The World Cup did not go to plan for the Indian men’s hockey team. Despite much euphoria and a commanding 3-1 lead against New Zealand, India failed to hold on and were knocked out ahead of the quarterfinal stage. It has been a steady climb back since for Harmanpreet Singh, the captain. Doing well in the Pro League and scoring the highest number of penalty-corner goals, he is back to leading India on home turf at the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai. And with Pakistan in the mix, it is always a special match up to look forward to. Will the tournament serve as the ideal preparation for the Asian Games, and how is he looking at things? Here’s Harmanpreet Singh in a candid conversation with Boria Majumdar.
Boria: You are back on home turf for another major tournament. While the World Cup did not go to plan, you have made a spectacular comeback in the Pro league and done well against higher-ranked European teams. With three huge months coming up for Indian hockey, how are you looking at things?
Harmanpreet: The World Cup was a major disappointment. Despite wanting to do our best, we were not able to. It happens sometimes in sport, and we have learnt from our shortcomings and tried to get better as athletes. That’s what is most important. Yes, you are right in saying three very important months are coming up. We as a team are very well prepared. We have consistently done well against European teams and even when we have lost a game, we have created enough opportunities to score. That’s when you know, that with minor refinements, you are as good as any team in the world. In Chennai, we will play with the teams that we will have to face in Hangzhou and it will be good preparation for the Asian Games, which will also serve as an Olympic qualifier for us. We want to win the gold and close the qualification process.
Boria: Playing Pakistan is always a special occasion. Your thoughts on this match?
Harmanpreet: Yes, it is a special match and a special occasion. The intensity is different. We keep speaking as a team about this one game, and how on this day we can’t go wrong. Things are indeed different when it comes to this one match. Having said that, you can’t let the intensity get the better of you. If that happens, your performance can go south. Ultimately it is about playing quality hockey, and emotions running high don’t necessarily help you in doing that.
Boria: But this argument that Pakistan is just another game isn’t true. It can’t be. Players say it to deflect pressure, isn’t it?
Harmanpreet: No, it is not just another game. It is a special match and a special occasion. Like I said to you, the intensity is very different. Even when you are playing, you can feel it. But the important thing is to not let the occasion get to you. While you know how important it is, the focus is still to do the basics right, do what you do against the best sides. That’s when you produce your best performance and win the match.
Boria: You are also the best drag-flicker in the team. Does that put additional pressure on you, especially on home soil?
Harmanpreet: No, it doesn’t. We have played many games on home soil by now, and we are used to the crowds and the pressure. There is pressure, no doubt, but that’s not a negative thing. I like taking the drag flicks and scoring goals. That’s what helps my team and that’s what helps us win. Having said that, I am not the only drag-flicker in the team. There are others now who are doing extremely well. So there is no pressure on me.
Boria: You have been taking drag flicks for years now. With sports science and technology and video analysis, it is natural that the opponents are also studying you closely. How do you keep improving and innovating, for you need to do so to stay ahead of the curve?
Harmanpreet: It is true for sport, not just for drag flicks. We need to keep improving consistently to be the best. When it comes to penalty corners, we practice finer adjustments, variations, refinements that help us to not get predictable. We also study how opponents are reacting to a drag flick. Who is the first rusher, what are they doing, what strategies are they using so that we are best prepared to deal with them. And this is an ongoing process.
Boria: Skipper, a year from now, we will all be in Paris and India will want a repeat of Tokyo. When I look at world hockey, I tend to think we do have a realistic chance. Your thoughts?
Harmanpreet: Yes, we do. We have played the best European teams consistently, and at every stage have been competitive. Most recently, we beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Spain. If you see, there is no team that we have not beaten and our ranking, fourth, tells you we have a very realistic chance. But it is all a process. The first thing is to get the qualification out of the way. That’s where the Asian Games becomes very important for us. Once the qualification is out of the way, you can prepare for Paris 2024 with full focus. But to answer your question, we certainly have the team to do well at the Olympics.
Boria: Would you agree that the one big improvement for Indian hockey has been in the fitness levels of players. Earlier, we would concede a goal in the last minute, for example. And that’s because we would get tired. In Tokyo, we were amongst the fittest sides. Now, when the game is faster with 15-minute quarters, our players are fit enough to push the opponents till the very last second.
Harmanpreet: Without a doubt. We train the hardest, and each one of us is conscious of the importance of fitness. By the way, fitness is just not physical fitness. It is also about mental fitness. When you are playing hockey at this level, you need to be mentally switched on at every step. One mistake, which can happen if you switch off, can cost you the game. We know what it entails, and have done maximum work to be in the best shape we need to be in.
Also Read: ‘Really Extraordinary’: How Indian Hockey Won Back Gold in Tokyo in 1964