Year wait

FIH Hockey World Cup: As India skipper Harmanpreet Singh is set for the rare distinction of leading team at the FIH World Cup twice, he expressed confidence that his side is ready to end the 50-year medal drought.

Having claimed bronze (Barcelona 1971), silver (Amsterdam 1973) and gold (Kuala Lumpur 1975) in the first three editions of the FIH Hockey World Cup, it is remarkable that India – one of hockey's undisputed powerhouse nations – have not returned to the podium in the five decades since lifting the trophy.

India’s only World Cup-winning captain, Ajit Pal Singh, also captained the team twice in the tournament. Under his leadership, the team won a bronze medal in 1971 before clinching the trophy in 1975, which remains India’s only World Cup triumph. And Harmanpreet wants to emulate that feat to end India’s 51-year wait.