BHIM-UPI TOISA 2019 Nominees: Hockey

NEW DELHI: The fourth edition of the Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA), powered by BHIM-UPI, is India's first of its kind and largest multi-discipline people's choice sports awards. TOISA is a platform created by the Times Group to recognise and reward Indian sporting talent and achievements on a global scale and will be held soon to honour the lionhearts who have given their blood, sweat and tears to make the country proud.
Ahead of the TOISA to be held on March 5, here's a recap of the how these Indian hockey players fared in the year 2019.
Harmanpreet Singh
The biggest improvement in India's game over the past 12 months has been the team's defensive structure, and junior world cup-winner Harmanpreet Singh is one of the major reasons behind it. Along with dependable Surender Kumar and the experienced Rupinder Pal Singh, Harmanpreet has provided the stability that India's back-line lacked. Add to that his drag-flick prowess and the 24-year-old Harmanpreet becomes an ace up any captain's sleeve. Harmanpreet was part of the Indian team which emerged winners of the FIH Olympic Qualifiers after defeating Russia 11-3 on aggregate in November 2019. With 100-plus international caps to date, he is growing in experience, and it was recognised when he was made the captain in Manpreet Singh's absence during the four-nation Olympic Test event in June 2019 in Tokyo, which India won.
Manpreet Singh
Captain of the current Indian men's senior team, Manpreet Singh clearly stands out as one of the most skillful and fit players in the team with the ability to last the majority of 60 minutes without dropping the intensity or speed of his game. The 27-year-old playmaker, who commands huge respect from the youngsters having undergone the grind at every level before making his senior-team debut, scripted history when he became the first Indian being named as FIH Player of the Year in 2019. Manpreet also led India to winning the 2019 FIH Series Finals. With more than 250 international appearances, he is among the most senior members of the team and one who is pivotal to the team's strategic think-tank both on and off the field. Manpreet, who was given the Arjuna Award in 2018, also led Indian team which emerged winners of the FIH Olympic Qualifiers after defeating Russia 11-3 on aggregate in November 2019. However, as a captain, he would rue not being able to lift the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup trophy this year after India lost the final against South Korea.
Mandeep Singh
Ever since Mandeep Singh was discovered at the Hockey India League, he has made giant strides in his career -- the highlight of which remains winning the junior World Cup in 2016. Mandeep was part of the team that won the 2019 FIH Series Finals, FIH Olympic Qualifiers and silver at Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. The striker who is always alert to the smallest of scoring opportunities is a regular in India's attack and has so far gathered an experience of over 150 senior caps. A product of the famous Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar, the 24-year-old Mandeep would want to make up for missing the Rio 2016 Games by further improving his consistency and cementing his place in the team for the Tokyo Olympics.

Rani
The India women's hockey captain Rani continues to be the most inspirational women's hockey player of her generation and now has the distinction of playing over 200 matches for the country. In 2019, Rani named World Games Player of the Year as she became first-ever hockey player to win the award. In 2019, with Rani at the helm, India won the FIH Women's Series Finals in Hiroshima to book a spot in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers and also clinched the four-nation Olympics Test event title in Tokyo. Rani then led the team to an emphatic 6-5 (aggregate) win vs USA over two legs to book a 2020 Tokyo Olympics berth, scoring the deciding goal to help India qualify for the Olympics.
Savita Punia
Considered the backbone of the Indian women's hockey team, goalkeeper Savita has stood like a wall in India's post and crossed the landmark of 200 international caps in 2019. 29-year-old Savita, who was conferred the Arjun Award in 2018, helped India win the 2019 FIH Women's Series Finals to enter the FIH Olympic Qualifiers and then she helped India seal a Tokyo Games berth, as India beat USA 6-5 (aggregate) in the qualifiers.
Gurjit Kaur
Gurjit Kaur has been one of the most influential players in India's women's hockey team since the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her expertise with the drag-flick on penalty-corner routines has ticked a big box for the Indian women's team. With 11 goals during India's triumphant FIH Women's Series Finals campaign in Hiroshima in 2019, defender Gurjit became only the fifth Indian woman to score 10 or more goals in a single international tournament. Gurjit was part of the team that won the 2019 FIH Women's Series Finals to enter the FIH Olympic Qualifiers and then she helped India seal a Tokyo Games berth, as India beat USA 6-5 (aggregate) in the qualifiers.