3 days ago
Hockey India president says India underperformed at 2026 World Cup
India’s men’s hockey team finished eighth at the 2026 World Cup.
The team played Belgium for seventh place.
The match was tied 3-3 after normal play.
Belgium won the shootout 4-3.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said he was disappointed.
He said the players did not perform as well as expected.
India had earlier beaten Pakistan and Wales.
It had also lost to Argentina, the Netherlands and England.
Hockey India plans to review the campaign after the players return.
The team’s next focus is the Asian Games.
India finished eighth at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026.
Belgium defeated India 4-3 in a shootout after a 3-3 draw.
Dilip Tirkey said the men’s team failed to meet expectations.
India’s campaign included wins over Pakistan and Wales, but losses to Argentina, the Netherlands and England.
Hockey India will assess the campaign, while India turns its attention to the Asian Games.
- Who
- India’s men’s hockey team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, and Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey.
- What
- India finished eighth at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 after losing to Belgium in a penalty shootout.
- Where
- The playoff took place at Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium; Tirkey spoke at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi.
- When
- The seventh-place playoff was played on Friday; Tirkey commented on Saturday.
- Why
- Tirkey said India did not perform according to expectations, and Hockey India plans to analyse the campaign.
Key facts
- Tournament
- FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
- India’s finish
- Eighth place
- Playoff result
- Belgium beat India 4-3 in a shootout after a 3-3 draw
- India’s wins
- Pakistan, 5-3; Wales, 3-1
- India’s losses
- Argentina, 5-3; the Netherlands, 3-1; England, 4-2
- India’s next focus
- The Asian Games
- Hockey India’s response
- The campaign will be assessed after the players return
Quotes
Dilip Tirkey
Hockey India president
“The way we see the players, the way we have seen them in previous matches, in some matches Team India has performed very well. But in the World Cup, they have not been able to do it. Let's see. There are Asian Games now. After that we will analyse and see what can be better.”
wionews.com
“The men's team has not been able to perform according to the expectations we had. And we also saw the match yesterday against Belgium; we lost in the shootout, and we came in 8th position. I am also not happy with it.”
wionews.com
Sources
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