After finishing a disappointing 12th in the 2012 london Olympics, the men hockey team will be looking to improve their ranking and will be gunning for a medal at the Rio Olympics starting Friday. Going into the Olympics, India had a good run before losing warm-up series to Spain. Recently, India won its first ever silver medal in the Champions Trophy against Australia. It was in 1928, that Indian hockey team won its first gold medal and it continued till 1956. The team remained unbeaten winning six gold medals in a row.
The question remains, does the current lot has the potential to revive the national sport to its lost gloryIJ This will be team’s 23rd appearance in the Olympics. The team will be led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh after Sardar Singh was dropped from the role having been caught in off-field controversies. India, who is in Pool B in Rio along with Argentina, Canada, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands, have created optimism back home thanks after a strong build-up to the Games. India will play its first game against Ireland on 6th August.
With a well balanced bunch of 16 men, hockey fans are allowing themselves the liberty to expect a medal at the Rio. The desire of an Olympic medal from the sport after a wait of 36 years might be far-fetched for some, but the underlying expectation is of a fight is still there. This team has shown the ability to have a fierce battle with any top team in the world, to not surrender, to not make them a push over in the sporting world.
The Indian men’s hockey team are considered as Olympic medal hopefuls every time they participate in the Games, mainly because of the rich history of the sport. India is, after all, the most successful field hockey team at the Olympics. These performances have raised hopes from the new look unit.