We want to win every FIH Pro League match and qualify for 2026 WC: Harmanpreet

Bhubaneswar, Feb 14: Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh on Friday said his team’s target is to win every FIH Pro League match and finish on top of the league to earn a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

Advertisement

India will open their FIH Pro League campaign against Spain on Saturday in Bhubaneswar.

They will next play Spain again the next day, followed by matches against Germany on February 16 and 19 in the opening leg of the India tour.

“Our training is going well from Hockey India League, we have been preparing for months, have learnt a lot from HIL. We have been able to maintain our fitness as well,” Harmanpreet said ahead of the FIH Pro League opener.

“We just wan to play good hockey, all players in good shape and the target is to win every game (in Pro League) looking at the World Cup,” he added.

The 2026 men’s hockey World Cup will be held from August 14 to 30 in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Harmanpreet, regarded as one of the best dragflickers in the world currently, praised HIL’s top-scorer Jugraj Singh for his flicking abilities and said the rise of next generation of domestic players augur well for the national side.

“We have seen some good domestic players in HIL. It was an opportunity for youngsters and they performed well,” he said.

“Jugraj was the top-scorer and he was brilliant. I am happy for him and it is beneficial for the national team as well.”

Harmanpreet, however, was in no mood to take Spain lightly.

“Spain is a good team, we can’t take them lightly. Our focus is to give our best and win the match,” he said.

India’s chief coach Craig Fulton said the FIH Pro League is a “building phase” for the side.

“It’s a building phase for us. We will look to try out things and see what best suits us. We will like to use our players’ HIL experience and integrate their learning into the team,” he said. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Bengal: Three family members killed in Asansol house fire

Kolkata, June 29: Three members of a family were...

NTPC’s Bongaigaon plant awarded for healthcare promotion, environment protection

Guwahati, June 29: State-run power major NTPC Limited's Bongaigaon...

Diksha Dagar in top 10 after three rounds in German Masters

Hamburg (Germany), June 29: Diksha Dagar held onto her...

India has set USD 1 bn turmeric export target by 2030: Union Minister Amit Shah

Hyderabad, June 29: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on...

UK police reviewing rapper’s anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury Festival

London, June 29: British police said they were examining...

Trump calls for deal on war in Gaza as signs of progress emerge

Tel Aviv, June 29: US President Donald Trump on...

162 students trapped in inundated residential school in Jharkhand after heavy rain rescued

Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), June 29: At least 162 students trapped...

5.3 magnitude quake hits Pakistan; 5 people injured

Karachi, June 29: At least five people were injured...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img