The Hockey India Annual Awards ceremony was dominated by two events. Forward Gurjant Singh, who played a key role in the junior team’s 2016 World Cup triumph and the senior team’s back-to-back bronze medal finishes in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, announced his retirement. And then former skipper Manpreet Singh dismissed the rumours of a rift between him and HI president Dilip Tirkey.Reports in the media had said that Manpreet was being eased out of the team by Tirkey as Punjab player was near to breaking his all-time Indian appearance record of 412 international caps. Manpreet, Dilpreet Singh and goalkeeper Krishan Pathak were dropped from the Indian team for disciplinary reasons. The trio was allegedly suspended after Sukhjeet Singh was provided with cannabis gummies.However, on Friday, Manpreet denied that he had a falling out with Tirkey. “I spoke to Dilip sir and he told me he does not have any problem if I play the 412th game. He wants me to break the record,” Manpreet said.Tirkey himself cleared the air and said teams are selected on the basis of fitness and form. “Media reports that suggested I wanted him out of the team to save my record are nothing but lies. I want him to continue and break all the records,” Tirkey said.”As a federation, it is our responsibility to see which of the current players will help the team at the 2028 Olympics. If the player is fit and in form, he will be selected by the team management. Same for Manpreet. In fact, I want him to keep on playing,” he added.Navneet, Hardik winMeanwhile, Navneet Kaur and Hardik Singh scored big as they were declared the winners of the coveted Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2025 and received a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh each.Hockey legend Zafar Iqbal, who was integral to India winning the 1980 Olympics gold medal in Moscow, was conferred with the Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award and a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh.”I had an inkling that something is cooking because I got a lot of calls today and everyone wanted me to be here early. Then I thought, it could be that I would be asked to hand over awards. Never knew I was getting one today,” Iqbal said.Gurjant announces retirementIndian forward Gurjant Singh called time on his illustrious career. He was given a great sending off by Hockey India at its Annual Awards ceremony on Friday. Gurjant, 31, represented India in 130 matches. He was part of the teams that won back-to-back Olympics bronze medals at the Tokyo and Paris Games. He was also part of the historic Junior World Cup triumph in 2016. “It was a very difficult decision but had to be made. I have given this game everything I could have and there was this realisation that my time was done,” Gurjant said.He had been struggling with a back injury for the last eight months and even though he reckoned he could have made a comeback, he chose to go out on his own terms. “The time I was away with the back injury was tough and I can tell you it is all the more difficult to make a comeback. Besides, I was mindful that I would rather go out on my own terms as there is always the risk of getting criticised if I don’t play well. So I am going out as a proud player who was part of the good times in Indian hockey,” he said.