At Rs 78 lakh, Harmanpreet most expensive buy in Hockey India League auction

A wave of happiness erupted among family members of Indian Hockey team skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who hails from Amritsar’s Timmowal village, as he was tagged the most expensive buy at Rs 78 lakh during the first day of the auction for the Hockey India League. He was signed by Soorma Hockey Club.

Talking to The Tribune over phone from Bengaluru, where he is presently training, Harmanpreet said he was happy at the highest auction bid. He said there had been an increase of over

Rs 30 lakh in the signing amount. The skipper said he was preparing for the upcoming pro-league and Hockey India League.

Harmanpreet’s father Sarbjit Singh said, “Our entire family is elated at the auction bid. It is the outcome of my son’s hard work on field and continuous good performance, which has earned him the epithet of ace drag flicker.”

Harmanpreet’s elder brother Kamalpreet Singh said, “Harmanpreet industriousness and perseverance on the Astroturf has paid off. He will continue to shine on the hockey field for the country.”

Veteran left winger Brig Harcharan Singh (retired), VSM and Arjuna Awardee, a medal winner hockey Olympian and a gold medallist in World Hockey Cup 1975, said, “As far as players from Punjab are concerned captain of the Indian hockey team, Harmanpreet Singh, who has been twice declared the player of the year by FIH, has remained the highest goal scorer in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Earning the highest auction price is but natural.”

He said, “We are really proud of him and other Punjab players, including five from the Amritsar district, who are doing a great job for the Indian hockey.”

Harmanpreet’s stellar captaincy earned him the nickname Sarpanch which was promptly picked up by netizens. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed him as “Sarpanch” in a phone call made after his team secured the bronze medal in the Paris Olympics following their victory over Spain in the play-off match, Harmanpreet’s become popular as “Sarpanch” on the social media.

In the bronze winning match Spanish skipper Marc Miralles had thrown a thumping challenge before his Indian counterpart by scoring the opening goal. Responding to the challenge, Harmanpreet scored a brace in the bronze medal match to power India to register a win over Spain.

There are several reasons of him endearing to the public. His gesture to dedicate the bronze medal earned in the Paris Olympics to goalkeeper PR Sreejesh because it was his last match earned him goodwill from all.

Last but not least, securing 10 goals in the Paris Olympics, Harmanpreet Singh, who has been twice declared the player of the year by FIH, emerged as the top scorer. Earlier, in the Tokyo Olympics, he was the highest scorer.

After ace drag flicker Jugraj Singh, whose career was cut short by a road accident in 2003, Harmanpreet the second world class drag flicker Punjab has produced. In his three appearances at the Olympics, India won two bronze medals.