Legendary defender Dilip Tirkey believes the Indian hockey team now has quality players who can recapture the world title after an absence of 47 years.

India won their only World Cup in 1975 in Kuala Lumpur.

As the host, next year’s January edition offers a great opportunity for India to finish on the podium. The World Cup will be hosted by Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13-29.

“The current Indian men’s team is a very confident unit and the performances they have put in over the past few years have made the fans very happy. I am sure they will do well in the World Cup,” said Tirkey who is also head of Hockey India.

“I want them to give their best 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 team, represented India at three World Cups and many Olympics.

The 45-year-old says wearing the national jersey at the World Cup and Olympics is his ultimate dream.

“I played my first World Cup in 1998. It was a great honor for me to be a part of the World Cup team,” said Tirkey, recipient of the 2004 Padma Shri award.

“Being captain of the Indian team is a good experience, no doubt about it, and we also play good hockey. I captained at the Olympics, at the World Cup, and even at the Asian Games, and it was a really proud experience.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)