How Melbourne International Cup has Steadily Grown in Popularity
Organizing any hockey tournament anywhere in the world is a gargantuan ask – yes indeed, wearing the shoes of a ‘hockey tourney organizer’ can be exceedingly overwhelming and can take a lot out of you. Notwithstanding the enormity of organizing a hockey tournament, a passionate hockey lover from Punjab, has been assiduously operating behind the scenes and crafted the Melbourne International Cup. The man in question is 32-year-old Manpreet Singh, a former hockey player who shifted to Auckland, New Zealand in 2011 and after nearly a decade stay he moved based to Melbourne, Australia.
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Hockey runs in Manpreet’s family – his father Kulbir Singh Saini based out Jallandhar, played hockey at the domestic level, was actively involved in coaching, and is a sports journalist as well – Manpreet’s aunt (his father’s sister) Manjeet Kaur Saini was captain of the Punjab hockey eves team and also turned out for RCF.
“My family is big-time into hockey. My father used to tell me that I have been watching hockey matches since I was only six months old. I shifted to New Zealand after finishing my high school in India as a 17-year-old, and played hockey for different clubs in all positions although I prefer to play in the midfield,” says Manpreet in an exclusive chat with Hockey Passion from Melbourne.
(Hockey legend Pargat Singh graced the inaugural edition of International Hockey Cup in 2022)
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It was during his stay at New Zealand Manpreet felt the excitement within him to organise a hockey tournament. “When I was studying in New Zealand and playing hockey, I felt that there weren’t too many tournaments happening unlike in India where so many tourneys are held and so I wanted to take a stab at conducting a hockey tournament,” he says.
A Graphic Designer by professional, Manpreet has also dabbled in Bollywood movie distribution in Australia and New Zealand and surely knows a thing or two about organizational knowhow. He moved to Australia on account of Covid-19 and his relentless efforts have resulted in the birth of the inaugural Melbourne International Cup in 2022.
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And why was Melbourne handpicked as the venue for his hockey tourney? “There are many Indian and Punjabi kids in Melbourne – there would be around 3 lakh Indian population in Melbourne – Punjabi is the 5th fastest growing language in Melbourne. There are students and visa holders and the number will only swell. I thought there couldn’t be better venue than Melbourne,” he says.
The inaugural Melbourne International Cup featured eight teams and was graced by hockey legend Pargat Singh. “Pargat’s uncle presence was a big thing for the tournament – we all grew up watching him play. I did the marketing for the tourney and was able to onboard sponsors.”
(Former Indian players – Akashdeep Singh, Jasjit Singh Kular, Pardeep Mor graced the 2024 edition)
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The 2023 edition of the Melbourne International Cup featured eight teams and had another big name – former Pakistan famed drag-flicker Sohail Abbas. “I was delighted to have Sohail Abbas for the second edition – he was conducting a coaching clinic as well – a few of his former team-mates helped in roping in the Pakistan legend. He was really happy. (10:27) He asked me to grow the game. “
The 2024 International Hockey Cup attracted Indian players such as Akashdeep Singh, Jasjit Singh Kular, Pardeep Mor among others.
The focus is on quality and not quantity, insists Manpreet. “I want to drive good quality hockey and are having eight teams for the 2025 edition. A lot of teams approach us but we want to stick to quality,” he says.
(Manpreet Singh – The Brain behind the Melbourne International Hockey Cup)
He reeled out his perspectives on the budget for a tournament of such magnitude. “The budget would be around fifty to sixty thousand Australian dollars. I ended up doing everything for the inaugural season but now my franchisee partners have become strong and started investing. They take care of player fees, accommodation, to and for travel, etc while my efforts are focused on the venue and the tournament.”
More power to the Melbourne International Hockey Cup.
