_~Hardik also bagged the Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for
Midfielder of the Year award~_
New Delhi, 2nd April 2024: Indian Men’s Hockey Team Vice Captain
Hardik Singh won the prestigious Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for
Player of The Year 2023 award in the Men’s category. Notably, he also
won the Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfielder of the Year at
the Hockey India 6th Annual Awards 2023, which took place in the
national capital on Sunday.
This honour recognizes Hardik’s exceptional talent, dedication, and
outstanding contributions to the sport over the past year. His
unwavering commitment, exemplary leadership as the Vice-Captain of the
Indian Men’s Hockey team, and unparalleled performance have made him a
standout player in the global hockey circuit in the year gone by.
The journey of the 25-year-old player to the summit of the sport has
been nothing short of inspirational. Beginning his career with
remarkable promise, Hardik has evolved into a lynchpin of the Indian
Men’s Hockey Team, showcasing exceptional technical prowess and
strategic acumen on the field.
The midfielder has been pivotal in guiding the team and not just
earning accolades for himself but also bringing immense pride and glory
to the country.
The 25-year-old, who hails from Jalandhar, also won the Hockey India
Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of The Year 2022. Expressing his
delight at winning the award for the second consecutive year, the
midfielder said, “I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and the
support staff for putting their faith in me. This will further push me
to perform even better. Honestly, I didn’t expect to win as there were
a lot of strong contenders like Harmanpreet Singh, PR Sreejesh, who have
been outstanding in the past year. I believe we had a roller coaster
year as a team. I honestly feel that I am accepting this honour on
behalf of the entire team.”
“There is an increased amount of responsibility when you get such
individual awards and recognition. I feel that when the federation gives
you such prestigious awards, it means that they trust you and you should
be able to perform to your best in matches that you play,” he added.
Having made his senior international debut in 2018, Hardik Singh has
proved his mettle by donning 123 caps for India. For his remarkable
performances and contributions in the gold-winning Indian team at the
Asian Games and the Asian Champions Trophy, he was also named the
Men’s FIH Player of the Year in 2023, adding another feather to the
cap of the dynamic talented player.
by Asia Hockey
