All posts tagged: Indian hockey players

Virat Kohli compares fitness levels

Virat Kohli compares fitness levels

Published by Webster

2 min readMay 20, 2026 01:14 PM IST Indian cricketing legend Virat Kohli has acknowledged the fitness standard of hockey players claiming that cricketers don’t have even 15% of fitness. His claim has drawn heartfelt reactions from Indian hockey players. Considered one of the fittest cricketers, Virat Kohli said if hockey players watch their sessions, they would laugh as the sport of hockey demands much more. “I know people sometimes look at fitness as something extraordinary, but for me, it is what the job demands. It should be the norm, not something celebrated as special,” Kohli said while speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit. “Cricket is in such prime focus in our country that we often overlook other sports. If I am being honest, we aren’t even 15% of the fitness of an Indian hockey player. If the hockey players watch our training sessions, they would laugh because their sport demands far more,” Kohli added. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli reveals why he gave up captaincy Earlier hockey players like Indian vice …

Hockey star Manpreet Singh loses six kilos, develops six packs to prolong career

Hockey star Manpreet Singh loses six kilos, develops six packs to prolong career

Published by Webster

And just like that, he breaks ice over an eternal sporting dilemma — the ageing athlete. For a decade-and-a-half, since debuting in 2011, he’s witnessed the insecurities that creep into a players’ psyche, the pitfalls of living in denial of their fading superpowers, and the endless chatter over their relevance. “I didn’t want people to think that I am taking it easy; that I have become slow…” the former captain, 32, says. Story continues below this ad Last September, he had his first brush with reality. India ended the international season with the Asian Champions Trophy title, a month after the Paris Olympics bronze medal, and Manpreet — though overjoyed — experienced an unfamiliar feeling. During the tournament, he felt his feet dragging, reflexes slowing down and huffing and puffing almost every time he had to chase the ball. “I felt heavy,” he says. When he stepped on the weighing scale, the needle stopped at 73 kg. “It was the heaviest I had ever been!” The weight gain, albeit just 3 kilos, was a direct …

FIH Hockey Pro League: Defence stands tall as India hold red-hot Australia to a 2-2 draw | Hockey News

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When the FIH Pro League lineup for the Odisha mini tournament was confirmed, it was immediately obvious that the Indian men’s hockey team would face four stern – and important – tests over two legs against Australia and the Netherlands. With Paris Olympics as the aim, these were the games where India would have to show what level they were at. On Saturday in Rourkela, Harmanpreet Singh’s men held Australia for a hard-fought 2-2 draw before losing the shootout 0-3 to miss out on a bonus point. With that result, India finished with three draws in regulation time against the two powerhouses and lost once 4-6 against Australia in a crazy match. Harmanpreet gave India the lead with a drag flick (20′), before Blake Govers equalised from a penalty stroke (23′). Amit Rohidas, a local hero from hockey hotbed Sundergarh, fired India into the lead again from a Penalty Corner again (30′). Tom Craig (53′) took the match to the shootout where India’s forwards missed all of their chances. Johan Durst pulled off some incredible …

FIH Pro League: India’s battle vs World No 1 Netherlands lives up to billing in Paris Olympics buildup | Hockey News

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Lalit Upadhyay leapt so high above the defence he might as well have been a footballer trying to head home a hopeful cross into the box. A second ago, the ball was in India’s half with Harmanpreet Singh stopping in his tracks to find passing options. None available, with all closely marked by the Dutch who were one-up, he turned to India’s Man Friday Hardik Singh to his right. Hardik spotted Lalit taking a step forward and lobbed a ball that travelled almost three-fourths the length of the pitch and kept on sailing. It was destined to land on the advertising boards until, like a superhero popping from nowhere to save a distressed soul’s life, Lalit jumped high, put his stick above his head and plucked the ball from the cool Rourkela air. Goal in just over 30 seconds! #FIHProLeague @jarmanpreet04 gets his name on the score sheet after more than a year. 🤩 DON’T MISS 🏑 India vs Netherlands⏰ 1930 IST / 1500 CET📱 Download the https://t.co/igjqkvzwmV App to stream the game LIVE @TheHockeyIndia …