Alright, so let’s talk about Manpreet Singh—a dude who basically lives and breathes kabaddi. Born on June 26, 1992, in Mithapur (that’s a tiny place near Jalandhar, Punjab, in case you’re not up on your Indian geography), Manpreet grew up in a Sikh farming family. Not exactly the background you expect for a kabaddi superstar, but hey, his older bro is Pargat Singh, the hockey legend, so maybe greatness just runs in their blood. Seriously, what was in their breakfast?

Anyway, Manpreet’s kabaddi journey is wild. The guy’s been repping India on the world stage since forever—think Asian Games golds in 2002 and 2006, and he straight-up dominated the 2007 Kabaddi World Cup, snagging “Man of the Tournament.” That’s not just showing up—it’s showing off.

Fast forward to the Pro Kabaddi League: Manpreet took the wheel as captain of Patna Pirates in Season 3 (2016) and drove them right to their first PKL title. Not too shabby, right? And just in case anyone forgot, he bagged the Dhyan Chand Award in 2020 for basically being a kabaddi boss for life.

Now, most folks would dip out after a career like that, but Manpreet? Nah. He jumps right into coaching. In 2017, he became the big boss for the Gujarat Fortunegiants, taking them to the finals in BOTH their debut seasons. Then he switched things up and, in 2022, started coaching Haryana Steelers—and guess what? He led them to their first PKL title ever. The man’s got magic dust or something, because he’s the only guy to ever win the Pro Kabaddi League both as a player and a coach. That’s some record-book stuff.

Here’s the thing about Manpreet—he’s not about that superstar drama. He’s always picking out young guns, building real teams, and side-eyeing anyone who thinks you can just buy your way to victory. In his own words: “Anyone can win with big names… I want to win with young players.” That’s a flex, honestly.

As a player, Manpreet was the brains on the mat—strategic, sharp, always a step ahead. He boosted teammates like Pardeep Narwal, helping them shine brighter. As a coach, he’s all about the squad—no one-man shows here. Every player grinds, every player matters.

Quick rundown for anyone who loves bullet points (I see you):

• Born: 1992, Mithapur, Punjab
• International medals: Asian Games (2002, 2006), World Cup (2007)
• PKL as player: Patna Pirates, Season 3 champ
• Coaching gigs: Gujarat Fortunegiants, Haryana Steelers
• PKL as coach: Season 11 title with Haryana Steelers
• Favourite move: Build teams, not egos