India men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh has emphasised the team’s determination to end the country’s 51-year wait for the FIH Hockey World Cup title, stating that the squad is prepared to give its all during the tournament.
Speaking to JioStar, Harmanpreet described the World Cup as a significant opportunity, especially with several senior players present in the team. He said, “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.”
The captain highlighted that the team’s hard work and preparations have boosted their confidence to challenge for the title, while their consecutive Olympic medals in Tokyo and Paris have provided additional motivation. He added, “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.”
Harmanpreet also embraced India’s underdog status, expressing the team’s intent to showcase its capabilities on the world stage. He said, “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.”
Recognising the challenging journey ahead, Harmanpreet stressed the importance of team unity and a positive mindset. “It’s easy to say, and the journey will be tough and rough, but we are ready. 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,” he said.
He identified defence as India’s top priority, stating that a strong defensive structure will be crucial to their campaign. “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 explained.
The captain added that the team has thoroughly worked on different defensive structures, including full press, half-court press, and low press, through individual meetings and team discussions.
Furthermore, Harmanpreet highlighted the importance of converting chances in the opposition’s circle. He said, “Because when you defend well, situations will arise to consistently enter the opponent’s D. So, how to convert those 50-50 chances, how to do the receiving well under pressure, how to smartly produce an outcome in the D, whether it’s a shot on goal or earning a penalty corner, those things will be critical.”
India has been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Wales, and arch-rivals Pakistan. Having won the 1975 edition by defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final, India has not secured World Cup glory for over 50 years.
After finishing ninth in the 2023 edition held in Bhubaneswar, India will aim to claim the gold medal at this tournament. The team hopes to build on the momentum from two consecutive Olympic bronze medals, an Asia Cup title, two Asian Champions Trophy wins, and an Asia Cup gold.