India players want to be in best shape and form for next year’s Hockey World Cup: Abhishek

Young forward Abhishek said the India men’s hockey team is geared up to make the best use of the upcoming tournaments and stay in the best shape and form for next year’s World Cup.

India headed into the Commonwealth Games, looking to end its long wait for the elusive Gold medal. India impressed on their run to the final but were hammered 0-7 in the final by Australia, who won their 7th successive Gold medal at the CWG.

Abhishek said India are keen on returning to the training grounds and hitting peak form.

“We all are really eager to return to training and prepare ourselves for the upcoming competitions,” Abhishek, who scored two goals in 6 games in Birmingham, said, as quoted by Hockey India.

“We all want to improve as a team, and with the World Cup next year, everyone wants to be in the best shape and form in the coming months.”

The team will return to the National Coaching Camp in Bengaluru on August 29 and will begin preparation for the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League season which is scheduled to begin in October.

22-year-old Abhishek, who played all 6 games for India at the Commonwealth Games, said he learned a lot about his game during the high-octane action at the Commonwealth Games. Abhishek made his debut for India against South Africa in the FIH Pro League earlier this year and played 14 games and performed consistently, based on which he was picked for the CWG squad.

“It was quite a memorable experience for me to perform on such a big stage. I learned a lot about my game during the tournament, and understood areas where I can improve upon,” Abhishek said.

“We performed as a team throughout the competition, despite facing tough opponents. Every match had a new challenge for us, and we were able to face it head-on. Even though the final against Australia did not go our way, we learned a lot from the match and have to improve upon in training.”

ADVICE FROM COACH REID

Abhishek also credited coach Graham Reid for his inputs at the Commonwealth Games. The young forward said feedback from his teammates has motivated him to work harder and focus on delivering for India at the upcoming tournaments.

“Our Chief Coach Graham Reid had already told me before in training sessions to enjoy the games and to not take too much pressure. This advice really helped me at Commonwealth Games 2022 as I was able to focus on my natural game and was able to play freely,” Abhishek said.

“My teammates and coaches told me I performed well considering it was my first major tournament of such scale. There are still a few areas where I have to improve upon, and the Commonwealth Games 2022 experience has motivated me to work even harder to fulfill those shortcomings.”

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