India, June 20 -- "There's a realistic chance to qualify for the World Cup if we stick to the plan in the Pro League," India vice-captain Hardik Singh had said just before departing for Europe for the second half of the FIH Pro League late last month.

The two-time Olympic bronze medallist was quite confident. And why wouldn't he be. The Indian men's hockey team was placed third after the home leg of the elite nine-nation tournament with five wins in eight games. They had beaten the likes of reigning world champions Germany and the feisty England and needed a decent run to make the cut for the 2026 FIH World Cup.

With Olympic champions Netherlands and Belgium having already qualified as hosts and Australia making the cut as last edition'...