Back-to-back Hockey World Cups on home soil, and sixth- and ninth-place finishes in those, still rankle India’s men’s team captain Harmanpreet Singh. As India begin their campaign against Wales on Saturday, the focus is firmly on ending a 51-year medal drought at the quadrennial event.With hard lessons learnt from the FIH Pro League, Harmanpreet’s squad went through rigorous training at the SAI South Centre in Bengaluru and a team-building and personal development camp in Switzerland. The captain is now confident India can produce a better showing this time. Excerpts…How is the team mentally prepared for the World Cup?The World Cup happens once every four years and we know its value. We played the last two editions of the tournament at home, so this will be a different experience. We want to make this opportunity memorable.What is the pressure of expecting a medal after 51 years?More than pressure, it’s responsibility. It is our legacy. Whether it is the Olympics or the World Cup, the number of times we have won in the past pushes and motivates us. We are ranked seventh, which is low for us. We go into the competition as underdogs, but with the belief that we can do well as a team.Eight players are making their World Cup debut; how have you helped them deal with expectations?Everyone knows the responsibilities. From the time they started playing hockey, they have also had a dream of representing the country at the World Cup, Asian Games, and the Olympics. They know why we have come here and what our goal is, which comes with the pressure of big tournaments and high expectations. We want to give our best performance; we don’t want to put pressure on the youngsters. We want them to enjoy the game. We have worked as a team, so we want to stick to it. We want to give our best according to our responsibilities. The result will definitely be in our favour.How has the emergence of other drag flickers helped ease the pressure on you?Even now, there is pressure, but the advantage we have is that we have more options. They have their own style and rhythm and are doing well.As the leader of the pack, what have your conversations been with them?I know a lot of things are going on in their minds. So, I’ve been talking to them about a lot of things. For instance, if we suddenly get a penalty corner after a lot of sprints, what is the best way to control their minds and calm their nerves? The message is also simple: Focus on your target. Don’t overthink. When the opportunities come your way, believe in yourself and try to give your 100%, so that you get a good finish.You’ve played England and Pakistan in the Pro League recently and will play them again in the league…We made a lot of changes in Pro League matches against both teams and did well. We carry forward that confidence from those matches. Also, their playing style is similar to ours. We have observed a lot of things and also learnt from those matches, which we will try and apply in the World Cup.What is the pressure of playing against Pakistan in the World Cup?I don’t think there is any pressure. That said, the match against Pakistan definitely has a different atmosphere. A lot of emotions are involved. But we know that our responsibility comes first, and we will focus more on that.
