CHENNAI: After a challenging season that saw the Indian men’s hockey team end the year eighth in the world rankings, the focus has firmly shifted to the crucial 2026 campaign, which includes the World Cup and the Asian Games. Despite finishing a disappointing eighth in the Pro League with just six wins, captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed confidence that the team will bounce back.
“When we won the Olympic bronze, we were ranked sixth or seventh. Rankings matter and they do stay in our minds. There will be ups and downs, and we need to find ways to manage them.“In the Pro League, several players were injured, and we lost many matches by narrow margins. The most important thing is to believe in the team,” Harmanpreet said at an event hosted by Hockey India League (HIL) franchise Soorma HC here.Following the HIL, India will play Pro League matches at home, which Harmanpreet believes will be vital in preparing for the World Cup and the Asian Games.“The HIL will help us prepare for the international window. The Pro League matches will be important as we try to figure out a few things. If we win the League, we will earn a Los Angeles Olympics quota,” he said.With the World Cup and Asian Games just weeks apart, workload management will be a key focus. “We first need to sit down with the coach. Managing workload means monitoring players during camps.”
