India men’s hockey team defender and vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh has said after being voted the FIH Player of the Year that it will motivate him to take his game to the next level with the new season of the FIH Pro League set to begin and the FIH World Cup in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela next year.

“Winning such a prestigious award motivates me to work harder on my game so that I can maintain the high levels regularly. Against Spain and New Zealand [in the Pro League matches in India], my aim will be to carry out the orders and help execute the plans to perfection. Only then can we do well,” said Harmanpreet.