India targeting Asia Cup to boost 2026 FIH World Cup hopes, says women's hockey coach Harendra Singh
Indian women's hockey team coach Harendra Singh said on Friday that his side has targeted the upcoming Asia Cup as the perfect time to peak physically with eyes on qualifying for next year's World Cup.
'Peaking physically in the correct phase of the tournament is very important. If players peak early, then the chances of injuries get higher. If you ask me now, I think our team is 70-80 per cent fit. We don't need to peak now, we have selected the upcoming Asia Cup for that,' Harendra told reporters on the eve of India's match against Australia in the FIH Pro League.
India's European leg of the ongoing tournament will take place between June 14 and 29 where it plays Australia (June 14 and 15 in London), Argentina (June 17 and 18 in London), Belgium (June 21 and 22 in Antwerp), and China (June 28 and 29 in Berlin) twice.
From India to Europe with purpose. 💪🏻
Eyes on the goal.🎯
Our Women's Hockey Team is all set to take on the world's finest from 14th to 29th June in the FIH Pro League 2024–25. 🏑
Let's stand behind our Sherniyan as they roar across Europe!.
📺 Watch live on jiohotstar , Star… pic.twitter.com/wIKtJhJ0mA — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) June 13, 2025
Belgium and the Netherlands have already secured their berths for the 2026 World Cup by being joint-hosts. For India, which is currently placed sixth in the nine-team league table, this increases its chances of qualification ahead of the European leg of the season.
However, Harendra maintained that no pressure will be applied on the players to attain the World Cup spot in this window, as it may affect their natural game.
The coach also revealed that Udita (Duhan), Nikki (Pradhan) and Sangita (Kumari) are in rehab and are fully fit. If needed, they could be called up.
Lessons from Australia
India toured Australia between April and May and played five matches; three against Australia A and two against Australia. India managed to win just one match, which ended with a 1-0 scoreline.
Lessons learnt from the tour Down Under are many, according to coach Harendra. The matches have helped the side understand that it needs to be more alert, scan with peripheral vision, and play fast hockey in the Pro League.
'Australia played with a full press. We learnt how to come out of something like that, how to stretch our opponent with counter control. We have to play stick-to-stick hockey because if you try to run with the ball, they will definitely chase you.
'Two departments we want to focus on are goalkeeping and drag-flicking. Before our European leg, I sent Deepika and Manisha to train with Toon Siepmann (drag flick coach) for a 10-day camp. Taeke Taekema is already working with us. We also have roped in goalkeeping coach Simon Zijp,' he said.
ALSO READ | Hockey Women's Asia Cup 2025 Schedule: India to open campaign against Thailand
In the Pro League, India has the second-lowest goals tally (13). Moreover, it has had the second-lowest penalty corner (PC) conversion rate (10.87) so far, and the lowest when it comes to circle penetrations (72). According to the coach, drag-flickers aren't solely responsible for the success of PCs.
'We lack the number of shots on goal. Naturally, if you don't have shots on target, you won't have goals. In PCs, the drag-flicker comes last. If there's some issue with the injector and the stopper, then the drag-flicker doesn't play a role. We have narrowed it down to three players who will be focussing on injecting and stopping, and we hope this bears results,' he said.
For skipper Salima Tete, it's all about putting all the work gone into practice and showing it on the field against the Australians. 'We found through video analysis that we tend to rush a lot inside the D. Our first aim should be to not let the ball come into our half and prevent conceding penalty corners. And if that happens, PC defence should be solid,' she revealed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
3 minutes ago
- India Gazette
FIH Hockey Pro League: Australia bounce back to win 3-2 against India
Antwerp [Belgium], June 14 (ANI): Australia staged a strong comeback from a two-goal deficit to defeat India 3-2 in the ongoing FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 match held in Antwerp on Saturday, delivering another heartbreaking result for the Indian side. Following four successive narrow losses in the European leg, the Indian men's hockey team, sans their captain Harmanpreet Singh, had a dream start against Australia until they floundered with a lead in the final quarter, allowing their opponents to come back. It was goals by Nathan Ephraums (42'), Joel Rintala (56') and Tom Craig (60') that put Australia ahead, while Abhishek (8', 35') scored a double for India, as per a Hockey India press release. It was an entertaining opening quarter with India taking the lead as early as the 8th minute of the game. The initial few minutes saw both teams trade chances in the circles until a perfect pass from the midfield by Manpreet Singh, who is on 399 international caps, to Abhishek positioned at the top of the circle fetched India a crucial 1-0 lead. Abhishek did well in beating the defender to find the net. Only two minutes later, Australia threatened to equalise when James Collins won Australia's first penalty corner with some clever work in the circle, finding the Indian defender's foot. But Suraj Karkera has shown great promise in this tournament, standing firm in the post, and made a brilliant stop with his foot. He was kept busy in the following minutes as the Australian attack raided the circle with multiple chances, but the Mumbai lad was up to the task. India was cautious in the second quarter. It did well to defend the 1-0 lead and also came close to doubling it when experienced Mandeep Singh set up Manpreet at the goalmouth with a quick-fire cross pass, but Manpreet couldn't quite get the right deflection. Though Australia turned the tables on India in the third quarter, pushing for that elusive first goal, India doubled the lead in the 35th minute, thanks to the handy work of Sukhjeet Singh, who made a clever assist to Abhishek. Adding a double to his name in this match, Abhishek made no mistake in pumping it past the Australian goalie Ashleigh Thomas. Australia eventually did find an opportunity to score through Nathan Ephraums with a fine assist by Tom Craig. The final quarter was nervy for Indian hockey fans with Australia mustering back-to-back PCs, but Suraj Karkera was on top of his game to keep Australia at bay. With a little over five minutes left for the final hooter, Australia won another PC and this time, they equalised with Joel Rintala's conversion. They extended the lead in the 60th minute with another PC well-struck by Tom Craig, handing India another heartbreaking loss on the trot. (ANI)
