India captain Harmanpreet Singh believes the men’s hockey team has the quality and belief to end the country’s 50-year wait for a Hockey World Cup medal when the tournament begins in the Netherlands and Belgium on August 15.

Having already helped India end a 41-year Olympic medal drought with bronze at the Tokyo Olympics before leading the team to another bronze medal in Paris, Harmanpreet says the current squad is approaching the World Cup with the same mindset that delivered success on the Olympic stage.

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Harmanpreet draws inspiration from Tokyo Olympics

India’s last Hockey World Cup medal came in 1975, when the team lifted the trophy in Kuala Lumpur. Before that, India had secured bronze in 1971 and silver in 1973, but the nation has not returned to the World Cup podium since.

Harmanpreet believes the present squad has prepared with a clear objective of ending that long wait. “We had similar feelings as before the Tokyo Olympics. Our preparation is equally strong because our only goal is to end the 50-year World Cup podium drought,” Harmanpreet told PTI in an interview.

The Indian skipper said the team wants to repeat the approach that helped it rewrite history at the Tokyo Games.

“Just as we won an Olympic medal after 41 years in Tokyo, we want to break the World Cup drought as well. We will go with the same mindset and the same preparation. There is no pressure; rather, it is our responsibility,” he added.

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Experienced players eye memorable farewell

For several senior members of the Indian squad, the upcoming tournament could be their final Hockey World Cup appearance.  Harmanpreet, who has represented India in 264 international matches, believes the experienced players understand the significance of the opportunity and are determined to leave a lasting impact.

“The team’s performance, confidence and unity in recent months have strengthened our belief that this is a golden opportunity. It is especially important for the experienced players because this could be their last World Cup and there are expectations from them. They want to set an example through their performances and inspire the next generation,” Harmanpreet said.

Despite the optimism, the captain stressed that success would only come through consistent effort. “The path is not easy. A lot of hard work is needed. We play with a never-say-die attitude and that will remain our approach even in the practice sessions,” he added.

One match at a time is India’s focus

Harmanpreet said every team enters the Hockey World Cup aiming to win, making it essential for India to stay focused on each game instead of looking too far ahead. “In a World Cup, every team comes with a winning mindset and gives 100 per cent. We will focus on one match at a time and not think too far ahead,” Harmanpreet qas quoted saying.

India head into the tournament after an eventful European leg of the FIH Pro League, where they defeated strong opponents such as the Netherlands and Germany before finishing eighth in the nine-team standings.

The captain believes those matches provided valuable lessons ahead of the World Cup. “In the Pro League, you experiment, learn a lot and analyse opponents. We even beat teams like the Netherlands and Germany. But the World Cup is different because you don’t get a second chance. Even small mistakes can prove costly.”

India ready for Pakistan clash and beyond

India will also face Pakistan during the group stage, one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament. Harmanpreet said the team will not allow emotions to distract them from their objective.

“There is always hype around an India-Pakistan match, but we remind ourselves not to get carried away by emotions. Team responsibility comes first. We have done well against them in recent years and would like to continue that,” Harmanpreet said.

Looking beyond the World Cup, Harmanpreet said India will quickly shift its focus to the Asian Games, where direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be at stake.

“I have faith in the team and our preparation. Instead of worrying about things beyond our control, we want to recover quickly after the World Cup and perform well at the Asian Games. We have played good hockey in Asia and want to maintain that dominance to qualify for the Olympics,” he added. 

Sending a message to Indian athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games, Harmanpreet added: “You are representing India and obviously expectations would be high. Do your best and make the nation proud.”

FAQs

What did Harmanpreet Singh say about India’s Hockey World Cup chances?

Harmanpreet said India has the belief and preparation to end its 50-year Hockey World Cup medal drought.

When did India last win a Hockey World Cup medal?

India last won a Hockey World Cup medal in 1975, when it lifted the title in Kuala Lumpur.