Sundeep Misra

Author and Editor India's only dedicated platform for track and field
Writing and speaking sport — five books in.

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

Twenty-seven years ago, on July 7, 1999, El Guerrouj set his historic mile mark of 3:43.13 at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. Understanding what Hicham represents to the soul of track and field is necessary to explain why Kerr’s heavily publicized record leaves such a lingering, complicated aftertaste.
These pictures were clicked on the last day of the 2004 Athens Olympics.
#joshkerr
https://t.co/TaOim9vShe

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

It is never easy for a team to dance around the chaos at Hockey India. Between the cross-accusations, court cases, looming legal threats, and debates over jersey changes, the boardroom soap opera played out in full view. There was even a former captain and teammate turning to social media with heavy sarcasm: “Don’t worry the World Cup doesn’t matter. The Asian Games are coming. Win a gold medal there and that’s enough to cover everything that went wrong at the World Cup.” To top it all off, the President filed a police complaint against four federation officials. It was sports administration as high theatre.
#hockey #hockeyindia @FIH_Hockey @TheHockeyIndia

[India Today Sports @ITGDsports]

Two Asian Games golds, but trouble in the Hockey India boardroom. 🏅👀

The teams keep winning, but can the system keep up?

@MisraSundeep on the chaos behind the medals. 👇

#HockeyIndia #AsianGames2026
https://t.co/eE5Z3Jeagv

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

BEYOND THE GOLD...

Hockey needs to look beyond LA28. Winning gold was just a step. For all those “concerned” about the sport, domestic hockey is where we need to focus, and domestic hockey must be cleaned up. The answers don’t lie in continental tournaments, Pro League, or simply resurrecting the Hockey India League. If HIL were that resilient, it wouldn’t require so much behind-the-scenes manoeuvring to survive.

Speaking to players after the AG final, the consensus was clear: domestic hockey must get back on track with a proper two-tier league featuring 20+ teams. Big question: is there anyone capable in the Federation to even put this together?

Indian hockey desperately needs a robust domestic pyramid: an elite Tier 1 (8–10 teams) sitting atop a competitive, nationwide Tier 2 (12–15 teams) complete with promotion-relegation stakes. Such a structure would finally eliminate the talent bottleneck, expand scouting beyond traditional hubs, and guarantee players 8 to 10 months of active, high-intensity competition instead of long months of forced inactivity.

Domestic hockey is non-negotiable and for that we only need to look at how the world’s elite hockey nations operate. In countries like Belgium (Honor Division), men’s and women’s top division have 12 teams each. Below that 110 clubs are affiliated and running. Across the country if you include all teams across senior, lower and the junior structures, you have more than 600 teams. In India, all HI needs to do is structure national hockey.

Similarly, the UK (England Hockey League) and Spain (División de Honor A) live and die by the threat of the drop and promotion, ensuring every single match is competitive. We, by contrast, try to shortcut this ecosystem with sporadic, short-burst franchise leagues without building the foundational grassroots pyramid underneath.

Punjab hosts the Asian Champions Trophy next, followed by backroom shadowboxing for elections (HI’s own internal league being fought between two teams, with a few non-stakeholders on the outside getting quashed for no reason).

Gold medals make everything look hunky-dory on the surface, but it isn’t. Administrators need to stop protecting their chairs, dividing the community, and playing stakeholders against each other, and get down to building a sustainable system that safeguards the sport itself.
#hockey #domestichockey #hockeytwitter #hockeyindia

[India Today Sports @ITGDsports]

What changed in 44 years?

From Eliza Nelson and Balkrishan Singh to Savita Punia and Sjoerd Marijne, India’s women’s hockey journey finally came full circle with Asian Games gold. 🥇🇮🇳

@MisraSundeep writes.....

#AsianGames #Hockey

https://t.co/YXYoh9TWLb

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

The men have booked their LA ticket! India win their 5th Asian Games Hockey Gold, beating Malaysia 5-1.

​It was a tough contest. India stood firm in the face of sharp Malaysian counterattacks, relying on their overall experience, squad depth, and relentless intent to maintain high pressure on the 2018 silver medalists.

​A final always brings a unique brand of pressure, but India withstood it brilliantly. Even after failing to convert six consecutive penalty corners in the fourth quarter, India turned it around for a sensational right-flank move involving Abhishek and Sukhjeet, with Shilanand Lakra flicking it in to make it 4-1. Captain Harmanpreet Singh then sealed the 5-1 victory with his second goal of the match.
​Early on, Harmanpreet opened the scoring before Jugraj doubled the lead. Hardik and Shilanand then expanded the scoreline before Harmanpreet’s final strike.

​Following their 5-1 victory over Japan in the previous Asian Games final, this marks another dominant performance on the big stage. Most historical of all: for the first time in Indian hockey history, both the men’s and women’s teams have captured gold at the same Asian Games!
#hockeygold #hockeytwitter #asiangames #hockeyindia

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

That 44-year wait is finally over! Reclaiming the Asian Games gold after 1982 Shivaji Stadium glory is a historic triumph for Indian hockey.
​Holding off China with a gritty, disciplined 1-0 defensive performance showed incredible maturity. Savita Punia’s crucial Q2 penalty stroke save completely flipped the momentum, a true champion’s moment under immense pressure. Huge credit belongs to Sjoerd Marijne and the entire coaching staff for instilling a high-performance mindset.
​Best of all, securing direct qualification for the LA 28 Olympics gives India time to build something extraordinary. Truly unforgettable!
#goldforindia #goldmedal #hockeyindia #women #teamindia

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

India using a strong defensive line. China attacking through Ma Ning, Li Hong and Chen Yang.
India doing everything right. Cutting off the passing angles and making China think.
Can India sit on a one goal lead?
India must keep two attackers high to force China’s wing-backs to stay home. The moment China feel safe pushing both backs forward, the pressure on the Indian circle becomes overwhelming. 4th Q fatigue will set in.
#hockey #goldmedal #asiangames
Pic: Asian Hock Federation

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

Great save from Savita. Read the angle right on the stroke. And that Lalremsiami screamer for a 1-0 lead in Q1.
Shilpi's save in the defence.
China look dangerous on the counter, especially when Ma Ning is on the ball.
China keeping ball possession. They can't give easy breaks to India; Marijne's team is quick on the ball.
Interesting set up for the remaining 2 Qs.
#hockey #goldmedal #asiangames

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

Some games will always be close. But the structure of the team took a battering in the 3rd and 4th.

