Manpreet Singh dismissed rumors of a rift with Dilip Tirkey and revealed that the Hockey India president actually encouraged him to surpass his record number of international appearances.
During an interview with the media on March 27, Manpreet said that he had personally spoken to Tirkey to clear the air amid speculation of tension between them.
“A lot of things happened. I also spoke to Mr. Dilip personally. He told me that he won’t have any problem if I play 412 matches. He wants me to break the record. He wants me to become the first Indian to play 500 matches. That’s what he wants. He said he would be very happy if I break the record,” said Manpreet.
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The comments come after reports earlier this year suggested friction over Manpreet’s selection and his pursuit of Tirkey’s long-term milestone. One of India’s most decorated players, Tirkey remains one of the best hockey players in the world, having crossed the 400-match mark in his career.
However, Tirkey himself recently dismissed any notion of rivalry and backed Manpreet to surpass his achievements.
“I will be very happy if Manpreet breaks my record. Records are meant to be broken,” Tirkey said during a session at RevSportz Trailblazers 4.0.
Reflecting on his own career, Tirkey emphasized the demands of maintaining such longevity at the highest level.
“I was the first player in the world to break 400 international caps and that feat will always stay with me. I am well aware of the hard work that goes into it – one has to be extremely fit and perform consistently for this country,” he said.
Tirkey added that Manpreet has the potential to go far beyond his mark if he maintains his current standards.
“If Manpreet continues to play the way he is playing right now and maintains his fitness, he has a good chance to not only cross my milestone but also bring more laurels to India. What could be more special than seeing another Indian player become the greatest player of all time during my tenure as the President of Hockey India,” he added.
Meanwhile, Manpreet reiterated that selection remains firmly in the hands of the team management, with fitness being the main criteria under coach Craig Fulton.
“Coach Fulton’s idea is simple. He will pick players who are fit. For me too, if I’m not fit, I can’t play. Fitness is the most important thing in world hockey,” said Manpreet.
With both player and administrator now aligned, the focus shifts back to Manpreet’s journey into history – one that could make him India’s most talented hockey player for years to come.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
March 27, 2026 1:25 PM IST
