4 or more retirements on the cards? Inside Indian hockey's transition for LA28

Hockey India has a clear plan in place for its transition process ahead of the LA Olympics 2028. And when it comes to the senior players who may be nearing the end of their international careers, the message from the federation is equally clear: the door will not be held shut for anyone who feels it is time to walk away.Ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy, four players were widely tipped to be heading towards the exit after the tournament. Nilakanta Sharma has since confirmed that Thursday's final will be his last international match, while Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh and Amit Rohidas have made it clear that they want to continue playing.But according to Hockey India's chairman of selectors RP Singh, the number of departures is far from decided."It could be four, six, fewer or even more." Also Read: A pinch of Sardar, dash of Manpreet: Rajinder Singh's evolution in India's midfieldSingh said the responsibility will ultimately rest with the players themselves to assess whether they can maintain the standards required to make it to the 2028 Olympics. "As far as the four players you mentioned are concerned, it could be four, six, fewer or even more. Nothing is certain at this stage.""We have now qualified for the Olympics in both the men's and women's categories by winning the Asian Games. We are fortunate that we have approximately one-and-a-half to two years to prepare. Now, we have to build a team for the future, keeping the 2028 Olympics in mind.""Many players may not be able to sustain themselves until 2028. They need to assess themselves. Every player understands his own game and knows what he is capable of achieving. When a person sits alone and evaluates himself honestly, he knows whether he can continue at the required level," said Mr. Singh.Players must know when it is time to step asideFor Singh, the transition is not simply about selectors deciding who stays and who goes. He believes senior players themselves should take a hard look at where they stand physically and mentally, particularly with LA 2028 now firmly on the horizon.Also Read: Hockey back at its mecca: How Jalandhar is reigniting its soul againHis message was blunt: if a player feels he no longer has the legs to make it to the Olympics, he should be willing to make that call himself."My personal opinion is that this is an opportunity for players who feel they may not be able to sustain themselves until 2028 to come forward on their own. They should understand that they may not be able to maintain the required fitness levels.""If someone feels that way, they should come forward and make that decision themselves. They have played in front of 15,000 spectators here, and millions will be watching on television across the participating countries," said Mr. Singh.A new core group for LA 2028With India's Olympic qualification secured through the Asian Games, Singh believes one cycle has effectively come to an end and another has begun.The next phase will be about building a fresh core group for LA 2028, but it will not necessarily mean a complete overhaul. Experience will still have a place alongside youth, with performance and fitness deciding who stays in the picture."Our core group for the Olympics will be prepared with a combination of new and experienced players. It could include youngsters as well as senior players. Whoever maintains their performance and fitness until 2028 will have a chance.""If someone cannot maintain those standards, they may not find a place in the core group. That decision will depend on their performance.""The country must come first. Everyone has spent 10-12 years together, and it is not easy when someone has to leave the team. It hurts both the person who has to make that decision and the player who is being left out.""But this is the reality of sport. One player leaves for another to come in," said Singh.Age will not decide who staysOne of the biggest questions around India's transition has been whether seniority, or simply crossing a certain age, could become a barrier for players.Singh dismissed that idea.There is no fixed age at which a player will be shown the door. Instead, Hockey India's selectors and coach Craig Fulton will assess fitness, skill, performance and, crucially, whether a player fits into the team's system."Age is not the criterion. Where is it written that we should select an 18-year-old or a 20-year-old even if he cannot play at the required level?""It is a combination of fitness and skill. This is a skill-based sport. We are not conducting a marathon or a 100-metre sprint where we select whoever runs the fastest or completes the distance.""Selection depends on the situation and the system we follow. We have to assess which player fits into the team. The coach and selectors sit together and take that decision."That approach could open the door for both established names and players waiting for their first major opportunity, provided they can prove they belong at the required level.Domestic hockey to play a bigger roleIf Hockey India is serious about building for 2028, the transition cannot depend only on the existing national pool. The domestic circuit will have to become a much bigger part of the process, and Singh indicated that work has already begun.The Senior National Championship was one of the first checkpoints, with selectors sent to identify potential candidates. The Hockey India League will provide another opportunity for players to make their case."We recently had the Senior National Championship, which was held from October 10 to 21. We sent our selectors there, and they identified some players.""We already have some players in our system. The Hockey India League will also take place, and we have given opportunities to four or five players recently.""After assessing all these players together, we will organise a national camp lasting at least seven to 10 days. It is not that someone performs well in one tournament and is immediately selected. There will be a proper national camp, where we will test everything, including fitness," said Singh.The message is clear: one good tournament will not be enough. Players will have to survive a longer evaluation process before being considered for the national setup.Core group will not be set in stonePerhaps the biggest change in approach could be the idea of a flexible core group.Rather than selecting a group of players and sticking with them for an extended period, Singh wants the pool to remain under constant review. Performances will matter, and players who fail to maintain the required standards could lose their place."We also have a plan for the future. Once the core group is formed, we cannot simply leave it unchanged for a long period. We will have to review it every three or six months. If a player is not performing at the required level, we must always have the option of making changes," said Mr. Singh.That could make the next two years particularly competitive for India's hockey players. The established names will have to keep proving themselves, while the younger generation will have a genuine pathway into the senior setup.And that process could begin sooner rather than later.India's next assignment is a tour of New Zealand, where a young side is expected to be given an opportunity. For Hockey India, the transition towards LA 2028 is no longer something to think about later.It has already begun.- Ends