Hockey World Cup: Medal hasn't come for long time, want to achieve it in my career: Harmanpreet

Harmanpreet Singh aims for World Cup glory in 2026 after winning back-to-back Olympic bronze medals.

India men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh has two Olympic bronze medals in his cabinet but rues about missing out on World Cup glory, an anomaly that he wants to set right in the next edition of the mega event in 2026.

India has won three World Cup medals to date - a bronze in 1971 (Barcelona), a silver in 1973 (Amstelveen, Netherlands) and a gold in 1975 (Kuala Lumpur) under Ajitpal Singh's leadership.

Harmanpreet, who won back-to-back Olympic bronze in Tokyo and Paris, the second one under his leadership, however, had won the Junior World Cup in Lucknow in 2016.

"The goal will always be to bag Olympic gold and a World Cup medal. The way we performed in Paris shows that we can compete with top teams and win," Harmanpreet told PTI.

"Our immediate target is the next FIH Pro League matches and then win the Asia Cup and qualify directly for the World Cup. A World Cup medal hasn't come for a long time and I want to fulfil that in my career," said Harmanpreet, one the best defenders and drag-flickers of the world right now.

"...Hope we can relive those golden days during our career. We will not surrender till we achieve that," he added.

The 2026 men's FIH Hockey World Cup will be the 16th edition of the quadrennial tournament scheduled to be held from August 15 to 30 in Wavre, Belgium and Amstelveen, Netherlands. From a personal point of view, Harmanpreet wants to better his drag-flick skills and remain fit to prolong his career.