NEW DELHI: Team India captain Harmanpreet Singh has achieved two Olympic bronze medals and is now after a Hockey World Cup medal, a feat he aims to accomplish in the 2026 edition.
India boasts three World Cup medals: a bronze in 1971, a silver in 1973, and a gold in 1975 under Ajitpal Singh’s captaincy.
Harmanpreet secured Olympic bronze medals in Tokyo and Paris. He captained the team during the Paris Olympics. He also led the team to victory in the 2016 Junior World Cup in Lucknow.
“The goal will always be to bag Olympic gold and a World Cup medal. The way we performed in Paris shows that we can compete with top teams and win,” Harmanpreet told PTI.
“Our immediate target is next FIH Pro League matches and then win the Asia Cup and qualify directly for the World Cup. A World Cup medal hasn’t come for a long time and I want to fulfil that in my career,” said Harmanpreet, one the best defenders and drag-flickers of the world right now.
“…Hope we can relive those golden days during our career. We will not surrender till we achieve that,” he added.
Personally, Harmanpreet aims to refine his drag-flick technique and maintain his fitness to extend his career.
“Drag-flick is getting tough day-by-day and the goal is to work on how to improve myself, bring in more variations and remain fit.”
Harmanpreet credits Harendra Singh, the current Indian women’s hockey team coach, for shaping his career. He believes Deepika, the women’s team drag-flicker and star forward, is benefiting from Harendra’s coaching.
“Deepika is doing great. She produced a great performance in the Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, Bihar. She is a good drag-flicker and a forward who can score. She is in safe hands under Harry (Harendra) sir,” he said.
“I will never forget those days and the help Harry sir provided me.”
Harmanpreet’s involvement in hockey was unintentional; he initially had no aspiration to play the sport.
“Hockey has chosen me as in my family there was no player, neither I had interest in hockey. I had interest in many sports like volleyball, football, athletics, basketball,” he said.
“A coach in my school said try hockey and from the day I started hockey, I became a fan of it. I started the sport at 7-8 years.”
Harmanpreet was the highest-paid player in the recent Hockey India League (HIL) auction, securing a bid of Rs 78 lakh from Soorma Hockey Club of Punjab. The HIL is being revived after a seven-year hiatus.
Harmanpreet believes the HIL provides a valuable learning platform for young players. It serves as a pathway to the national team.
“The biggest thing is that HIL is starting again. Happy that the highest bid was for me. These things give you motivation. Financially also you need to be strong. These things help in personal life,” he said.
“The HIL is a good opportunity for youngsters to learn. In my career HIL helped me a lot and definitely it is a chance to play against top players of the world.
“They (youngsters) will get to know what is their thinking, their understanding. HIL is going to benefit Indian hockey in future.
“We can get a lot of players from here who can represent India in future. This is the best opportunity before them,” he noted.
But Harmanpreet said the hefty price tag will not add any pressure on him during the HIL.
“There is no pressure because till the last day of my career every match will be tough, I will take it as a responsibility.
“The scenario will be the same in HIL as well, I will try to live up to the responsibility given to me,” he said.
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