With its back-to-back bronze medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, Indian hockey is no longer being spoken in whispers of the past. India’s outing at Paris was eventful and while it lost to Germany in the semi-finals, it is India’s win against Great Britain with ten men that remains one for the history books.
With the latest medal India has thirteen medals in hockey at the Olympics and a resurgent sport is now back where it belongs, building on the glory of the yesteryears as it won successive hockey medals after 42 years at the Olympics. As India gears up to defend the Asian Champions Trophy next week, captain Harmanpreet Singh joins Gulf News in this freewheeling interview on Indian hockey’s resurgence and eying future laurels but without the legendary goalkeeper P R Sreejesh.
It is time to look ahead and the Asian Champions Trophy is around the corner, but before that a glance back. As captain of the Indian hockey team that won a second successive bronze medal at the Olympics, what were your thoughts as you stood on the podium?
Going to the Olympics and winning a medal for the country is a big thing. We were delighted, especially the way we played hockey through the Olympics and our dream was to win the gold. Unfortunately, that did not happen but to win a bronze medal for the country is no small accomplishment for us, especially two consecutive medals in hockey at the Olympics. We have the feeling that we have tasted success after a lot of hard work.
This hard work also includes mental strength and that was on show in the quarter-final match against Great Britain when India was reduced to 10 men for most of the match. At that time how did the team keep its morale high?
We have worked a lot on how to be mentally strong and how to manage a situation like this by anticipating in our training both yellow and red cards, and we accordingly worked on this structure. So, we had faith that without their ball possession, we could manage because one player less with the ball is difficult and you have to think of how to waste time. But there was an inner thought that today we will not lose the match no matter what. The attempt was to keep the ball out of the Indian ‘D’, and we were mentally strong, there was a belief in the team. Every single player said that we would leave this with a win, and that is how we won the match and history was made.
Do you think Indian hockey is back to its days of glory?
Absolutely. We have received the same love that Indian hockey got in the past and the back-to-back medals are a reason. This is an achievement for us. In the 2012 Olympics, we did not win a single match. In 2016, which was my first Olympics we reached the quarter-final. In Tokyo winning a medal after so long was a big achievement for us. But there are sacrifices. Throughout the year you spend in camp and are away from family. There is body fatigue and aches and pains but there is an aim and when you play you remember all the hard work and sacrifices. Hockey has become so fast that it is not easy.
The upcoming Asian Champions Trophy begins on September 8. How much confidence is there in the team?
There is confidence, but this is also a period where we are bringing in youngsters with an eye on the future for at least the next two years. So, the team will be a mix of experience and some players who have not played many matches. It is a challenge also for the coach to explain the structure and our mentality to these youngsters. But we are excited, and we are ready.
The biggest transition will be to play without goalkeeper P R Sreejesh. How much will he be missed?
A lot. There is a different bond. We are like brothers. The help he gave me when I first joined the team has helped me in my journey. He is the best. When he is there even the team environment is different, he is himself a child I don’t know how he has grown up! Whenever he comes, he has a presence. We will miss all that, but his journey has been amazing, the amount of time he has given hockey. From 2002 in junior camp to 2024 it has been an exceptionally long journey and throughout the Olympics he played stellar hockey. It was important that we give him a good send-off and we are very happy for him.
In one of your posts you write, ‘We will either find a way or make one.’ What does the future hold for you?
Everything. Our first focus is to get a medal at the World Cup because we have won in all major tournaments except for this. And after 42 years we won back-to-back medals at the Olympics, and it is the World Cup that has remained elusive and doing well there that would be special for the rest of my journey as well.
You are fondly called Sarpanch Sahab of hockey. What is your mantra to remain calm in pressure cooker situations?
I have learnt these things in my journey so I believe if you remain calm and free in the mind you can manage any situation and if you think you can fix a tough situation with a smile then you should keep smiling. I prefer to remain calm although sometimes in the heat of the moment, it can be different, but it is how quickly you can get back in focus that matters. So, it is my responsibility to look after the players as well and whether it is drag flicking or defence, I keep it in mind that this is my responsibility.
How special was it for you that your daughter watched you win the Olympic medal?
That was my best moment. She is 14 months old and came to watch me play for the first time. After the win, I took her to the field and that was emotional for me because I was thinking that when she grows up and sees photos and videos then she will feel proud that my father won an Olympic medal.
