Indian hockey star Manpreet Singh has been left out of the country’s 33-member list of probables for the upcoming FIH Pro League 2025-26, marking the first time in 15 years that he has missed selection for a senior national camp.
Manpreet, who captained the Indian men’s hockey team to a historic bronze medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and was also part of the squad that finished on the podium at Paris 2024, is a veteran of 409 senior international matches.
The national camp will be held in Rourkela, Odisha, from February 1 to 7 as part of India’s preparations for the home leg of the FIH Pro League, scheduled at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium from February 10 to 15.
The 33-year-old Manpreet is not the only notable absentee, with experienced 28-year-old goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak also missing from the list.
At the same time, Hockey India has rewarded Princedeep Singh with a call-up to the senior team for his impressive outing at the Junior Asia Cup in Rajgir, where he helped his team lift the title.
“We’ve rested a few senior players to manage workload, while rewarding performances from players who’ve earned their opportunity,” Indian men’s hockey team chief coach Craig Fulton said on Thursday.
“The Pro League legs in Rourkela and Hobart are an important part of the selection process as we move towards finalising the World Cup and Asian Games squad,” he added.
Winners of the FIH Pro League 2025-26 will secure a quota for the LA 2028 Olympics.
India will open their Pro League campaign at home against Belgium on February 11 before facing Argentina the following day.
The Harmanpreet Singh-led side will then play return fixtures against Belgium on February 14 and Argentina on February 15, before travelling to Hobart for matches against Spain on February 21 and 24 and Australia on February 22 and 25.
The European leg, which will feature the first-ever India vs Pakistan FIH Pro League contest, is scheduled for June.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/manpreet-singh-fih-pro-league-2026-probables-indian-hockey-left-out
