Chandigarh: Indian hockey has experienced a remarkable resurgence in recent years, and Indian hockey player Manpreet Singh believes the best is yet to come.
"We cannot reach the peak directly; we have to follow a process," he told ANI.
"We are winning medals and playing in tournament finals. We are progressing step by step. We are now very close to beating any team. Earlier, it was not the same. Take Belgium, for instance--they have won medals, but it took them eight years to achieve that. Similarly, we are moving in the right direction. We will continue to give our best, focus on recovery, and steadily achieve our goals. Our next targets are the World Cup, Pro League, and Asia Cup. If we maintain this approach, we will definitely reach the top," Singh added.".
Discussing the evolution of Indian hockey during his career, Manpreet observed, "People are happy because we ended a long medal drought. Winning back-to-back medals is extremely challenging. Now, people believe that hockey in India is moving in the right direction. The future is bright, and Indian hockey is reclaiming its former glory."
The support from fans, particularly in Delhi, has been remarkable.
"People have always loved hockey, but when we weren't winning medals, there was frustration. However, as we started winning and beating strong teams like Australia, the confidence of both players and fans grew. During the Germany series in Delhi, the crowd really supported us."
For aspiring hockey players, Manpreet had valuable advice: "Keep working hard and never give up. Sometimes you may not get selected for the team, but that's when you work even harder to make it. Only 18 players are selected, so it's tough for the coaches to include everyone. Even if you're on standby, don't lose hope. Put in your best effort, and you'll see results. The future of Indian hockey is promising. The Hockey India League (HIL) is a fantastic platform. When HIL began in 2013, we discovered players like Mandeep Singh, who joined the national team the same year. HIL provides young players with opportunities to showcase their talent, gain recognition, and eventually make it to the national side. This motivates them to work hard."
Looking ahead, Manpreet is clear about his goals: "I want to stay fit because, without fitness, survival in the game is impossible. I aim to keep adopting new techniques, give my 100 percent on the field, and maintain a never-give-up attitude."(ANI)
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