MUSCAT: Paris Olympics bronze-winning Indian team captain Harmanpreet Singh and women’s gold winner Yibbi Jansen of the Netherlands won the FIH Player of the Year 2024 awards at the FIH Hockey Stars Awards gala in Muscat on Friday night.
The winners in various categories were selected following a vote by an expert panel, national associations—represented by their respective national teams’ captains and coaches—fans, and media.
The gala night was held during the 49th FIH Statutory Congress in Muscat as the global hockey body celebrated 100 years of its formation.
Indian goalkeeping great PR Sreejesh and Ye Jiao of China won the FIH Goalkeepers of the Year awards, while the awards for FIH Rising Stars were claimed by Sufyan Khan of Pakistan and Zoe Diaz of Argentina in male and female categories respectively.
China women’s head coach Alyson Annan (Australia) has been awarded the FIH Coach of the Year award in the women’s category for a second consecutive year, while Paris Olympics gold winner Jeroen Delmee (Netherlands) won the FIH Coach of the Year award in the men’s category.
Sarah Wilson of Scotland and Steve Rogers of Australia won the FIH Umpire of the Year award in the women’s and men’s categories respectively.
DESERVING WINNERS
Yibbi Jansen shined at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she led the Netherlands to yet another gold medal, scoring 9 goals along the way, including the leveller in the gold medal match.
The 24-year-old Dutch drag flicker also leads the list of all-time top goal scorers in the FIH Hockey Pro League.
Jansen said: “First off, thank you for having me here and for this award. It has been great to meet everyone who works behind the scenes to make all the hockey events possible worldwide. The Olympic gold was always the biggest dream of my life, and this summer that dream came true. Thank you to my teammates who all worked so hard for us to make this dream a reality.”
Collecting his third FIH Player of the Year award, Harmanpreet was the standout player amongst the men’s nominees, receiving the most votes across all categories of voters. Harmanpreet led the scoring charts at the Paris 2024 Olympics with 10 goals, including goals in the quarterfinal, semifinal, and both goals in the bronze medal match against Spain, which India won 2-1 to secure their second consecutive podium finish at the Olympics.
He has previously won the FIH Player of the Year award on two occasions, in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Speaking about the celebrations back home after he captained his side to a second consecutive medal at the Olympics, Harmanpreet Singh said: “After the Olympics, it was so great to go back home and have such huge crowds there to greet us and welcome us. It was a very special feeling. I would like to mention my teammates—none of this would have been possible without you all. Special thanks to Hockey India as well for always giving us every opportunity to succeed at all levels.”
Best women’s goalkeeper Ye Jiao has been a brick wall for China, earning a remarkable silver medal in Paris.
Jiao said: “This is the centennial year of the FIH, and to receive this award in this year is extra special. I would also like to thank those who support me, especially those back in China, my teammates, coaches, and everyone who is present here today, joining me in this most special moment of my life.”
Best male goalkeeper PR Sreejesh brought an end to his stellar career at the Paris 2024 Olympics, by adding a second Olympic medal to his trophy cabinet and now he gets to add a third FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award as well, having previously won the award in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Much like his compatriot Harmanpreet, Sreejesh received the most votes across all categories of voters.
PR Sreejesh said: “I am so happy today. Thank you for this last playing honour of my playing career. This award completely belongs to my team, the defence who made sure most attacks never got to me, and the midfielders and forwards who covered up my mistakes by scoring more goals than I conceded.”
RISING PLAYERS
Women’s rising star Zoe Diaz was instrumental in Argentina’s bronze medal victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics, beating Germany.
Diaz said: “I am really happy to have won this award. It was tough to play at the highest level during the past year, especially the Olympics, and I am very emotional about all that we achieved. I would like to dedicate this award to my family, especially my mother who is here in Oman to support me. So congratulations to her as well!”
Men's ‘rising star’ Sufyan Khan has rapidly emerged as one of Pakistan’s most exciting young hockey talents, with an impressive goalscoring record of 24 goals in just 48 games.
Sufyan said: “Pakistan has a great history in the world of hockey, having achieved so many medals at the World Cups and Olympics. I would like to say to the fans back home that we will always aim to take us back to those glory days, and I am sure those days are coming soon. I would also like to thank my teammates who have always supported me in my young career.”
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