Hockey Asia Cup 2025: Back after a slew of injuries, Harmanpreet raring to sound the board with his drag-flicks
As India’s men’s hockey team gears up for the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, all eyes are on one man: skipper Harmanpreet Singh. After a year plagued by injuries, the upcoming tournament will be the ultimate test of his physical resilience.
The last 12 months have been a difficult period for the team’s talisman, who’s had to overcome a slew of injuries — a hamstring and lower back injury at the Asian Champions Trophy, an ankle injury during the Hockey India League, a wrist injury during the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Pro League 2024–25, and most recently, a damaged finger tissue that sidelined him for five games during the European swing of the Pro League.
Harmanpreet played only nine of India’s 16 games in the Pro League and his absence was deeply felt, as India struggled to an eighth-place finish in the nine-team tournament.
Despite these setbacks, Harmanpreet is confident that his team will bounce back and secure a spot in the World Cup.
“We learned a lot during the campaign [Pro League] and are working on the weak areas we identified. We want to win the tournament and qualify for the World Cup, and I’m confident in our preparations,” the 29-year-old told Sportstar. “We tried a few different things there [European leg] that will hopefully help us in the coming tournament and beyond.”
The team struggled immensely in the three-time FIH Player of the Year’s absence. In Belgium and the Netherlands — the host nations for next year’s World Cup — the team managed to win only one of its eight matches. It was tough for Harmanpreet to watch from the sidelines.
“I went there fully fit and then got the injury. It was frustrating, but I tried to carry on my responsibilities despite not being on the field,” he said.
Harmanpreet is more than just India’s premier defender; he is the team’s go-to penalty corner specialist. For years, he has shouldered the team’s hopes with his powerful drag-flicks on the biggest stages. Yet, despite suggestions of finding ways to manage his workload, the Amritsar-born star does not indulge in the idea of special treatment.
“Injuries are a part of the game. Yes, they are frustrating, but hockey is not about individuals. It is a team sport, and you have to play as a team,” he said. “I have recovered nicely. The fitness is back. The camp [in SAI Bengaluru] was very intense.”
When quizzed on how he keeps his drag-flicks fresh and unpredictable, Harmanpreet revealed his strategy. “I mostly try to incorporate small changes and variations in my technique,” he said. “We also analyse the main rushers, the goalkeeper, and the overall penalty corner defence of the opposition. We try to find the weak areas and try to exploit them. The main thing is constant practice.”
As modern hockey increasingly leans on set pieces for scoring, Harmanpreet is focused on refining his team’s drag-flicking prowess. He’s working to elevate the other drag-flickers in the squad, knowing that collaboration and shared expertise are key to success in upcoming tournaments.
“In the [senior] team, we have 4-5 drag-flickers. We practice together. The things I’ve learned over the years, I try to share with them. Every drag-flicker has their own style. It is all about improving your technique with small adjustments. They will perform better with more experience. The more chances they get in matches, the better they will become,” he concluded.
Published on Aug 27, 2025