#4 Harmanpreet Singh
From driving tractors to becoming one of the leading drag-flickers of the Indian hockey team, young gun Harmanpreet Singh has surely tread a long journey. 2016 has been all but a spectacular year for the 20-year old, who has also been nominated for the FIH Rising Star of the Year 2016.
Such were his performances for the junior side, that he earned a call-up to the senior squad under coach Roelant Oltmans for the Sultan Azlan Shah and the Champions Trophy in London. Harmanpreet has brought different skills to game, and has the ability to function in defence and also move forward.
A lot of his success and progress to the senior level has been his ability to score off penalty corners. He played a key role when the Indian team won the 4-nation Invitational tournament in Spain last month, and then came his stunning display of skills at the Junior Hockey World Cup where India emerged as champions. Harmanpreet scored three goals in the tournament, but he was responsible for being a wall in India’s defensive unit with his consistent performances.
