~ With renewed confidence and improved skills, the young forward looks to contribute to India’s Pro League campaign in Hobart ~
New Delhi, February 18, 2026: Indian men’s hockey forward Angad Bir Singh has been named in the 24-member Indian squad for the Hobart leg of the 2025-2026 FIH Pro League, marking his return to international action after almost a year of not playing for the senior team since making his international debut against Ireland during the 2024-2025 FIH Pro League season in Bhubaneswar.
The upcoming matches will also serve as Angad’s first overseas assignment with the India Men’s Hockey team as the 23-year-old forward looks to make a strong impact after months of consistent training and preparation.
The young forward called this opportunity special and expressed his excitement about representing India on the world stage again. “I am very excited about this opportunity because I have been training for a long time and waiting for my chance. When the opportunity finally came, I became very happy. Now I just want to prove myself and play well for India.”
Looking back on wearing the national jersey again, he described the comeback as an emotional moment. “Returning to the national team after a year is a completely different feeling. Immediately taking on an international assignment makes it even more special and motivating.”
Targeted preparation for a tough challenge
India will face strong opponents including Australia and Spain during the Hobart leg and Angad believes the team’s preparations are specifically tailored to the challenge ahead.
“Our preparation has been very good since the national camp in India. The training sessions have been designed keeping Australia and Spain in mind as they play a strong man-to-man style. The intensity has been high and we are focusing a lot on fitness and match readiness,” he explained.
Despite a tough outing for the Indian team in the recent leg of the FIH Pro League in Rourkela, Angad stressed that the team is maintaining a positive attitude.
“Everyone has tough phases but our focus is to stay positive and maintain our standards. Our target is to win all four matches here. We are focusing on our performances rather than past results,” he added.
Angad also emphasized that the adjustment to conditions in Australia was relatively smooth due to the familiar weather conditions. “The weather here is very comfortable and very similar to Bengaluru – not too hot and not too cold – which has made it easier for us to adapt quickly and fully concentrate on our training and preparations,” he said.
Grow through patience and hard work
During his time away from the Indian team, Angad remained part of the national training group in Bengaluru and also played for India A on various exposure tours, working closely with coaches to improve specific aspects of his game.
“The coaches told me a few areas where I needed improvement, and I worked on them seriously. I focused on improving my speed and skills. I stayed patient and believed that if I kept improving, I would get another chance,” he said.
His performance in the recent Hero Hockey India League 2025-2026, where he lifted the trophy with Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, also played a key role in earning his recall, with the coaching staff recognizing his progress.
“The Hero HIL was very important to me because I got to play high-quality matches and learn from experienced international players. I worked on the areas that the coaches had identified, and I was happy that the coaching staff noticed my progress and entrusted me with another opportunity in the Indian team,” he said.
Attacking mindset and personal goals
Talking about his playing position, Angad revealed that he prefers to operate as a striker where he can utilize his pace and attacking instincts.
“I like playing as a forward or winger because I can use my pace, attack aggressively and create penalty corners for the team. That is one of my strengths, and I want to contribute for India in the same way,” he stated.
The youngster has set clear personal goals for the upcoming competitions. “My goal is to help the team by earning more penalty corners and making as few mistakes as possible. This is the start of my journey and I want to gain experience while contributing to the team’s success.”
Learning from seniors and international fame
Angad credited senior teammates and experienced international players with helping him grow both on and off the field. He especially emphasized on building professional habits and match preparation by observing top players during the Hero Hockey India League.
“I have learned a lot by observing senior international players – how they manage themselves off the field, their recovery, diet and training routines. I have changed a lot of things in my preparation, and there will be a big difference between last year’s Angad and this year’s Angad,” he said.
He also acknowledged the support of teammates Sanjay and Araijeet Singh Hundal, who helped him stay positive during his journey back to the national team.
“They helped me stay patient and trust the process. We supported each other and continued to motivate each other to return stronger,” he added.
Confident approach before major tests
The young forward, who believes dedication and determination will be key factors, is excited as he faces top teams away from home.
“It’s 11 against 11 on the field. Whoever shows more effort and determination will win. Our approach is simple: stay confident, play our game and aim to win all four matches,” Angad concluded.
All India matches of the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-26 Hobart leg will be broadcast on Star Sports Select 2 SD+HD and JioHotstar.