ground pass from the left channel into the circle, Manmeet took the cue and created a yard of space for himself. As the ball sped to him, all he had to do was sweep it behind him across the goal. The Swiss goalkeeper, who was proving tough to beat, was breached in a flash.

“Woh na, bas ek moment mein ho jaata hain. I had done the pre-scanning and knew what to do,” Manmeet, who celebrated his birthday with two goals in India’s 5-0 win in Madurai on Tuesday, tells The Indian Express. “We do this a lot in training, where the attacking midfielder will lead into space, and the forward will take up a spot in the circle and then take a first-touch shot on goal. Priyobarta and I have done this so many times that just from eye contact, I know he is going to hit that long ball into the circle, and I know I have to take my lead.”

Story continues below this ad

It’s this facet of his game that pleases coach Avtar Singh the most. “For any player to score a goal, the first thing to do is to clear his position so that you can manoeuvre the ball. To make space to either take a shot or make a pass is crucial. That’s why the second goal he scored was the best – he got space, he took a direct shot with his first touch,” Avtar tells The Indian Express.

Manmeet hails from Verowal in Tarn Taran, Punjab – the same village that produced the supremely skilful Akashdeep Singh. “My father, an Armyman, used to play hockey at the national level. The sport was popular. When Akashdeep paaji used to play in the Hockey India League and all, there was such a craze for him, and it inspired me. His skills and vision were very good. He was a game-maker.”

Story continues below this ad

Hockey India) Manmeet Singh in action at the FIH Junior World Cup. (Photo: Hockey India)

Attacking thrust

Manmeet is offering the same skills to the junior team. While he started out as a centre-half at the Surjit Academy, he is now playing more as an attacking midfielder. He scored five field goals in India’s three group-stage matches, finding himself in good positions in the circle with his late surges. He has also been instrumental in creating opportunities from open play, as he showed when he stole the ball back from Oman defenders right from the restart to set up Ajeet Yadav.

“For a midfielder, it is great that he is converting the opportunities he is getting to score. But apart from that, he is also creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. When he started with us, he was a proper midfielder, more of a feeder (to the forward) early on. Now he is an all-rounder. His new role is to attack and score goals while moving up from the midfield,” Avtar explains.

“When he came to us at Surjit Academy in Jalandhar, he was 13 years old. Initially, we focused more on his skills. As he matured, his strength increased, and his decision-making got better. I’d say right now he is playing at his best. His skills, like receiving, dodging, and passing, are the same as they were at the academy. But is new development is his ability to score goals, and that’s a big plus.”

Story continues below this ad

As he wears No. 8 and looks to drive the attacking plays from midfield, comparisons with the senior team’s heartbeat Hardik Singh are inevitable. Manmeet idolises the Indian vice captain and has been picking his brains for a long time. “When I was in the academy, Hardik bhai used to come there to practice. I was a kid. Even if it was my off day at camp, I used to practise with him. I used to ask him a lot of questions… about receiving the ball under pressure, and where to take the first touch, and about tackling too. There was Simranjeet Singh, too, from whom I learned a lot.”

The immediate focus is on winning the Junior World Cup, but Manmeet’s big dream is the LA Olympics. “That’s my wallpaper on the phone. The Olympics logo with LA 2028 written underneath. Just so that every day I am reminded what we are working so hard for, why we have to push one per cent more every single day.”