[Ravi Teja Mandapaka @RaviTMandapaka]

@MisraSundeep An unfortunate mistrap by Pakistan at the end. Credits to them for playing a solid Q4.

Give them a Aussie Head Coach, and we can see them competing for podiums thick and fast. A system, which will value their structure is everything they need now.

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

The day Federations believe the players are assets. Not the other way around.

[AnUbHaV @anubhavdps]

@MisraSundeep When will we see that change

After Olympics this change shd have been accelerated

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

That would be jeopardy! Better of winning the AG gold than going through the qualification process. Plus players would be changed. Quite a few would retire.

[sanjeetk @sanjeetck]

@MisraSundeep How many times we need to keep seeing these lapses!! Time and again the same culprits.. And we keep taking the baggage literally from one match to the next - Are we really so short of bench strength! I seriously wish they don’t win the Asian Games gold, the wake-call they need!

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

#HockeyTwitter

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

It is complete chaos right now. Classic India vs. Pakistan.
​Conceding twice in quick succession like that, especially giving up a equalizer with Rana Waheed tapping in right off a defensive lapse, exposes how fragile the midfield is. Losing control of the tempo in the third and fourth quarters against Pakistan is always dangerous.
Pakistan thrive on turn-over counter-attacks.
​India desperately need to slow down the tempo, keep possession for 4–5 continuous passes in their own half.
Rohidas just saved of Pak 7th PC. Its 3-3. 4 mins to go.
#hockey #indvspak

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

With just 49 seconds to go, India score! Abhishek's push takes a deflection off Sufiyan's stick, allowing India to scrape through by the skin of their teeth.
India win 4-3. Enter AG final.
For the second consecutive time
#asiangames #indvspak #hockey

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

With just 49 seconds to go, India score! Abhishek's push takes a deflection off Sufiyan's stick, allowing India to scrape through by the skin of their teeth.
India win 4-3. Enter AG final.

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

Q1
Two PC goals from Harmanpreet give India a 2-0 lead at the end of Q1 out of 7 penalty corners. India are looking active on the break, while Pakistan rely on counter-attacks trying for a surprise finish. Pak had 3 PCs in the end. Rohidas ran them down.
Momentum firmly with India.

​Q2.
Shilanand Lakra reverse hit, Sukhjeet calmly taps in. 3-0.
The momentum was so heavily in India's favour that Harmanpreet popped up outside the Pakistani circle.
Pakistan had 3 PCs in Q2, scoring off the last with 35 seconds left on the clock.
It's 3-1 to India. Sets it up nicely for an exciting last two quarters.
#hockey #indvspak #asiangames

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

@ritusejwal19 I would love books even if I wasn't writing 😊

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

Sanseido Books at Nagoya station was a necessary stop. Inside, the outside noise, which isn't always to my liking, instantly diffuses. Sanseido holds roughly 80,000 books, mostly in Japanese, though they do have an English section with both fiction and non-fiction.
​The woman arranging books in the English section pointed me toward Seicho Matsumoto when I asked for her pick of Japanese crime writers. Without mentioning the usual names—Keigo Higashino, Soji Shimada, or Edogawa Ranpo—she pulled a slim volume from a stack, handed it to me, and said softly, "Read this." It was Matsumoto’s Tokyo Express.
​As I browsed the back cover, she returned, silently handing me Three Assassins by Kotaro Isaka. I was grateful and thanked her. She bowed slightly, replying with a quiet "Thank you."
​Sanseido is a massive store—an entire floor dedicated to books, manga, comics, magazines, stationery, and a café. Multitudes of lives live and breathe inside bookstores. Millions of words tell hundreds of stories. It’s an insulated world, embracing anyone who steps into its fold.

[nnis Sports | Athletics India @nnis_sports]

🚨#Breaking: GULVEER TO MAKE HIS MARATHON DEBUT THIS SEASON!

Gulveer Singh, who recently won three medals at the Asian Games 2026, is set to make his full marathon debut at the Valencia Marathon in December.

Speaking to NNIS Sports, Gulveer’s coach Scott Simons said:

“The next target, of course, will be the 2027 Beijing World Championships and of course the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Gulveer will try his hand at the marathon in Valencia in December and we will see what his best chances for L.A. are from there.”

#GulveerSingh #ValenciaMarathon #Marathon #AsianGames2026 #IndianAthletics #Athletics #TeamIndia #NNISSports

[Sundeep Misra @MisraSundeep]

@BhutaniRahul @nnis_sports @Sushant_singh95 @Sushant_singh95 is figuring it out.

[nnis Sports | Athletics India @nnis_sports]

If this doesn't make you cry, laugh, and feel completely inspired, nothing will.

The women's relay team pulling off an unforgettable gold for India at the absolute last second, alongside the men's team leaving it all on the track to secure bronze. Absolute cinema.

#AsianGames2026 #IndianAthletics #indiawingold #relaygold #4x400 #AG2026