Jalandhar: For parents of hockey players, Olympic bronze medal no less than gold

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 9

“Although the team aimed for gold this time, this bronze is no less than gold for us,” the parents of Mithapur stalwarts, former captain Manpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, said as they felt elated after the hockey team defeated Spain to win the bronze medal consecutively.

The parents celebrated, danced and distributed laddoos and thanked the Almighty for the win.

Both families were praying throughout the match.

Mandeep’s father said he was feeling restless after the team’s dream to win gold medal was shattered. “But, the way the team played, I feel so proud,” he said.

Interestingly, the family of Mandeep also announced that they would also gift a medal to Mandeep in the form of ‘marriage’. “He will be getting married in November with a hockey player from Haryana,” the parents said.

The celebrations are planned where the players will be welcomed in the village with drum beats, dancing and a lavish feast.

Manpreet Singh’s mother Manjit Kaur said: “The day the team was defeated by Germany, Manpreet called and said ‘Ajj sada din nai si, kuch galatiya sigiya’ (Today was not our day, we did some mistakes). But, nonetheless, they have managed to secure bronze and nothing else matters.”

Proud parents of Manpreet and Mandeep will first go to Amritsar to receive their sons. Last time when the team had won the medal, there was a function held at the PAP.