Time of India
10 minutes ago
- Time of India
How South Africa's coach trained players to finally shed the chockers tag by winning the WTC title vs Australia
For decades, South African cricket has battled a painful reputation—of faltering when it matters most. The label of 'chokers' haunted generations, from early World Cup exits to painful collapses in critical games. But that narrative took a historic turn when South Africa, under head coach Shukri Conrad, clinched the World Test Championship (WTC) title with a resolute victory over Australia. The transformation didn't happen overnight. It was a process rooted in mental toughness, self-belief, and calmness under pressure—key attributes Conrad instilled in his squad. A Mindset Shift Under Conrad As per The turning point in South Africa's mental fortitude came in December, during a nerve-wracking run chase against Pakistan. At 19 for 3 chasing 148, the team was on the brink once again. But Conrad, rather than panic, delivered a straightforward message: 'Do you want to be remembered as chokers?' That blunt but necessary intervention sparked a turnaround. South Africa scraped through with a two-wicket win—a win Conrad jokingly labeled the 'Camel classic,' a nod to the calming cigarette break he shared with players mid-crisis. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Most Expensive Cars In The World That message of staying composed stayed with the team through their WTC campaign. It resurfaced on the eve of the final days of the WTC final against Australia, where South Africa found themselves in a dominant position at Lord's—yet acutely aware of how easily things had fallen apart in the past. Focused on the Moment, Not the Outcome Ashwell Prince, South Africa's batting coach, credited Conrad's calm demeanor for the serene atmosphere in the dressing room during tense phases. Prince recalled how Conrad instructed players to stick to their routines: do the same warm-ups, approach the day as any other, and don't let the magnitude of the occasion overwhelm them. "The messaging has been the same throughout," Prince noted. "Make them believe that they can do it, and then just step out the way and allow them to go and do it." The emphasis was always on staying present—'play one ball at a time,' as Prince described the batting philosophy. Despite facing an Australian side stacked with elite bowlers, South Africa never let the past dictate the present. History Was Watching—But South Africa Looked Ahead Lord's has seen its share of final heartbreaks, and for South Africa, ghosts of past failures loomed large. From the infamous Test loss in 1992 against the West Indies to the heartbreak in the T20 World Cup final in 2023, the fear of history repeating itself was real. Yet the team made a conscious decision not to look too far ahead. Prince even hesitated to discuss Temba Bavuma's heroic innings before the match ended, aware that even the smallest assumption could tempt fate. Still, the signs were positive. From the steady partnership between Bavuma and Aiden Markram to Rabada's dominant bowling across the match, South Africa appeared to be writing a different ending. A Victory That Went Beyond the Scorecard Even before the final moments, South Africa's campaign had won admiration. They reached the final despite criticism over the perceived ease of their fixtures. But as Prince pointed out, the players were made aware of their own quality, not the noise outside. Conrad made it a priority to build confidence internally, not react to external doubts. "There was no talk about proving anybody wrong," Prince emphasized. The focus was on performance, not validation. In defeating Australia, South Africa didn't just win a title—they dismantled a decades-old narrative. The 'chokers' tag wasn't erased with one win, but it was undoubtedly challenged in the most emphatic way. And at the heart of that shift was a coach who believed in calm over chaos, and players who finally began to believe in themselves.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
BCCI unveils domestic calendar: 2025-26 season starts on August 28; India vs New Zealand 2026 series venues announced
NEW DELHI: The BCCI confirmed the venues for India's white-ball home series against New Zealand in January 2026 during its 28th Apex Council Meeting held on Saturday. The series will include three ODIs and five T20Is. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The ODI matches will be played in Baroda, Rajkot and Indore, while the T20Is will take place in Nagpur, Raipur, Guwahati, Vizag and Trivandrum. The series will mark India's first international assignment of the calendar year and is expected to serve as crucial preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup. India vs New Zealand Schedule: Alongside the international fixture announcements, the BCCI also approved the 2025–26 domestic calendar, which will kick off with the Duleep Trophy on August 28, 2025, and conclude with the Senior Women's Inter-Zonal Multi-Day Trophy on April 3, 2026. Key Highlights from Domestic Season 2025–26: The Duleep Trophy and Senior Women's Challenger will now feature six zonal teams selected by zonal selectors, aligning with historical traditions. A new Plate Group restructuring has been introduced across all age categories. The bottom six teams from the previous season will compete in the Plate Group. Promotion and relegation rules have been updated, with only one team moving between Elite and Plate Groups in each season. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (men's T20) and the Senior Women's T20 Trophy will now feature a Super League stage instead of a straight knockout, to allow more balanced competition. Most major tournaments, such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Men's U23 State A Trophy, will adopt a 4 Elite + 1 Plate Group model. Junior and women's tournaments across U16, U19, and U23 will follow a 5 Elite + 1 Plate Group system. Lobo Predicted It, Again: South Africa's Historic WTC Win vs Australia These sweeping changes are designed to increase competitiveness, streamline tournament formats, and promote balanced talent development across Indian domestic cricket.
