
Kookaburras Mark Manpreet Singh's Landmark 400th Cap With Guard Of Honour
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Manpreet was celebrated ahead of the game as the Australians gave the Indian a guard of honour before presenting him with an honorary jersey.
Star Indian hockey player Manpreet Singh made history on Sunday with his 400th cap for the Indian national side in their FIH Pro League fixture against Australia at Antwerp, Belgium, in the European leg of the event.
Manpreet was celebrated ahead of the game as the Australians gave the Indian a guard of honour before presenting him with an honorary jersey.
pic.twitter.com/XH3VikwzDk — Kookaburras (@Kookaburras) June 15, 2025
The jersey handed to Manpreet by Australian player Eddie Ockenden, who also has over 400 international appearances for the Kookaburras, read, 'Congratulations, Manpreet. 400 Games, Incredible- From the Kookaburras."
Manpreet, who was visibly moved by the gesture reflected on his illustrious career that began in Punjab.
'I still remember the goosebumps I felt in my debut game. To be standing here, 400 games later, is beyond anything I imagined," the 32-year-old said.
'This milestone is shared with every coach who pushed me, every teammate who backed me, and every fan who believed in me when I needed it most," he continued.
'I'm still learning, still growing – and I play with the same hunger today as I did at 19," the star player added.
Team India ended up suffering a 2-3 defeat to the Australians who completed the double over India in Antwerp in consecutive days, condemning India to their sixth straight defeat in the European leg of the FIH Pro League.
Indian had to endure a testing time in the European leg of the tournament as they went down 1-2 to the Netherlands on the 7th of June at Amstelveen before succumbing to yet another 2-3 defeat at the hands of the hosts a couple of days later. Argentina compounded India's woes with a 4-3 victory, before repeating the feat with another 2-1 win over the Men In Blue at the Wagener Hockey Stadium.
First Published:
June 18, 2025, 09:31 IST
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