Manpreet Singh  

The Indian hockey players and support staff are taking all the necessary precautions at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) facility in Bengaluru. The campus is well-equipped for regular practice sessions and no unauthorised persons are allowed to enter the premises

Mandeep Singh struck twice to help India win the first leg of the Olympic hockey qualifiers. Mandeep (24th, 53rd minutes) scored two field goals while Harmanpreet Singh (5th) and SV Sunil (48th) also hit the target for India against Russia

The coaches and captains of Indian hockey teams sounded upbeat about the prospects of the two teams in the qualifiers, scheduled to be held at Bhubaneshwar on November 1 and 2, for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

India's chief coach Graham Reid emphasised on the importance of regular exposures against top teams ahead of the Tokyo Olympics

Experienced dragflicker Rupinder Pal Singh, who returned to the side after last year's Asian Games for the tour of Australia in May, is another notable absentee from the squad alongside Birendra Lakra and Akashdeep Singh. In Sreejesh's absence, Krishan Bahadur Pathak and young Suraj Karkera will don the goalkeeping duties

Manpreet Badal was the finance minister in the Parkash Singh Badal's Cabinet too, but he parted ways with Akali Dal and Badal family in 2010
 

'I feel very proud that India was winning so many medals in wrestling and other sports. After seeing the medals that we have won in Asian Games 2018, I felt like India is growing beyond cricket. Even in athletics we are winning medals. So I think it's great that times are changing and I hope we improve further and do better,' said Manpreet Singh