India has won over eight gold medals in the Olympics in the game of field hockey. With the 2021 Olympics set to start from the 23rd of July, many hockey fans are buzzing with excitement for the upcoming tournament.
Everyone wants to know the latest hockey news and keep up with the sport. For a long time, cricket has been the number one sport in India. However, hockey is slowly gaining popularity that it was not showered with for all these years.
Moreover, even fantasy sports have embraced hockey for betting. Let’s get to know some of the latest happenings about the sport.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team Set to Face New Zealand in Tokyo Olympics
The Indian hockey men’s team will have a match against the New Zealand team, which ranks eighth in the sport. With the Indian match, the Indian team is looking to set a strong example of their calibre and showcase their glorious past. Indian team currently ranks fourth in the world and are considered a competent candidate for the gold medal this year. Under the captaincy of Manpreet Singh, the Indian team has beaten the New Zealand teams eight out of eleven times.
Women’s Hockey Team to Open Against the number one Netherland Team
Indian women will be participating in Olympics this year for the third time. They are set to face off the world’s number one hockey team of The Netherlands. According to the Indian women’s team’s coach, the team has high confidence for the upcoming tournament and will take one match at a time. The team has been toiling for the last five years aggressively to win the gold medal in the Olympics this year. With their past performance, fans are hoping to see a spectacular performance in the Olympics from the team.
Mandeep Singh Confident About Team’s Physical and Mental Shape
According to the star Indian striker, Mandeep Singh, the team is set for the Olympics with the best from both physically and mentally. He is one of the most experienced players in the forward line. When asked about the pressure of the Olympics on the team, the striker had a befitting reply. He confidently stated that all of them have each other’s support and the team has excellent communication, and they can breach the toughest opponents on their good day. Hence, this statement has sparked fans’ enthusiasm for the team’s performance in the Olympics.
Heroes Connect- A Great Initiative for Hockey Player’s Discussion
Many former and current hockey players have lauded the launch of a unique internet-based interactive platform for discussion around the sports. All the players, be they current or former, can register on the site and take part in the discussions. The site will contain details about the player’s such as their career trajectory, matches played, memorable moments, year of retirement etc. The initiative has been a boon for players who had lost touch with each other after retiring from the game.
Indian Hockey Team Captain Recalls the Support of Senior Players
Manpreet Singh is an excellent captain who believes in supporting the progress of team members. He recalled the time when he debuted in the sport a decade earlier as a teenager. The Indian captain stated that all the senior players in the team made him feel comfortable in the National team. Stalwarts like Shivendra Singh, Ignace Tirkey, Sardar Singh, Tushar Khadekar, Gurbaj Singh, Sandeep Singh and Sarvanjit Singh were his guiding lights in the early years. The player stated that these players took the pressure off him and let him play his own game.
Indian Women’s Team Rani Rampal Is All Excited for The Olympics
The Indian skipper has expressed excitement about the opening match with the Netherlands and is quite confident about her team’s form. In 2016, the Indian team participated in the Olympics for the first time in 36 years. After showcasing their mettle in the Asian games, the team is set to avenge their defeat in the Rio games. The captain stated that the team has waited for a long time for the Tokyo Games to start and have worked hard to reach this far.
Wrapping Up
Both the teams are geared to participate in the Tokyo Olympics and make Indians proud of their performance. The Indian women’s hockey team has already performed well in Asian games and are hoping to earn the same victory in the Tokyo games. The last Indian gold came in the 1960 Moscow games! Indian Men’s hockey team are looking to turn the tables this year with their performance. The latest hockey news is all about the positivity and hard work of both teams.
