Legendary defender Dilip Tirkey believes the current Indian hockey team has quality players who can reclaim the world title after a gap of 47 years. (More Hockey News)
India won their only World Cup in 1975 at Kuala Lumpur.
Being the hosts, the upcoming edition in January next year provides a great opportunity to India to finish on the podium. The World Cup will be hosted by Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13 to 29.
"The current Indian men's team is a very confident unit and the performances they have been giving in recent years have made the fans really happy. I am confident they will do well in the World Cup," said Tirkey, who is also the Hockey India president.
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"I want them to put their best foot forward and play with confidence. The team has quality players."
Tirkey, a former India captain who was part of the 1998 Asian Games gold medal-winning side, represented India in three World Cups and as many Olympics.
The 45-year-old said donning the national jersey in World Cups and the Olympics was his ultimate dream.
"I played my first World Cup in 1998. It was a matter of immense pride for me that I was part of the World Cup team," said Tirkey, a recipient of the Padma Shri Award in 2004.
"Captaining the Indian team was a good experience, no doubt, and we played some good hockey as well. I was captain at an Olympics, World Cup and even an Asian Games, and it was definitely a very proud experience."
