Harmanpreet Singh, the star defender and drag-flicker of the Indian hockey team, has been honored with the prestigious Khel Ratna Award. The Ministry of Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2024, naming Harmanpreet among the recipients. President Droupadi Murmu will present the award to him at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17. Under Harmanpreet's captaincy, India clinched a second consecutive Olympic medal at the Paris Olympics.

Born on January 6, 1996, in a farming family in Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, Harmanpreet honed his strength by working on his family farm, operating tractors, and shifting gears—skills that later enhanced his powerful drag-flick technique. His father, Sarabjit Singh, is a farmer, and his mother, Rajwinder Kaur, a homemaker. Harmanpreet joined Surjit Academy, Jalandhar, in 2011 to refine his hockey skills, learning from penalty-corner specialists Gaganpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh.

Harmanpreet debuted with the junior national team in the 2011 Sultan Johor Cup and later won the Player of the Tournament award in 2014. He debuted for the senior team in 2015 and represented India at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Over his career, he has played 200 matches, scoring over 150 goals.

Key achievements include leading India to a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020, top-scoring in the FIH Pro League 2021-22, and winning gold at the 2023 Asian Games and the Asian Champions Trophy. Harmanpreet’s exceptional contributions have solidified his legacy as one of India’s finest hockey players.