Sardar Singh Exclusive: India's Young Hockey Team Can Remain Competitive for 6-7 Years

New Delhi, Oct 27: Indian Men's Hockey Team suffered a lot of criticism following a below-par show at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 but their Gold medal win at the Asian Games 2026 secured direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, offered a strong response.

Questions were asked how Harmanpreet Singh-led side failed to put up an encore during the World Cup, held in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Coach Craig Fulton's team, kept the disappointments of the World Cup behind them while embarking upon the flight to Japan and produced a clinical performance in the multi-sporting continental event. They remained unbeaten en route to their titular triumph in Aichi-Nagoya Games.

For a team featuring several young players, the gold medal was not just a significant achievement but also an opportunity to learn from past mistakes and build for the future.

Sardar Singh, one of the finest midfielders India has produced in the 21st century, believes the current generation has the potential to remain competitive for the next six to seven years. The former India captain stressed that the team must learn from its World Cup experience and use the time before the next Olympics to address its shortcomings.

In an exclusive interview with myKhel, Sardar reflected on India's contrasting performances at the World Cup and Asian Games, assessed the men's team's development under Fulton and praised the Indian women's team's remarkable turnaround. He also emphasised the importance of international tournaments across different states and grassroots leagues in developing the next generation of Indian hockey players.

Sardar Singh Backs India's Young Hockey Team to Stay Competitive

India's World Cup campaign did not produce the results many had expected, but Sardar believes the experience should be viewed in the context of a young squad with considerable room to grow.

The former India captain's assessment comes amid reports suggesting that Amit Rohidas, Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh and Nilakanta Sharma could retire after the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT), potentially making the national team younger and opening up opportunities for emerging players.

Rather than viewing the transition as a challenge alone, Sardar believes the current crop has the potential to remain competitive for the next six to seven years, provided the players learn from their mistakes and continue to develop. A younger squad would also give aspiring players an opportunity to establish themselves and gain valuable international experience.

"The World Cup was also a tournament where our team performed very well, but there were small mistakes that we need to learn from. We have quite a few young players in the team whose future lies ahead of them for the next six to seven years. They need to learn from these experiences," Sardar told myKhel.

The Asian Games subsequently provided India with an opportunity to respond. The men's team won gold and secured direct qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics, reaffirming its ability to compete under pressure at a major multi-sport event.

With the next Olympic Games approaching, Sardar believes India has sufficient time to address its shortcomings. Upcoming tournaments and practice matches will be important in helping the players improve their decision-making, tactical execution and consistency, while giving younger members of the squad opportunities to take on greater responsibility.

"We have two years in which we can work properly on the mistakes we made recently, including at the World Cup. We need to focus on the upcoming tournaments and practice matches," he said.

If the reported retirements materialise, the transition could mark a significant phase in India's team-building process. For the youngsters, it would be an opportunity to step up, learn from experienced teammates and establish themselves as India builds towards the Los Angeles Olympics and beyond.

Sardar Singh on Craig Fulton and India's Men's Hockey Team

India's development under head coach Craig Fulton has been another talking point, particularly as the team works towards the next Olympic cycle.

Sardar believes that assessing a coach's approach requires an understanding of the different tactical philosophies involved in modern hockey. Some coaches favour attacking play, while others place greater emphasis on defensive structure. Ultimately, players must understand the system and execute their assigned roles effectively.

"All coaches have different styles. Some are attacking-minded, while others focus on defence. The players have to adopt the coach's strategy and play accordingly," he explained.

He added that the responsibilities players carry both in possession and without the ball are fundamental to a team's tactical structure.

"Whether with the ball or without it, they have specific tasks to perform, along with the technical and tactical aspects of hockey. The most important thing is how you look at your individual role. If we are individually strong in our respective roles, building a team becomes that much easier," Sardar said.

Sardar Singh Praises Indian Women's Hockey Team After Asian Games Gold

Sardar also praised the Indian women's hockey team for winning Asian Games gold, ending a 44-year wait for the title. The triumph marked a significant achievement for a side that had experienced contrasting fortunes in recent Olympic cycles.

India finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics but subsequently failed to qualify for Paris 2024. The team's Asian Games success and qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics represented an important step forward.

According to Sardar, the achievement was the result of sustained hard work, discipline and sacrifice over several years rather than a sudden improvement in form.

"The entire credit goes to the team, which has continued to work hard over the last three to four years while staying in camps. We know what a sportsperson's life is like - discipline and sacrifice. They have received the results of that hard work," he said.

He also pointed to the team's consistency and its ability to follow the coaches' tactical instructions as key factors behind the triumph.

"It was not a fluke. Their consistency was very good. They focused on ball possession and the strategies given by the coaches for all 60 minutes, and they got the result. They have also qualified directly for the Olympics," Sardar added.

The women's team's progress, in his view, demonstrates how sustained preparation and tactical discipline can deliver results at the highest level. Maintaining those standards will be essential as the players prepare for the next Olympic challenge.

Sardar Singh Calls for More International Hockey Tournaments Across India

While the performance of the national teams remains a priority, Sardar believes India's long-term progress also depends on expanding access to high-quality hockey competitions.

He called for international tournaments to be organised in different states, arguing that local audiences and aspiring players benefit significantly from watching top-level hockey in person.

Punjab's opportunity to host international hockey after a considerable gap, he said, could help inspire youngsters who dream of representing India.

"Such tournaments are very important in every state. Punjab has got an opportunity to host one after a long time, and we hope similar tournaments are introduced in other parts of the country where they have not been held," Sardar added further.

He explained that watching matches live provides a different perspective from following the sport on television. Young players can observe the finer details of the game, including positioning, movement, decision-making and the execution of skills under pressure.

"When you watch a match live, there is a lot of difference compared to watching it on TV. When you see good players and quality matches up close, you can adopt many things that help improve your game," he said.

For regions with a strong hockey tradition, such as Punjab, Odisha and Jharkhand, these opportunities can reinforce existing pathways. In areas where hockey has a smaller competitive footprint, staging major tournaments could help introduce the sport to a wider audience and encourage more youngsters to take it up.

Chhattisgarh Hockey League Can Unlock Grassroots Talent

Sardar is also involved in the development of hockey in Chhattisgarh, where he is working as a coach in a state-backed league designed to provide local players with a competitive platform.

He credited the Chhattisgarh government for taking the initiative and described the league as an important opportunity for players to gain experience and showcase their abilities.

"I want to thank the Chhattisgarh government for taking this initiative. It is a matter of pride for me to be part of this league, and it provides a very good platform for Chhattisgarh's players," he said.

Sardar believes that states which have not traditionally produced many players for the national team can develop their talent pools with the right combination of infrastructure, coaching, encouragement and exposure to modern hockey.

He also highlighted the importance of broadcasting matches, which can help increase the visibility of regional competitions and give aspiring players a greater sense of what is possible.

"If we encourage players, provide them with good infrastructure and let them play matches that reflect what is happening in modern hockey, then, of course, players from Chhattisgarh and other states will emerge in the coming years and represent the country," Sardar told myKhel.

The league, he hopes, can contribute to a wider movement in which more states develop players capable of progressing from local competitions to the national setup.

For that to happen, however, exposure must be accompanied by sustained investment in facilities, coaching and regular competitive opportunities. Identifying talent is only the first step; providing players with the environment to develop is equally important.