Can India Secure World Cup Qualification via the Pro League? Hardik Singh Weighs In

New Delhi, May 26 (NationPress) Currently holding a solid third position on the points table, as they gear up to resume their campaign in the away leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024–25 (Men), India's vice-captain Hardik Singh stressed the significance of finishing the tournament in a leading position.

“We've discussed this extensively within the team and are confident that if we adhere to our strategy, gather sufficient points, and strive for victories—while also earning points from draws and subsequent shootouts—we stand a tremendous chance of qualifying for the World Cup through the Pro League,” expressed a determined Hardik.

In providing context, he noted, “Belgium (currently ranked No.2) and the Netherlands (ranked No.4, just behind us) automatically qualify as the co-hosts for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026. This leaves England, sitting at the top, along with Germany and Spain as our primary competitors for qualification. Our matchups against Argentina will also be pivotal. This is a valuable challenge for us, as qualifying early would allow us ample time to prepare for the World Cup.”

As it stands, Australia (ranked No.6 in the ongoing Pro League) has already secured their World Cup spot as the winners of the previous FIH Hockey Pro League, while Belgium and the Netherlands qualify as hosts. Germany, currently in fifth place, has six matches remaining and could pose a threat to India's qualification ambitions.

Meanwhile, the Indian team's focus and dedication in preparing for their European campaign have been showcased during the intensive training sessions—marked by red, orange, and green training flags—at the centralized training camp in SAI, Bengaluru over the past three weeks.

“The training has been extremely demanding,” chuckled Hardik, emphasizing the team's hard work, especially regarding fitness and conditioning. “We've really been pushed by our coach and Alan (Scientific Advisor). Our strength and conditioning have been spot-on—largely because we aim to be in peak form for consecutive matches. We have virtually no rest days between games, and even on those rare days, we’ll be traveling from the Netherlands to Belgium,” he elaborated.

India's European leg will kick off with back-to-back matches against the Netherlands on June 7 and 9, followed by a double-header against Argentina on June 11 and 12 at the Wagner Stadium in Amstelveen. The team will then head to Antwerp to face Australia on June 14 and 15, concluding their campaign against hosts Belgium on June 21 and 22.

“Every single point in these six matches is crucial. An exciting aspect of this campaign is that the matches will be held at the same venues as the World Cup next year. This provides us a clearer understanding of what to expect. We’re treating this as a World Cup simulation, which makes this outing significantly important for our team,” Hardik concluded.