India's Men's Hockey Team Prepares for 2023 World Cup, Citing 1994 Best Finish

India's men's hockey squad is gearing up for the 2023 FIH World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. Captain Harmanpreet Singh highlighted strong team unity, improved fitness and a match‑by‑match mindset, while coach Craig Fulton expressed confidence in the team's preparation and ambition to advance from a tough Pool D that includes England, Wales and arch‑rival Pakistan.

The side qualified directly after winning the 2022 Asia Cup on home soil. The team also reflected on its historic performance at the 1994 Sydney World Cup, where under captain Jude Felix and coach Cedric D’Souza India finished fifth – the best result the nation has achieved on synthetic turf.

Both the current preparation and the 1994 benchmark underscore India's aim to improve on a half‑century without a World Cup title since its 1975 triumph.