India men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh has declared his squad's intent to end the country's 51-year wait for the FIH Hockey World Cup title, saying the team's back-to-back Olympic medals have built the confidence needed to mount a serious challenge when the tournament gets underway. India last lifted the World Cup in 1975 — a drought that has outlasted generations of players and coaching regimes.

The Weight of 51 Years

No Indian men's hockey team has returned home with the World Cup since their landmark victory nearly five decades ago. Harmanpreet, who has been central to India's recent Olympic resurgence, believes the current generation carries both the credentials and the hunger to change that. The squad's bronze medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 have given the group a rare sense of sustained momentum heading into the World Cup.

'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. With all the hard work we have 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,' Harmanpreet said in an interview with JioStar.

Underdogs With Intent

Harmanpreet acknowledged that India will not enter the competition as favourites, but framed that underdog status as an advantage rather than a limitation. The squad, he said, sees the tournament as the ideal stage to demonstrate India's true capability on the global hockey circuit.

'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 added.

Defence as the Foundation

The captain was emphatic that a disciplined defensive structure will be the cornerstone of India's campaign. Harmanpreet identified organised defending as the platform from which the team intends to generate consistent attacking pressure.

'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,' he said.

India's preparatory sessions have covered a range of defensive systems — a full press, a half-court press, and a low press — with individual player responsibilities mapped out through dedicated meetings. Harmanpreet stressed that solid defending is not merely about keeping clean sheets; it creates the conditions for India to repeatedly threaten inside the opposition circle and convert the 50-50 chances that typically decide tight knockout matches.

Unity Over Individual Glory

Beyond tactics, Harmanpreet pointed to squad cohesion as a defining strength. With senior players providing experience and younger members injecting energy, the captain said the group has built a deep sense of mutual trust that will be tested across a long and demanding tournament.

'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 stated.

India's World Cup campaign represents more than a sporting contest — it is a chance to close one of the longest title droughts in the country's hockey history. Whether the current squad can convert Olympic consistency into World Cup glory will be the defining question of this generation's legacy.