The former Olympian identified lack of co-ordination and tactics as the Indian hockey team's main shortcomings.
Hockey India on Thursday announced a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh each for the players and Rs 7.5 lakh each for the support staff of the national men's team that won a second consecutive bronze medal at the Olympic Games.
The Indian men's hockey core group will focus on skill development in the next few weeks after restarting the national camp with basic training, head coach Graham Reid said on Saturday, trying to overcome from the jolt of six players contracting COVID-19.
Putting the blame squarely on the long-standing power struggle between Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation for the steep decline of the national game, former captain Dhanraj Pillay expressed his desire to join the administration of the sport.
Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh said that the Indian hockey team should play against top teams in the world regularly and prepare longer with the same set of players to avoid a London Olympics-like debacle in future.
The Indian Women's Hockey Team midfielder Salima Tete was honoured with the AHF Emerging Player of the Year Award.
India have won three medals in the World Cup so far -- a third place finish in the inaugural edition in 1971, followed by a silver in 1973 and gold in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur.
Seeking the services of American psychologist and mental conditioning coach Peter Harberl, following a disappointing Asian Games, has played a significant role in the Indian women's hockey team's turnaround in the ongoing FIH Olympic Qualifiers.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh wants the young Indian hockey players to get familiar with the playing styles of the best teams in the world during the FIH Pro League, and hoped the country would seal a direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a title-winning run in Bhubaneswar.
Forward Shamsher Singh on Monday said winning the Olympic bronze medal was just ticking off one box in the new beginning for the Indian men's hockey team, which aspires to be the world number one side.
Disappointed with the bronze medal finish at the Asian Games, ace drag flicker Sandeep Singh on Sunday said that the Indian hockey team was the best in the quadrennial event but lack of video referral system deprived the team of a well-deserved victory against Malaysia in the semi-final.
Young striker Deepika turned out to be the star again, scoring a fine reverse hit goal as India retained the women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey title after edging past Olympics silver medallist China 1-0 in a pulsating final at Rajgir, Bihar, on Wednesday.
The Kookaburras stunned the visitors once again by taking the lead a minute later through Willot, who deflected the ball in front of the Indian goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak from Nathan Ephraums's inch-perfect pass.
Following his retirement, Hockey India appointed Sreejesh as the head coach of the junior men's team and he vowed to make India a 'powerhouse in hockey'.
Paris Olympics hero P R Sreejesh made a stylish statement on Sunday.
Mandaviya addresses state of Indian football
Sports films have their own unique charm, but those centered on the Olympics and Olympians stand apart, depicting unparalleled tales of grit, guts, gumption, and glory.
The government denied the team permission to go to Malaysia, citing the recent harassment of its IT professionals.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who powered India to a second successive bronze medal in hockey at the Olympics in Paris, was on Saturday nominated for the FIH Player of the Year Award.
Two FIH Pro League ties involving the senior men's team, junior men's Asia Cup and senior women's Asian Champions Trophy are among a host of international hockey events, where India was scheduled to take part, that have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It is not just the spectators but the players and coach of the Indian hockey team, who are equally disappointed with India losing the right to host of this year's Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
'Engaging with Pakistan at this stage sends out a message that undermines the sentiments of the people of India who stand firmly against any compromise on national security.'
Hockey Olympian Manohar Topno on Wednesday blamed lack of infrastructure and rivalry between the Indian Hockey Federation and Hockey India as major causes for the game's declining standard in the country.
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh will lead an 18-member squad as India sets out to defend its crown in the eighth Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuantan, Malaysia from May 9 to 16.
India dominated from the start as they thrashed Japan 5-1 to continue their fine start at the Hero Asian Hockey Champions Trophy.
Indian hockey team captain Sardar Singh, who is leading Delhi Waveriders in the inaugural Hockey India League, said that the five-team HIL is a historical event and it would help in restoring the lost glory of the game.
The Indian hockey team has been invited for the first Mini World Cup by hosts Netherlands.
He is miffed with the system here and considers it to be the toughest challenge he is facing. But chief hockey coach Jose Brasa still wants to prolong his association with the Indian team.
HI Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh suggested that if the Pakistan hockey team can come to India, then the Men in Blue should also tour their neighbouring country.
Hockey legend Ajit Pal Singh on Friday lauded the Indian men team for their brave performance against Tokyo Games silver medallist and nemesis Australia
The Indian men's hockey team dished out a much-improved performance as compared to its previous game but it still lost 2-4 to Australia in the second Test of the five-match series in Perth on Sunday.
Check out Indian athletes' schedule for Thursday, August 1, Day 6 of competition
India stunned Tokyo Games silver medallist and their biggest nemesis Australia 3-2 in Paris on Friday
India's men's hockey team clinched a second successive bronze medal at the Olympics for the first time in 52 years after a come-from-behind 2-1 victory win over Spain, giving veteran goalkeeper P R Sreejesh a fitting farewell in Paris on Thursday.
A veteran of four consecutive Olympics, legendary Leslie Claudius, bemoaned the disastrous display of the Indian hockey team in the London Olympics where it touched its nadir and finished last, and said the national game is "dead".
Disappointed he might be on missing out on a medal but India's hockey coach Michael Nobbs said there were several good signs for his team during the Champions Trophy in which it finished fourth after losing to Pakistan in the bronze medal playoff in Melbourne on Sunday.
The airline demanded more than a thousand rupees for him to carry 41 inch hockey stick
Vandana Katariya scored from a penalty corner to help the Indian women's hockey team stun world number 3 Australia 1-0 in the FIH Pro League.