The excitement surrounding the Indian Men’s Hockey Team is as palpable today as it was at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium in Rajgir. Their remarkable 4-1 victory over South Korea to clinch the 2025 Hockey Asia Cup left not only the spectators in the stadium but the entire nation bursting with enthusiasm. Yet, their journey doesn’t end here; the team is ambitiously aiming for greater achievements.
“Winning the Asia Cup was a major goal for us because we wanted to qualify for the World Cup as Asian Champions, not through qualifiers,” explains Manpreet Singh, a midfielder. He adds, “This trophy has boosted our confidence immensely for winning the World Cup. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, we made history by winning an Olympic medal after 41 years, and now we’re aiming to make history once again by winning the World Cup next year after 50 years!”
Now, having secured their position as four-time Asian Champions since 1982, and earning a direct entry to the 2026 Hockey World Cup, the Indian players move forward with a determined mission. Dilpreet Singh, the Man of the Match in the final, shares, “We were eager to win the trophy in front of our home crowd and are proud to have brought joy to Indian Hockey supporters. Playing on our home ground, in front of our people, gives a significant morale boost.”
When the stakes are high, it’s natural to feel the pressure. But for Team India, forward player Sukhjeet Singh, who gave India a dream start with a first-minute goal, reveals, “We went into the first half break with great confidence. We were leading and felt we were close to clinching the trophy and securing World Cup qualification. Captain Harmanpreet’s words kept us grounded as he advised, ‘Don’t think about the lead; play the rest of the game as if the score is 0-0.’ Our team motto has always been to never give up and never allow the opposition back into the game. We will carry this approach forward as we head into the World Cup.”