For Indian hockey, the next seven weeks are shaping up to be about as demanding as it gets. Both the men’s and women’s national teams are gearing up for a brutal back-to-back stretch: the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30, followed almost immediately by the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, running September 19 to October 4. It’s the kind of packed calendar that tests not just skill, but depth, fitness, and squad management — and Indian hockey fans have every reason to be watching closely.
Harmanpreet Singh Leads the Charge
At the center of it all is captain Harmanpreet Singh, who will once again lead India’s men’s team into World Cup battle. Hockey India has named a 20-member squad for the tournament, blending experienced campaigners with a handful of promising young faces who’ve earned their spots through recent performances rather than reputation alone.
India have been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan, and Wales, and the campaign kicks off on August 15 against Wales. That’s followed by a clash with England on August 17, before the group stage wraps up with the fixture every Indian hockey fan circles on the calendar: India vs Pakistan on August 19. All of India’s pool-stage matches will be played at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, the Netherlands.
The India-Pakistan hockey rivalry needs little introduction. Pakistan remain the most successful team in men’s World Cup history with four titles, and even with both sides’ fortunes having shifted dramatically over the decades, the fixture still carries a weight and intensity that transcends the group stage standings.
A Squad Shaped by Recent Form
The road to this squad hasn’t been entirely smooth. India endured a rocky FIH Pro League campaign in the lead-up to the World Cup, finishing eighth out of nine teams — just ahead of Pakistan — after a stretch of four wins, five draws, and seven losses. Four players who featured in the European leg of the Pro League missed the final cut for the World Cup squad due to size restrictions, a reminder of how competitive selection has become within the current setup.
Still, there were bright spots too. Chief coach Craig Fulton has pointed to India’s wins over defending world champions Germany and reigning Olympic champions the Netherlands during last month’s Pro League matches as proof the squad has the quality to compete with anyone on their day. Fulton has described this year’s group as well-balanced — tournament-tested veterans like Manpreet Singh, India’s most-capped player, mixed in with hungry youngsters like Rajinder Singh and Aditya Arjun Lalage.
The squad itself reads as a mix of the familiar and the new. In defense, Harmanpreet is joined by Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, and Yashdeep Siwach. In the midfield, the experienced trio of Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad, along with Nilakanta Sharma and the two younger additions, will be in charge. Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh and Shilanand Lakra will be the ones expected to score while Mohith HS and Suraj Karkera will share the goalkeeping duties.
For a nation that hasn’t lifted the World Cup trophy since 1975, the symbolism isn’t lost on the players or the coaching staff. Fulton has framed this tournament as a chance for the current group to write its own chapter in Indian hockey history, fifty years on from that historic triumph — a milestone that adds extra emotional weight to this campaign.
The Women’s Side Has Its Own Big Test
India’s women’s hockey team is entering this same period with plenty on its plate too. The women’s World Cup campaign begins a day after the men’s, on August 16, with captain Salima Tete leading the side into their opener against China, followed by matches against South Africa and England.
Adding another layer to India’s packed hockey calendar, the women’s team named for the Asian Games later in the year will be led separately by Harmanpreet Kaur, underlining just how much squad rotation and player management is going to matter as both teams juggle two major tournaments within roughly six weeks of each other.
Why the Double Matters
Playing a World Cup and the Asian Games back-to-back is no small ask physically or mentally. Beyond the prestige of the World Cup itself, the Asian Games carries its own significance as a direct pathway tied to continental hockey standing, making it just as vital for India’s long-term ambitions in the sport.
With the World Cup opener against Wales just days away, all eyes will now turn to Amstelveen, where Harmanpreet Singh and his side will look to make a statement early — and set the tone for a stretch that could define Indian hockey’s next chapter, both on the World Cup stage and later in Japan.
