India will have their eyes on their second consecutive gold and a direct entry into the 2028 LA Olympics when they kick off their Asian Games campaign on September 20. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side will be up against Indonesia in their first game.
Despite the hockey team’s forgettable performance in the World Cup, the fans have high hopes from the Men in Blue. Ahead of the Asiad, Manpreet spoke exclusively to Times Now. The Indian legend said that the team’s goal remains to win the gold once again. Excerpts:
Sports Now: Manpreet, when we talk about the Asian Games, you are the defending champions, you have a gold medal, you have won multiple Olympic medals, and you have multiple Asian Games medals. How is Manpreet Singh approaching these Asian Games?
Manpreet: Definitely, our goal is to win gold from here because it’s very important. Last time as well, we won the gold, and looking at the way India has been playing, we feel that we should win gold. Another thing is that everyone knows if we win gold here, we will directly qualify for the LA Olympics. So it’s very important that if we qualify directly from here, it will be much better for us.
Sports Now: Manpreet, you are the most experienced player in this team. So from when you were captain to the team now, can you tell us about the team’s journey, as well as your own?
Manpreet: Mostly it’s the same team. If you look at it from 2020 until now, mostly the players are the same, all are experienced players who have played a lot of hockey. So I think everyone understands how important their responsibility is and how important this event is for us-to qualify and win gold. The entire country, and we as well, know that India is number one in Asia. So we have to approach it with that mindset. Everyone on the ground will have their own responsibility to give 100% and not underestimate any match here.
Sports Now: What would you say is the biggest difference, Manpreet, between the team in the last Asian Games and the one now? What areas do you think we have improved in coming into the Nagoya Asian Games?
Manpreet: Last time when we won gold, we had very good experienced players and young players, and this time too, the team has a great mix of good young players and experienced players. It’s a very good combination. Plus, just like we approached it last time-playing match by match-if we do the same in this tournament as well, it will be better. No team here will be easy because every team will want to qualify from here, and since India is definitely number one, every team wants to beat India. So that will be there. Personally, our focus will be to not underestimate any team and give our 100% in every match.
Sports Now: Manpreet, you personally and individually have seen great highs in Indian hockey as well as very low points, but through all of this, you have stayed connected and stayed strong with Indian hockey, and you’re still playing today. How do you keep yourself motivated? Representing India, wearing the jersey, seeing the Indian flag-how big of a motivation is that in multi-sporting events like this?
Manpreet: For me, it’s a very big thing because whenever I wear the Indian colors, I always think that this was my childhood dream-to wear the Indian colors. I consider myself very privileged to get this opportunity, and as long as I fulfill this role, I want to give my 100% and never let anyone feel that Manpreet isn’t doing well. Whenever I step onto the ground, I give 100%. That mentality is still in my mind-to take the team along, give my best, and handle the ups and downs. How to keep the team together and stay positive-I’ve learned a lot from this long journey. Even now, I’m eager to give my 100% for as long as I have time. This event is very important, it’s my fourth Asian Games, so the goal remains to win the gold medal.
Sports Now: And playing in the home country or home town-how difficult does that get? You’ve experienced the home advantage. Indian fans are known to travel anywhere in the world to support the team, but still, how advantageous can a home advantage be for any team?
Manpreet: It’s a big advantage because the home crowd supports you, and I think they act like a 12th player. Whenever we’ve played in India, we get massive support because we have very big stadiums in India. So playing in front of a home crowd gives a boost, gives energy to perform better. Here, Japan definitely has the home crowd advantage, but our focus is on our game plans and continuing the best hockey we’ve been playing, so we can beat any team.
Sports Now: And when we talk about the Asian Games, Manpreet-we were just speaking to Harmanpreet as well-there’s a multi-sport bonhomie that you get to see. It’s not just hockey to hockey; there are shooters, cricketers, and other athletes. Cricketers come to support the hockey team, and when the hockey team gets time, you go support other sports. That seems like a very positive aspect, a nice change from playing bilaterals.
Manpreet: Definitely. When we used to stay in the village earlier, it felt great because we would meet athletes from different sports daily. We’d ask how their games were going, and if someone won a medal in the first couple of days, we’d congratulate them. It brought so much joy knowing India got a medal. This time it’s a bit different because we are staying separately, so we might not meet as much, but the spirit remains to support each other. We want all the athletes here to give 100% and win medals, and they have our full support from here.
Sports Now: And what would you like to say to the people who always stand by the hockey team? Indian fans have a special connection with the hockey team and always expect the players to give their best and bring home medals. I think that’s a good pressure and motivation-the burden of expectations, as we call it.
Manpreet: Actually, it provides a lot of support when we see the entire country behind us, always supporting and staying positive regardless of the result. Sometimes there are ups and downs, but many fans support you even in those times. That feels really good. In events like this, the whole country wants a gold in hockey, and we perform keeping that in mind. I just want to ask everyone to keep supporting us. This event is very important for everyone-for hockey and for hockey fans. Wherever you are, please support us from there; we really need your support, and we will give our absolute best here.
Sports Now: Manpreet, people often say that success shouldn’t just be measured by medals. I wanted to ask-whether the gold medal comes or not, is there another parameter by which you measure success? Looking at the team’s performance, unity, harmony-are there other parameters as well?
Manpreet: Definitely. Because this is sports, ups and downs are always there, winning and losing are part of it. What matters most is how you perform as a team. Even if you lose, did you play your best game or not? If you play well and lose, you accept that you gave your best but it just wasn’t your day. But if you play poorly and lose, then it definitely hurts because you didn’t play your actual game. So that stays, but regarding medals, since we are a good team, work hard, and train a lot, the primary goal is always to win a medal. But it’s sports-winning and losing will happen. As long as you give your best, even in defeat, you know that you gave it your all and luck just wasn’t on your side today.