Harmanpreet Singh to Lead Indian Men’s Hockey Team at Paris Olympics 2024
Patiala, July 9 (Sports Desk)
Hockey India on Wednesday announced a 16-member Indian men’s hockey team for the Paris Olympics 2024, scheduled to be held from July 26 to August 11. Experienced drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh will lead the Indian team in Paris 2024, while midfielder Hardik Singh will be the vice-captain of the team.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team for Paris Olympics 2024:
- Goalkeeper: PR Sreejesh
- Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay
- Midfielders: Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Shamsher Singh, Rajkumar Pal, Vivek Sagar Prasad
- Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
Alternate Players:
- Goalkeeper: Krishan Bahadur Pathak
- Midfielder: Nilakanta Sharma
- Defender: Jugraj Singh
Harmanpreet Singh’s Third Olympics:
This will be Harmanpreet Singh’s third Olympics. He made his debut as the youngest player in Rio 2016 and played a crucial role in India’s historic bronze medal win at Tokyo 2020. The team also includes experienced goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh, who will be playing their fourth Olympics. Manpreet Singh also captained the Indian team at Tokyo 2020. Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Rajkumar Pal, Abhishek, and Sukhjeet Singh will make their Olympic debut in Paris 2024.
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Coach Confident of Team’s Performance:
Indian hockey team’s chief coach Craig Fulton said, “The selection process for the Paris Olympics team was incredibly competitive as we have a pool of talented players. However, I am confident that each player selected will give their best in Paris.”
He added, “This team is a perfect blend of experienced players and promising young talent, providing us with the necessary skill and energy to tackle the challenges ahead. Our focus has been on building a cohesive team that can adapt to different playing styles and situations.”
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India’s Quest for Gold:
It is noteworthy that India’s last gold medal in hockey at the Olympics came in the 1980 Summer Games. Having qualified for the main event by winning the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, the Indian men’s hockey team has been placed in Pool B for the 12-team Paris 2024 Olympic men’s hockey tournament. Defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland are also in this group. Pool A consists of the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa, and host nation France.
The top four teams from each pool will advance to the quarterfinals. India will begin its campaign against New Zealand on July 27 and will then face Argentina on July 29. They will then take on Ireland and Belgium on July 30 and August 1, respectively, before playing their final group match against Australia on August 2. The Paris 2024 men’s hockey final is scheduled for August 8. All matches will be played at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Paris.
India’s Hockey Record:
India has a rich history in hockey at the Olympics, having won eight gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals for a total of 12 medals. However, the Indian women’s hockey team failed to qualify for the upcoming Summer Games.
Looking Ahead:
The Indian men’s hockey team is determined to make a strong impression at the Paris Olympics 2024 and bring home the gold medal. With a strong team and experienced leadership, they have a good chance of achieving their goal.
