06 August,2021 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Ashwin Ferro
Manpreet Singh’s wife Illi at her home in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday; (right) Manpreet on a video call with Illi moments after the bronze medal win
As Indian hockey captain Manpreet Singh was running down the centre of the Oi Hockey Stadium turf in Tokyo to celebrate the 5-4 bronze medal win over Germany on Thursday, tears were running down the cheeks of his wife Illi in faraway Kuala Lumpur.
The couple, who tied the knot in December last year after dating for over eight years, haven't spent too much time together as Manpreet, 29, has been away on hockey duty while Illi, 28, is employed with a private university back home in Malaysia.
"I've known Manpreet for over 10 years and hockey means everything to him. An Olympic medal was his dream and when we got married, he promised me that he would give me that medal as a wedding gift. Today, he has fulfilled his promise and I'm the happiest wife on earth," Illi told mid-day from her home in Kuala Lumpur, trying hard to hold back the tears.
"As a couple we have made a lot of sacrifices. We have been apart for extended periods but this historic Olympic medal makes it all worthwhile. And I don't want Manpreet to stop playing anytime soon. I want him to go on and win more accolades for Indian hockey," added Illi.
Manpreet and Illi have been speaking over the phone almost daily, before every Olympic fixture, and while he has been passionate about each game, there was a certain emotion ahead of this Germany fixture. "After their loss to Belgium in the semi-final, he was disappointed, but yesterday, when he called me just before the bronze-medal match, he was very pumped up. He told me that he wants that medal and will get it at all costs," added Illi, who had been up since 6am local time wearing the India jersey and glued to her TV set.
Moments after the win, the doting husband called Illi but there were very few words exchanged.
"We both just started crying on hearing each other's voice. We couldn't speak, and then he yelled, âBaby, I did it,' and went on to thank me for supporting him. I have done nothing. It's all his hard work and dedication," said Illi.
Sadly, the couple will not be meeting anytime soon due to their professional commitments. "I'm sure he will get busy with a lot of felicitation functions now and I have some work here too, but I plan to travel to India in September. I've already got my passport stamped for my travel and can't wait to have that Olympic medal around my neck," she signed off.
