New Delhi, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh is determined to lead the team to its first FIH Hockey World Cup title in 51 years, with the squad aiming to build on its recent Olympic success and challenge for the sport’s biggest prize.
India last won the men’s Hockey World Cup in 1975. Harmanpreet believes the current side has the experience, confidence and collective belief needed to end the long wait, with back-to-back Olympic medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 providing additional motivation.
“The World Cup means a lot to all of us because after this World Cup, you never know what might happen. There are several senior players in the team as well, so for us, this is a great opportunity,” Harmanpreet told JioStar.
“With all the hard work we’ve put in and how we have trained, we believe that we can definitely do this. And that’s our only aim, to give our best and win a medal. Of course, winning back-to-back medals in Tokyo and Paris has definitely been a very motivating factor for us,” he added.
India will enter the tournament as underdogs, a status Harmanpreet feels could allow the team to play without the burden of expectations.
“We are here as underdogs. We believe this is the right situation for us to show everyone what India can do and what capability India has. The hope is to bring the trophy home. It’s easy to say, and the journey will be tough and rough, but we are ready,” he said.
The captain also highlighted the unity within the squad, stressing that individual performances will remain secondary to the team’s collective objective.
“The team trusts one another and our mindset is positive. Who scores or who defends doesn’t matter, as long as we win as a team. We will go all out,” Harmanpreet said.
Defensive organisation, he added, will be central to India’s campaign. The team has worked on full-press, half-court and low-press defensive structures, while also holding individual meetings and team discussions to ensure players understand their responsibilities.
“Our first priority will be defence. If we defend well throughout the tournament, we will be close to achieving what we have come here for. We have practised really well in that area,” Harmanpreet said.
He stressed that effective defending would also create attacking opportunities, with India needing to make the most of 50-50 chances, receive the ball under pressure and convert opportunities inside the opposition circle into shots or penalty corners.
For India, the World Cup offers another opportunity to translate its Olympic resurgence into global success and finally end the country’s 51-year wait for the men’s hockey crown.
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