I don’t know when this chance will come again: Manpreet Singh misses home Asian Champions trophy

Jalandhar: India’s most-capped hockey player Manpreet Singh will not play in the Asian Champions Trophy because of a calf muscle injury. The news is a big setback for the midfielder and for his fans, who were waiting to see him make a record eighth appearance in the tournament.

Manpreet was set to become the first player in Asia to feature in eight editions of the event. The tournament is now heading into its ninth edition. He had made his debut in the very first edition in China in 2011, so this one meant a lot to him.

'I don’t know when this chance will come again'

“It is a huge disappointment. It was a big opportunity to play on my home ground, but now I won’t be playing. This is where I started playing hockey and I was so excited. But I don’t know when this opportunity will come my way again,” he said.

He also made a request to the state government. “I would urge the Punjab Government to organise international tournaments again so that I also get to play here in front of my people,” he added.

Jalandhar welcomes the world

While Manpreet Singh will be missing, the city is buzzing. Teams from Japan, Malaysia, China, Bangladesh and Korea have arrived, along with Harmanpreet Singh’s India, the reigning Asian Games gold medallists. All matches will be played at the Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Burlton Park.

Also Read | Canada: 15 Punjabi-origin candidates elected to British Columbia assembly as Conservatives sweep polls

Locals are welcoming the visitors in true Punjabi style, with bhangra and hockey sticks held high. Japan’s head coach Fujimoto Ippei said he was enjoying the atmosphere and had even started trying out a few Punjabi words. His favourite so far is “Kiddan, theek aa?”

Bangladesh captain Islam Ashraful said the welcome had been wonderful and the food was good too. Malaysia captain Marhan Jalil, who is in Punjab for the first time, said he loved the stadium and hoped fans would turn up in big numbers.

A special moment for Harmanpreet

For India captain Harmanpreet Singh, the tournament is personal. For the first time, his father and daughter will watch him play live.

Burlton Park is where his journey began. As a young boy, he came to the ground every day with his water bottle and stayed back for extra practice. “This is going to be a big tournament for us. It is the place where we have grown as players,” he said.

City dressed up for the tournament

Jalandhar is hosting the Asian Champions Trophy for the first time. Hoardings with photos of all six team captains have come up across the city, and road dividers and crossings are decorated with tricolour streamers and lights. Flags of all six nations are flying at the stadium, which has been renovated at a cost of over Rs 16 crore.