‘Target is to win every game in FIH Pro League’: Harmanpreet Singh

Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, emphasized that his team aims to win every match in the FIH Pro League and top the league to secure a direct spot in the 2026 World Cup.

India will begin their FIH Pro League campaign against Spain on Saturday in Bhubaneswar. They will face Spain again the next day, followed by matches against Germany on February 16 and 19, concluding the opening leg of the India tour.

“Our training has been going well since the Hockey India League (HIL). We have been preparing for months and have learned a lot from the HIL. We have managed to maintain our fitness as well,” Harmanpreet said ahead of the FIH Pro League opener.

“We just want to play good hockey. All the players are in good shape, and the target is to win every game in the Pro League, keeping the World Cup in mind,” he added.

The 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup is scheduled to be held from August 14 to 30 in Wavre, Belgium, and Amstelveen, Netherlands.

Harmanpreet also praised Jugraj Singh, the highest scorer of the Hockey India League, for his exceptional drag-flicking abilities and his knack for converting penalty corners into goals.

“We have seen some good domestic players in the HIL. It was an opportunity for youngsters, and they performed well,” he said. “Jugraj was the top-scorer and he was brilliant. I am happy for him, and it’s beneficial for the national team as well.”

However, Harmanpreet was cautious about Spain's challenge.

“Spain is a strong team, and we cannot take them lightly. Our focus is to give our best and win the match,” he stated.

Meanwhile, head coach Craig Fulton said that the FIH Pro League is a ‘building phase’ for his team.

“It’s a building phase for us. We will look to experiment and see what works best. We aim to utilize our players' HIL experience and integrate their learnings into the team,” he said.