Harmanpreet, Gurjit among six Indian stars nominated for FIH awards

This year’s awards cover the period from January 2020 to the conclusion of the Tokyo Olympics.

The Indian hockey teams have been in terrific form in the last two years. Their efforts have finally been recognized by the Federation of International Hockey (FIH). A total of six Indian players have been nominated for the FIH Hockey Stars Awards.

Both teams produced historic performances at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics. The Indian men's hockey team won a bronze medal after a gap of four decades. On the other hand, the Indian women's team reached the semi-finals after causing a big upset against Australia.

Drag-flickers Harmanpreet Singh and Gurjit Kaur have been nominated for the men's and women's FIH Player of the Year Award. Harmanpreet scored the most number of goals for India at the Tokyo Olympics.

He will be contending against Aran Zalewski (Australia), Tim Brand (Australia), Jake Whetton (Australia), Alexander Hendrickx (Belgium) and Arthur van Doren (Belgium). Gurjit will be contesting against Eva de Goede (Netherlands), Augustina Gorzelany (Argentina) and Frederique Matla and Maria Verschoor (Netherlands).

Savita and PR Sreejesh have been shortlisted for the FIH Goalkeeper of the Year Award in their respective categories. Sharmila Devi has been nominated for the women's FIH Rising Star of the Year Award. Midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad will be fighting for the men's FIH Rising Player of the Year Award.

Nomination for Indian coaches

"With no Hockey Stars Awards in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 global health pandemic on the international calendar, this year’s awards cover the period from January 2020 through to the conclusion of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. It means that the 2020-21 edition of the FIH Hockey Pro League has been very much taken into consideration," the FIH said in a statement.

"In another change from the norm, the Hockey Stars Awards nominations and voting will now take place around August and September of each calendar year going forward, moving away from its traditional December-January launch period."

Indian men's hockey team coach Graham Reid also got a nomination due to his remarkable work with the team. Reid will be contending for the FIH Coach of the Year award. On the other hand, Sjoerd Marijne has been shortlisted for FIH Coach of the Year Award (women). Marijne resigned from the post of head coach of the Indian women's hockey team after the Tokyo Olympics.

Selection and voting process 

Following the conclusion of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the nominee shortlist was agreed upon by an expert committee. This committee consisted of FIH Athletes Committee Chair Rogier Hofman, FIH Media Coordinator and journalist Sarah Juggins, Belgium Hockey High-Performance Director Adam Commens as well as FIH Executive Board Member Maureen Craig-Rousseau, a member of the Jury of Appeal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The voting process for the FIH Hockey Stars Awards 2020-21 will remain open until Wednesday 15 September 2021. The winners will be announced in late September/early October 2021.

Votes from national associations, represented by their respective national captains and coaches, will count for 50% of the overall result. The fans and players (25%), as well as media (25%), will make the other half of the votes.

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