Indian hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and retired goalkeeper PR Sreejesh have been honored at the 49th FIH Statutory Congress in Oman. Harmanpreet was named Player of the Year 2024, while Sreejesh received the Goalkeeper of the Year accolade.
Harmanpreet’s exceptional performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics earned him the top spot. He led the scoring charts with 10 goals, including crucial goals in the quarterfinal, semi-final, and bronze medal match. His leadership and contributions were instrumental in India’s consecutive podium finishes at the Olympics.
Sreejesh, who retired after the Paris Olympics, added a second Olympic medal and a third FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award to his illustrious career. His stellar performance in the quarterfinal win over Great Britain, where India played with 10 players for most of the match, showcased his exceptional skills.
In the women’s category, Yibbi Jansen of Netherlands was named Player of the Year 2024, while China’s Ye Jiao won the Goalkeeper of the Year 2024 award. Zoe Diaz of Argentina and Sufyan Khan of Pakistan received the FIH Rising Stars awards.
Alyson Annan (Australia) and Jeroen Delmee (Netherlands) were recognized as the FIH Coaches of the Year in the women’s and men’s categories, respectively. Sarah Wilson of Scotland and Steve Rogers of Australia won the FIH Umpire of the Year awards in the women’s and men’s categories.
Harmanpreet expressed his gratitude for the honor and acknowledged the support of his teammates, Hockey India, and his family. Sreejesh thanked Hockey India and his team for their contributions to his success.
The FIH awards recognize the outstanding achievements of players, coaches, and umpires in the sport of hockey. The winners are selected through a combination of votes from an Expert Panel, National Associations, fans, and media.
