V.R. Raghunath says domestic hockey has “evolved considerably” at Murugappa Gold Cup

V.R. Raghunath said domestic hockey has evolved considerably in Chennai while captaining Indian Oil Corporation Ltd in the 97th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament; the remarks were published on October 28, 2026 09:49 pm IST. He pointed to greater pace, improved awareness and the arrival of younger players as the primary drivers of that change.

The 37-year-old is a former India captain and a two-time Olympian. He leads IOCL in the ongoing Murugappa Gold Cup in Chennai. Raghunath said the influx of younger players has given the sport a fresh impetus and changed how the domestic game is played.

Commenting on on-field developments, Raghunath said: “The pace has evolved. People are much more aware of the game, and the younger teams are much better.”

He outlined contributions from institutional sides in a follow-up comment: “Railways is very good, Air Force is very good, and so are the Navy and BPCL. They are bringing in new appointments, offering scholarships and recruiting new players. Young blood is coming in, and that is why the game is getting faster. The players are aware of the game. It is much better,” he added.

Raghunath credited modern coverage for increased visibility and engagement, saying: “There is more awareness because of social media, networking, and live telecasts and streaming. Almost every small tournament is telecast or streamed live. People are following the game. I think that is one good initiative in modern sport,” he said.

On India’s prospects for the 2028 Olympics, Raghunath said: “They have recently won the Asian Games gold and qualified for the Olympics, so that is a step ahead. The World Cup didn’t go as planned, but they have another two years to sort things out, decide on the changes and establish the core group.”

He set a target and outlined match preparation when discussing the next phase: “The target will be to finish in the top four, at least - to reach the Olympic semifinals. The boys are good, and plenty of players are coming through from the junior team. They should get 30 to 50 matches before the Olympics. That is good.”