New Delhi, Aug. 10 -- Having dominated at the Olympics, the Indian men's hockey team will be eyeing to break their 51-year-old gold medal drought as they embark on a fresh World Cup journey that begins on Independence Day. The 2026 Hockey World Cup will be co-hosted by Belgium and The Netherlands, with the final to be played on August 30.

The India's men's hockey team has had a roller-coaster journey in the World Cup, from winning the inaugural bronze in 1971 to lifting the title in 1975 and then enduring a long wait for another podium finish. The eight-time Olympic champions' only World Cup triumph came in Kuala Lumpur in 1975, when Ajit Pal Singh's side defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 in the final.

Pakistan remain the most successfu...