Indian hockey team senior midfielder Manpreet Singh is excited to represent the country in his fourth Olympics in Paris, a remarkable achievement that puts him alongside the legendary Dhanraj Pillay. Set to play in his fourth Olympics, Manpreet expressed his excitement and pride, saying, “Playing in my fourth Olympics is a dream come true and a milestone that fills me with immense pride. It is a testament to years of hard work, dedication, and unwavering support from my family, coaches, and teammates. To follow in the footsteps of a legend like Dhanraj Pillay, who has been an inspiration for countless players including myself, is an honour beyond words.”

“I am excited to give my all for India in Paris, representing not just the team but the hopes and dreams of millions of fans back home. Our team is ready to show the world the spirit and strength of Indian hockey. We have prepared rigorously, and we are determined to perform at our best, bringing honour to our country and making our countrymen proud,” he added.

Manpreet made his senior team debut in 2011. Since then, the dynamic midfielder has amassed an impressive 370 caps and scored 27 goals, showcasing his skill and consistency on the field. His journey with the national team includes participation in three previous Olympic Games: the 2012 London Olympics, the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he led the team to a historic Bronze medal under his captaincy to mark India’s first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years.

Also, speaking about the team’s mindset and expectations for the Paris Olympics and if there will be any pressure to match the Tokyo Olympics’ performance, Manpreet asserted, “There is no pressure on us; instead, we are looking forward to enjoying our performance in every match. We must not underestimate any team, regardless of their ranking. Each team will bring their best to the field, and so will we.

“Our focus is on fulfilling our responsibilities and supporting each other as a cohesive unit. We believe that by concentrating on our game and maintaining our composure, we can achieve great results. It’s all about playing with passion and determination, without letting pressure hinder our performance.”

Notably, the Indian men’s hockey team on Monday departed for Mike Horn’s base in Switzerland, where they will undergo a three-day training period designed to instil mental toughness. Following this, the Harmanpreet Singh-led team will move to the Netherlands for a series of practice matches before arriving in Paris on July 20.

India are placed in Pool B for the Paris 2024 Olympics, alongside defending Champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland.

To advance to the Quarter-Finals, the team must secure a top-four finish in their pool. Pool A features the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa, and host nation France, setting the stage for a highly competitive 12-team men’s hockey tournament.

Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh is desperate to reclaim the gold medal in the upcoming Paris Olympics in his bid to give a fitting tribute to the country and stalwarts of the game. Eight-time Olympic champions India won an Olympic medal, a bronze, after 41 years in the Tokyo Olympics to revive the golden days of the sport in the country, and come 2024 Paris, the Harmanpreet-led side is chasing nothing less than a gold.

“We are giving our all to elevate our history and legacy. Winning the gold will be a tribute to India and our seniors,” the ace drag-flicker said in an exclusive feature on JioCinema’s ‘The Dreamers.’ Harmanpreet’s predecessor Manpreet Singh, under whose leadership India bagged the historic bronze in Tokyo, echoed similar sentiments.

“Seeing our flag on the right, I felt we could strive harder to place it at the centre next time, with our anthem playing. This marks the beginning of our renewed journey,” he said.

Veteran India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh highlighted the relentless drive and collective spirit of the team.

“Someone somewhere is training to beat you. That thought pushes me out of my comfort zone. Every time I train, I am driven by the desire not to disappoint the 1.4 billion people of our country.

“There was a time when Indian hockey relied on individual brilliance, but now we play as a cohesive unit, and that transformation has been key to our success on the international stage,” Sreejesh said.

India’s chief coach Craig Fulton broke down the team’s mentality, philosophy, and strategy, which helps them go toe-to-toe with some of the best sides in the world. “There isn’t a team that this Indian team hasn’t beaten. The question you could also be asking is — what do the other teams have to do to beat India? “The whole philosophy in my mind is to defend, to counter, and to win – having a team that can defend against the best teams in the world but then counterattack from anywhere. And that’s in the DNA of this Indian team,” the South African said.

File image of India Men’s Hockey Team.© X (Twitter)

An inconsistent Indian men’s hockey team lost 1-3 to hosts Great Britain in its second match of the London leg of the FIH Pro League here on Sunday, a day after the Harmanpreet-led side stun world champions Germany 3-0. Bandurak Nicholas scored a brace (2nd and 11th minute), both field goals, while Calnan Will struck the other goal for GBR in the 47th minute. Abhishek was the lone goal-scorer for India as he struck from a field effort in the 35th minute. India earned eight penalty corners but could not score any goal from them. GBR too couldn’t convert any of their five PCs.

India are ranked third in FIH chart, a rung above Britain.

Backed by a boisterous home crowd, Britain came up with a high-voltage performance backed by a pacy attack. They were quick to put India on the backfoot It was a fine counterattack that set-up Bandurak’s goal in the second minute, making India scurry to recover. Both teams used every opportunity to attack in the following minutes.

To add to India’s struggles, Bandurak scored again in the 11th minute. Only minutes earlier, India had won their first PC but couldn’t make much of the chance with Harmanpreet’s drag-flick missing the target.

Going into the second quarter with a 0-2 deficit, India’s search for an opening goal continued. They showed intent by controlling the possession while Hardik Singh and Mandeep made late charges in the circle. Abhishek too stood out in the forward line but they could come up with a successful pursuit on goal.

Coming into the third quarter after a 10-minute half time break, India looked for ways to halt Great Britain’s high-intensity game. Minutes into the third quarter, Hardik launched a counterattack to make a circle entry but no real chance came from it.

In the following minute, Abhishek finally brought some respite to the Indian side with a brilliant reverse-hit goal in the 35th minute. He did well with good stick work to receive the long pass from the midfield and found the target.

Carrying on the momentum, Abhishek helped India win a PC in the next minute. But Harmanpreet’s shot missed the target.

The following minutes saw India control the game while goalkeeper PR Sreejesh kept the goal deficit narrow with some fine saves. The final moments of an intense third quarter saw both teams trading PCs but neither could score.

However, Great Britain came up with a brilliant finish as they extended the lead in the 47th minute via Calnan.

Though India challenged the goal through a video referral, the third umpire ruled against the visiting side’s appeal. There were a couple of PCs awarded to India but none were successful.

India will play Germany on June 8 in their next match here.

Image for representative use© AFP