India’s men’s hockey captain, chief scorer, defensive pillar, and all-round talisman, Harmanpreet Singh carries many roles with remarkable ease. After a short but much-needed break with family in Amritsar, the drag-flick maestro is gearing up for one of the busiest international seasons in recent memory.
Even during his downtime, he remains glued to ongoing action at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
A Year Packed With High-Stakes Hockey
The calendar ahead is intense. The Hockey India League begins on January 3, followed by the FIH Pro League on February 11. Then comes the sport’s biggest stage, the FIH World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands from 4 to 30 August 2026. The season ends with the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
“A Packed Season — But A Big Opportunity”
In an exclusive conversation with Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net), Harmanpreet spoke about the demanding season and the mindset needed to tackle it.
Absolutely, it’s a packed season but I see it as a big opportunity. We start with HIL, then the Pro League, the World Cup, and the Asian Games. We want to begin strong in the Pro League because it gives us a direct route to World Cup qualification. Before the World Cup, our focus will be on team bonding, preparation, and ensuring everyone is on the same page. That’s the key to confidence.”
Rested, Reset, And Ready
After the season break, Harmanpreet says he feels “very good, very positive.” “Whatever rest I got was very important for me,” he shared. “With HIL and the Pro League starting soon, I’m feeling refreshed and ready.”
Soorma Hockey Club: “This Season Will Be Better”
Harmanpreet will captain the Soorma Hockey Club, owned by JSW group, again this HIL season. The team finished third last year, but he believes they are poised for a stronger run this time. One major change: Belgian coach Philippe Goldberg takes over from Jeroen Bart, who moves into an advisory role.
Our start last season wasn’t good, but we came back strong. This time, not many changes have been made. With Philippe Goldberg coming in, everyone is excited. The Europeans in the squad already know his style. We have two weeks before the tournament to get aligned and ready for the first match.
The Big Lesson From Last Season
Harmanpreet doesn’t mince words when evaluating the previous HIL campaign.
The early matches will be crucial. We want to start in rhythm and win right from the beginning. And importantly, we must convert opportunities inside the ‘D,’ whether field goals or penalty corners. Scoring early and defending well as a team will be key.
Pro League: Start Strong, Finish Stronger
Reflecting on India’s previous Pro League outings, Harmanpreet pointed out that the team lost several close matches.
Whenever we lost, the scoring margin was narrow. If we start well but don’t finish well, strong teams will punish us. That was the big lesson. Touchwood, if everyone stays fit, we’ll perform well this time.
Testing Tactics And Talent
For Harmanpreet, the Pro League is also a crucial testing ground. “Because we play back-to-back matches against the same teams, it’s a great opportunity to experiment. If a player needs improvement or if we want to try new combinations, this is the platform. It helps us refine what’s working and fix what isn’t.”
