Muscat: Indian hockey stars Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh have made history at the 49th FIH Statutory Congress in Oman, with Harmanpreet being named Player of the Year 2024 and Sreejesh clinching the prestigious Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The accolades were determined by votes from an expert panel, national team captains and coaches, media, and fans. Harmanpreet, who was a standout performer during the 2024 Paris Olympics, received the most votes across all categories. He topped the men’s scoring charts with 10 goals, including crucial strikes in the quarterfinal, semi-final, and a brace in the bronze medal match against Spain, leading India to their second consecutive Olympic medal.
This marks Harmanpreet's third FIH Player of the Year award, having previously won in 2020-21 and 2021-22. The 2024 honor is especially significant as it came in his first year as India’s captain, following a stellar leadership performance at the Paris Olympics. Reflecting on the victory, Harmanpreet shared, "It was so great to go back home after the Olympics and be welcomed by huge crowds. None of this would have been possible without my teammates, and I’m grateful to Hockey India for their support."
Meanwhile, PR Sreejesh, who brought an illustrious career to a close at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a second Olympic medal, won his third FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award. Sreejesh, a veteran of India’s hockey scene, earned the honor after delivering exceptional performances, including a heroic display in the quarterfinals against Great Britain. He expressed his gratitude, stating, "This award belongs to my entire team, especially the defense and midfield, who supported me throughout my career."
The awards also saw international recognition, with Yibbi Jansen of the Netherlands winning FIH Player of the Year 2024, and China’s Ye Jiao claiming Goalkeeper of the Year honors. In coaching, Alyson Annan of China and Jeroen Delmee of the Netherlands took home the FIH Coach of the Year awards for women’s and men’s categories, respectively.
Adding to the excitement, Zoe Díaz of Argentina and Sufyan Khan of Pakistan were named FIH Rising Stars, while Sarah Wilson (Scotland) and Steve Rogers (Australia) took home the FIH Umpire of the Year awards.
With this thrilling night of honors, India’s hockey stars, Harmanpreet and Sreejesh, have truly cemented their legacy on the global stage.
With IANS inputs