The Indian men’s hockey team will kick off its quest for a medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 by playing against New Zealand in their Pool B match on Saturday.
In the last Olympics in Tokyo, India ended a 41-year medal drought by winning bronze. Eleven members of that medal-winning team are in Paris, joined by five newcomers: Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay, Abhishek, Rajkumar Pal, and Jarmanpreet Singh. Veterans PR Sreejesh and Manpreet Singh will be playing in their fourth Olympics, adding a mix of experience to the squad.
India is grouped in Pool B and aims to secure wins against New Zealand and Ireland before facing tougher opponents like Belgium, Australia, and Argentina.
Key Opponents for India at Paris 2024
Australia
Australia, the silver medalist from the last Olympics, is one of India’s toughest opponents in the group stage. In a recent Test series in Perth, Australia defeated India 5-0. The last time they met at the Summer Games, Australia won 7-1 in Tokyo. Out of 77 matches, Australia has won 55, while India has 16 wins and six draws.
Belgium
India will face Belgium, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, in their second last group match. Belgium defeated India 5-2 in the Tokyo semifinals and went on to win their first Olympic gold. Ranked third in the world, Belgium is the highest-ranked team in Pool B. In the last 10 years, India has won eight matches against Belgium, lost 16, and drawn six. In their last meeting in the FIH Pro League in May, Belgium won 3-1 in a penalty shootout.
Argentina
India will play against Argentina, the Rio 2016 gold medalist, in their second match at Paris 2024. In Tokyo, India beat Argentina 3-1 in the group stage. In their recent FIH Pro League match in Antwerp, India won 5-4 in a high-scoring game. India is ranked seventh in the world, while Argentina is sixth.
India’s Medal Hopes
As the Harmanpreet-led team begins its Paris 2024 campaign on Saturday, they aim for back-to-back Olympic medals, a feat last achieved by India 52 years ago. A lower finish in their pool could see them face strong opponents like the Netherlands, Germany, or Great Britain, impacting their journey to the medal round.
ALSO READ: Paris Olympics 2024: Takeaways From The Opening Ceremony, From Surprises To Performances
