Hockey captain Manpreet marries Malaysian girlfriend of Pakistan descent Illi

Jalandhar: After an eight-year courtship, wedding bells finally rang for Indian hockey team captain Manpreet Singh (28) and his Malaysian fiancée Illi Najwa Saddique (27).

The wedding took place at a gurdwara at Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar here on Wednesday. It was followed by lunch for about 60-70 invitees at Manpreet’s native Mithapur village.

Manpreet donned a ceremonial Punjabi wedding suit complete with a turban, while Illi wore a Punjabi bridal costume.

Sharing his love story, Manpreet said: “We met in 2012 when I had gone to Malaysia for the Sultan of Johor Cup. She was among the spectators. We had a brief interaction and I was carried away by her charm. I managed to get her phone number and stayed in touch. We got engaged in February 2014.”

When asked if Illi would return to Malaysia, he said: “She will stay with my family here. She is getting accustomed to the Punjabi culture and has already become fond of it. We have given her a Punjabi name, Navpreet Kaur.”

The Malaysia-born bride’s family hails from Pakistan. Illi was working in a private university in Malaysia.

The couple had reportedly been planning wedding earlier this year, but travel restrictions due to the pandemic made them put off their plan.

“We have followed all Covid-related guidelines and invited a limited number of guests. I am a bit disappointed that I could not invite my entire team,” Manpreet said.

Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh was among the invitees.

A varsity employee

Malaysia-born Illi Najwa’s family hails from Pakistan

Prior to her marriage, Illi was working in a private university

The couple met in Malaysia in 2012 when Manpreet went there for a tournament