The Indian team recently won the Mains Hockey Asia Cup 2025. In the final played in Rajgir, India defeated South Korea 4–1. With this title win, India confirmed its place in the next year’s Hockey World Cup. Mains Hockey World Cup is to be played in Belgium and Netherlands from 14 to 30 August,
Midfielder and team vice-captain Hardik Singh played an important role in India’s title win in Hockey Asia Cup. Hardik decided to help a family affected by floods in Punjab through the prize money of the Asia Cup. Hardik’s move was highly praised. Hardik appeared on the stage of India Today Conclave Mumbai on 26 September (Friday). Hardik Singh said that his goal is to win the gold medal in the Los Angeles Olympics (2028).
Hardik Singh said, ‘This happens in our hockey, when any Olympics go, he gets a tattoo. My target was that gold came for India and then I should be all this. Gold did not come, but it was a big achievement. After the last Olympics, I thought that tattoos should be made. In the tattoo made by Hardik, there are five rings of the Olympics. Also, Bronze Paris Olympics 2024 is also written. Hardik is sure that Gold will be written on it after the 2028 Olympics. Hardik also made fun of the Pakistani team by pointing to falling under the jet.
One has to leave home to play hockey: Hardik Singh
Hardik Singh said, ‘We do not rate that as a hockey player. If you want to play hockey, then you have to leave home at the age of 11 and go to the hockey hostel. There is a play for 8-9 years. We have junior nationals, you go to the junior team after playing well in it. There is a lot of competition in the junior team. There is a junior world cup on two years, after playing well, you get a call for the senior team. It is never guaranteed that even after spending 9 years, you will play Olympics. One has to work on a skill from the age of eleven. After quitting hockey at the age of 30, you have to work on another skill.
Hardik Singh says, ‘When I started hockey, I used to hear stories related to Olympic, Asian Games, World Cup. The Olympics have six medals from our village (Khusopur). When there is a tournament, the players of the Indian team used to come. I got to learn a lot from them and I was very inspired.
Hardik Singh further said, ‘In the present time, if you win the medal, you will definitely want to make a career in hockey. On winning the bronze medal, the players got Rs 2-2 crore. If we win medals in a tournament like Asia Cup, then we get money from Hockey India Association. State governments also give money. The tournament that took place in Rajgir also got money from there.
Hardik considers this veteran as his role model
Hardik Singh said about former Indian captain Sardar Singh, ‘My role model was Sardar Singh. When the Indian hockey team was mentioned in 2010-11, the name of Sardar Bhai was definitely taken. At that time, he used to see his light. He saw him on TV in the 2014 World Cup. It was always going on in my mind to play with them, share the dressing room. When I came to the team, he gave up hockey. Then the number 8 Valai jersey was available and I thought I should take it. For this, I also faced criticism on social media. After that I spoke to him (Sardar Singh). He told me that if someone can wear a jersey with eight number, then it is you.
Hardik Singh further said, ‘When we won the Junior World Cup in 2016, the change started. Most of the players of that batch entered the senior team. Hockey India League was also going on at that time. International athletes are also like us. All this is about transition. How soon you forget the old things and play normal games, everything depends on it. This has happened after 52 years when we won the back to back Olympic medal.
Pakistan’s hockey has gone into trough: Hardik
Hardik Singh finally says, ‘We will win 99 percent matches against Pakistan. We do not have competition in hockey with them. Pakistan’s hockey team has gone into the trough. His athletes are quite good, but they have not got good facilities. In 2014, he won the match with us for the last time. After that we did not lose the match with them. The hockey that has given us cannot give any game. When the medal came to the Olympics in 2021, there was a wave of happiness in the whole country.
27 -year -old Hardik Singh has scored 12 goals for the Indian hockey team by playing 164 matches so far at the international level. Hardik has been part of the Indian hockey team that won the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics (2020) and the Paris Olympics (2024).
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