New Delhi, Aug 14 : The Indian men's and women's hockey players have expressed satisfaction with the way the nation has grown in the field of sport as it celebrates 75 years of Independence, saying the country "is moving in the right direction". On Thursday, several Indian men's and women's hockey players shared heartfelt messages ahead of the special day, saying they were quite hopeful India will rise as a sporting nation in the years to come. "I would like to wish all the citizens of our country a very Happy Independence Day. This one is extra special for us as it's our 75th Independence Day. We have grown tremendously as a nation and especially in the field of sports. We are moving in the right direction," said the Indian men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh. The women's hockey team captain Savita also wished her fellow citizens Independence Day saying, "It's a great honour and pride for us to complete 75 years of Independence. I wish all Indians a very Happy Independence Day. I hope you enjoy the day and also look back at how far we have come. We have done exceedingly well in sports in the last few years and I am certain that we are going to get stronger from here." Indian men's hockey team defender Harmanpreet Singh said, "It's been absolutely fantastic to see our growth as a nation in the last few years and I am eager to see how far we can go in the future. The determination and persistence we have shown in every field is simply amazing. I wish all the citizens of India a very Happy Independence Day and all the very best for the upcoming challenges." Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh said, "There's no greater pride than playing for your country and therefore the Independence Day is always special for me. The citizens of our country have worked tirelessly to take India to the greatest of heights in all fields and it's been truly magnificent to be a small part of this journey. I wish everyone happiness and light this Independence Day." The Indian women's hockey team forward Vandana Katariya also reiterated the same sentiment, "This is a special day for all of us as India completes 75 years of Independence. I always feel very proud about the way our nation has grown over the years. Our growth on the sports field has also been absolutely spectacular and I hope that we keep evolving as a nation in the years to come." /IANS