# India Begin Hockey World Cup Against Wales, Targeting 51-Year Wait

2026-08-14T14:42:46+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

India begin their FIH Hockey World Cup campaign against Wales in Amstelveen, Netherlands, seeking to end a 51-year wait for a men’s World Cup medal. Coach Craig Fulton said the team wants to write its own history, while captain Harmanpreet Singh leads the side into the tournament on India’s Independence Day. India are in Pool D with Wales, England and Pakistan. They are expected to beat Wales and Pakistan, but face a tougher test against third-ranked England. The Times of India reports that India’s world ranking has fallen to eighth after an uneven Pro League campaign. The team’s decision to move away from its traditional blue jersey has also drawn criticism, with visibility against the blue turf given as the reason.

## Coverage

- sports.ndtv.com <https://sports.ndtv.com/hockey/we-want-to-write-our-own-piece-of-history-in-indian-hockey-india-coach-craig-fulton-11908963#publisher=newsstand>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/harmanpreet-singhs-men-eye-end-to-51-year-jinx-as-india-begin-world-cup-campaign/articleshow/133254189.cms>

Tags: Craig Fulton, fih world cup, Indian hockey team
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