Hockey Star Manpreet Singh Says The Indian Team Had Decided To Win The Asia Cup At Any Cost

On Sunday, two Indian national teams were in action in the subcontinent. But the contrast in their following and performances was quite stark. While the Virat Kohli-led cricket team lost to New Zealand, Manpreet Singh's hockey boys beat regional powerhouse Malaysia 2-1 to win India's first Hockey Asia Cup in a decade. DT spoke to Indian skipper Manpreet Singh immediately after the victory on what the win means to Indian hockey, the road ahead for the team, and whether despite the victory, does it hurt that the top Twitter trends in India were all about cricket?.

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Manpreet minces no words in underlining the significance of this victory for Indian hockey. The Jalandhar boy says, "We needed this win. We didn't have a great performance in the World Hockey League Semifinals. But after that, we told ourselves that this is in the past and we have to give our best in the next tournament and that was our goal in Asia Cup. In the camp, we were clear that we have to win this tournament at all costs. Asia Cup is very important in the run-up to the World Cup next year. So, we are very happy to have achieved what we aimed for."

The Asia Cup victory is all the more sweeter for the team as they beat Malaysia in the final, the team that has beaten them twice in two big tournaments earlier this year. When asked if this settled the score for India, Manpreet says, "Our only aim in the tournament was to give our best, regardless of the opposition. As professionals, we want to win every game against every opposition. Yes, the final was a do-or-die situation because you don't get another shot at that. And so to beat them was quite sweet."

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A victorious Indian team celebrating their victory over Pakistan in the Hockey Asia Cup

The biggest change that has come in the team is the belief that they can win against anyone. Manpreet explains, "Whenever we take the field, we go with the mindset of winning the game. Ab har match jeetna hai, yahi aim hai." There was little time for celebrations in Dhaka after the win, as the skipper says the team already has its sights set on the next big tournament, one that will be played on home soil. "Our next target is the World Hockey League Finals (to be played in Bhubhaneshwar in December). We will give our best there too, regardless of who the opposition is," says Manpreet.

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Even though the hockey team had a memorable win, and the cricket team lost, social media was still dominated by the latter. It was Virat Kohli's 200 th ODI and #Virat200 was among the top trends nationally. However, this doesn't rattle Manpreet, who is happy with any support the team gets on social media. He says, "We do get a lot of support from people on Twitter. Sachin Tendulkar also tweeted about us the other day. That always feels special. Of course, it feels good when people from back home support us. When names like VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, and Amitabh Bachchan support you and wish you well, it does act as a great motivator." Manpreet himself will play his 200 th game for India when he next takes the field (the Asia Cup final was his 199 th ). It remains to be seen if #Manpreet200 trends on Twitter that day.