Field hockey player about to strike a ball

Sukhi Panesar

Biography

Sukhi Panesar has more than 155 senior national team caps since making his debut in 2010. The highlight of his junior career was competing at the 2013 Junior Hockey World Cup in New Delhi. That same year, he was part of the Canadian team that won silver at the Pan American Cup. In 2014 he competed at the Commonwealth Games and at the Champions Challenge 1 in Malaysia, where Canada finished second in the tournament that was a qualifier for the Champions Trophy. In June 2015, Panesar scored twice in the shootout of Canada’s quarterfinal victory over New Zealand in the FIH World League Semifinals, a win that would eventually secure the team’s qualification for Rio 2016. A few weeks later he scored another shootout goal, this time against Brazil in the Pan Am Games semifinal in Toronto, where Canada would go on to win silver. 

Panesar made his Olympic debut at Rio 2016, playing in all five of Canada’s matches. At the 2018 FIH World Cup, Panesar played in four of Canada’s games, helping the team to an 11th place finish. At the 2019 Pan Am Games, he scored once, helping Canada to a silver medal. He was also a member of the Canadian team that defeated Ireland in a shootout at the Olympic qualification tournament in Vancouver to secure the country’s spot at Tokyo 2020.

A Little More About Sukhi

Getting into the Sport: Started playing field hockey at age 10… He grew up watching his dad play and eventually took it up as another spring/summer activity but is now his only competitive sport… Outside Interests: Enjoys playing different sports and hanging out with friends… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “Keep your eyes on the prize”… Game day routine includes a nap and coffee… Younger brother Balraj is also a member of the national field hockey team…

Olympic Highlights

Games Sport Event Finish
Rio 2016Field HockeyMen 11
Tokyo 2020Field HockeyMen12

Notable International Results

Olympic Games: 2020 - 12th; 2016 - 11th

Pan American Games: 2019 - SILVER; 2015 - SILVER

Commonwealth Games: 2018 - 8th; 2014 - 6th

FIH World Cup: 2018 - 11th

FIH World League: 2017 - 10th; 2015 - 8th

PAHF Pan American Cup: 2017 - SILVER; 2013 - SILVER