There are some sporting dreams that refuse to disappear. For Indian hockey, the biggest of them is the desire to see the men’s team win the World Cup again. India last lifted the trophy in 1975, and 51 years later, that historic achievement still stands as the country’s only men’s World Cup title.

As India gets ready for another World Cup campaign, veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh is carrying that unfinished ambition with him. For a player who has already experienced Olympic success and represented the country at the highest level for more than a decade, there is still one major prize missing from his collection — a World Cup medal.

That makes the 2026 tournament especially significant for him.

Manpreet has admitted that this could be his final World Cup appearance. Rather than allowing that thought to become emotional baggage, the experienced midfielder appears to be treating it as an extra reason to push harder. His message is simple: India has waited long enough, and this generation has an opportunity to create its own piece of history.

The midfielder's career already contains several memorable achievements. He has been part of India's Olympic bronze-medal-winning teams at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, while also contributing to India's success at the Asian Games. He has spent years competing against the strongest hockey nations and understands the demands that come with major tournaments.

Yet the World Cup remains different.

India's 1975 triumph has become both a proud memory and a constant reminder of what has been missing. Since that victory, several talented Indian teams have entered the competition with genuine medal hopes, but none have managed to return to the podium. Even when India has shown flashes of brilliance, consistency at the business end of the tournament has remained a challenge.

Manpreet wants this generation to change that story.

The 2026 edition begins with India entering the tournament as a team that has regained considerable confidence on the international stage. Back-to-back Olympic bronze medals have demonstrated that Indian hockey can once again compete with the world's elite. The team has also gained valuable experience through regular international competition, giving the players a stronger understanding of what is required against top-ranked opponents.

For Manpreet, belief is an important part of the equation.

The veteran has spoken about the importance of approaching the World Cup with the same mentality that helped India succeed at the last two Olympics. Instead of allowing the weight of the 51-year wait to overwhelm the squad, the players need to concentrate on the task immediately in front of them.

That could be particularly important because India's World Cup campaign will not be straightforward. The team has been placed in a group featuring Wales, England and Pakistan. Every match brings its own tactical challenge, and India cannot afford to lose concentration during the opening phase.

The much-anticipated clash with Pakistan will naturally attract enormous attention, but the Indian camp knows that every game matters. A strong start against Wales, followed by disciplined performances against the other teams, will be crucial to building momentum.

Manpreet's experience could become valuable in precisely these situations.

Having played at several major tournaments, he knows that World Cups are rarely won through individual brilliance alone. Teams need structure, communication and the ability to recover quickly after mistakes. A single defensive error or missed opportunity can change the outcome of a knockout match.

India's preparation has therefore placed significant importance on both ends of the field. The team has worked on improving its defensive organisation while also becoming more efficient when opportunities arrive inside the opposition circle. Penalty-corner execution and defensive reactions will be particularly important because elite hockey matches are often decided by small moments.

The squad also has a useful combination of experience and youth. Established players can provide composure when the pressure rises, while younger members can bring energy and unpredictability. Hockey India has described the squad as having a balance between defensive solidity, midfield creativity and attacking strength.

For Manpreet, being one of the senior figures means more than simply performing his role on the pitch. His experience can help younger players understand how to handle the pressure surrounding a World Cup.

At the same time, he knows that experience alone cannot guarantee success.

India must execute its plans when the tournament begins.

The presence of captain Harmanpreet Singh adds another important dimension to the campaign. The defender and drag-flick specialist has already led India to an Olympic bronze medal at Paris 2024 and will captain the side at the World Cup. He has also emphasised that the squad needs to focus on creating its own history rather than constantly looking backward at the 1975 triumph.

That philosophy fits perfectly with Manpreet's ambition.

The objective is not merely to repeat what India achieved five decades ago. It is to build a new hockey identity around the current generation.

For Manpreet, however, there is an additional personal element. He is approaching the latter stage of a remarkable international career. He has already established himself as one of India's most experienced hockey players and recently reached the milestone of becoming the country's most-capped player. Yet even after all those appearances and medals, there remains something he desperately wants to add to his career story.

A World Cup medal.

In July, Manpreet spoke about his desire to continue representing India for as long as his fitness allows and mentioned the possibility of playing through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. At the same time, he acknowledged that an athlete can never predict exactly how long a career will last. That makes every major tournament valuable.

That attitude explains why the upcoming World Cup carries such importance.

If it does turn out to be his final appearance at the tournament, Manpreet will want it to be remembered for more than his longevity. He will want to leave with an achievement that Indian hockey supporters have been waiting for since 1975.

The pressure will be enormous, but so will the opportunity.

Indian hockey has spent years trying to rebuild its standing after periods of inconsistency. The recent Olympic medals have changed the atmosphere around the team. Supporters now expect India to challenge the best rather than simply participate. The World Cup offers the biggest opportunity yet to demonstrate that the resurgence is genuine and sustainable.

Still, reaching the podium will require India to remain patient. The team cannot win the World Cup in one match. It must navigate the group stage, handle the knockout pressure and produce its best hockey when the margins become extremely small.

For Manpreet, every game could therefore carry extra meaning.

There is no guarantee that this will be his final World Cup. There is no guarantee that India will end its long wait. But there is a clear sense that the veteran midfielder does not want to look back at this tournament wondering whether the team could have done more.

India has waited 51 years for another men's World Cup title. Manpreet Singh has waited through an entire career for his chance to win a World Cup medal.

Now, as the tournament approaches, those two stories have come together.

For the veteran midfielder, this is about completing a personal ambition. For Indian hockey, it is about breaking one of the longest-standing droughts in international sport.

The past belongs to the 1975 champions. The opportunity to write the next chapter belongs to Manpreet and his teammates.

And if India can finally lift the World Cup again, it would not simply end a 51-year wait. It would give an entire new generation of Indian hockey players a historic moment of its own.