India men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has expressed confidence that the national team can finally end its 50-year-long medal drought at the Hockey World Cup. The skipper said the squad is carrying the same belief and determination that helped India end its 41-year Olympic medal drought at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
India will compete in the FIH Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to August 30. Harmanpreet believes the team’s preparation has been strong, and the players are focused on creating history.
India Looking To Repeat Olympic Success
Speaking to PTI, Harmanpreet said the atmosphere in the team is similar to what it was before the Tokyo Olympics, where India won a historic bronze medal. The team followed that achievement with another bronze medal at the Paris Olympics under his leadership.
He said the players now want to achieve another major milestone by ending India’s long wait for a World Cup podium finish.
“We had similar feelings before the Tokyo Olympics. Our preparation is equally strong because our only goal is to end the 50-year World Cup podium drought,” Harmanpreet said.
He added that the team is not carrying extra pressure. Instead, the players see it as a responsibility to continue India’s rise in world hockey.
A Golden Opportunity For Senior Players
India last won the Hockey World Cup in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur. Before that, the team claimed bronze in 1971 and silver in 1973. Since then, India has failed to finish among the top three.
Harmanpreet admitted that this tournament could be the final World Cup for several experienced players. Therefore, the squad wants to make the most of the opportunity.
He said the team’s recent performances, confidence, and unity have strengthened their belief that they can finally return to the World Cup podium.
According to the captain, senior players are eager to lead by example and inspire the next generation of Indian hockey stars.
Pro League Experience Will Help India
Although India finished eighth in the nine-team FIH Pro League standings, Harmanpreet believes the tournament offered valuable lessons.
The team registered impressive victories against strong sides like the Netherlands and Germany during the European leg of the competition. Those wins, he said, proved that India can compete with the world’s best teams.
However, Harmanpreet pointed out that a World Cup is very different because there are no second chances.
He said every mistake becomes costly in a knockout tournament. Therefore, the players are focusing on consistency and execution in every match.
India No Longer Depends Only On Penalty Corners
Harmanpreet also highlighted India’s improved attacking style.
He said the team has scored plenty of field goals in recent matches, reducing its dependence on penalty corners.
According to him, it does not matter who scores as long as the team converts its chances. He also praised the coordination among India’s forwards and expressed complete confidence in the attacking unit.
Drag-Flick Challenge Has Become Tougher
As one of the world’s leading drag-flick specialists, Harmanpreet admitted that scoring from penalty corners has become more difficult.
He explained that every team now relies heavily on video analysis to study opposition players.
Because of that, India constantly works on new variations and carefully studies rival defensive structures to identify fresh scoring opportunities.
Young Players Ready For The Big Stage
The Indian captain also backed the youngsters who will play their first Hockey World Cup.
He said the newcomers have already gained valuable experience against top international teams through the FIH Pro League.
Harmanpreet added that the senior players are helping the younger members settle into the squad by sharing their experience and encouraging positive communication.
He believes the youngsters are not under pressure and have been asked to play their natural game while putting the team’s interests first.
India-Pakistan Clash Will Be Special
India will face arch-rivals Pakistan during the group stage, one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
Harmanpreet acknowledged the excitement surrounding the fixture. However, he said the team will avoid getting carried away by emotions.
He added that India has enjoyed success against Pakistan in recent years and hopes to continue that record at the World Cup.
Focus Will Shift To Asian Games After World Cup
Following the World Cup, India will compete at the Asian Games in Japan, where the champions will earn direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Harmanpreet said the team’s immediate priority is the World Cup. After that, the players will recover quickly and prepare to defend India’s dominance in Asian hockey.
He also wished the Indian athletes participating in the Commonwealth Games success, urging them to give their best and make the country proud.