New Delhi: Hockey India on Wednesday announced the 16-member Indian Men’s Hockey Team for the Paris 2024 Olympics, set for July 26 to August 11, 2024. The squad, featuring five Olympic debutants, is undergoing rigorous training at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will continue to be led by ace drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh, with powerful midfielder Hardik Singh as the Vice-Captain. The squad also features veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and midfielder Manpreet Singh, both of whom will be making their fourth Olympic appearance.
India Men’s Hockey Squad
- Goalkeepers: Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran
- Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay
- Midfielders: Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad
- Forwards: Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh
- Alternate Athletes: Nilakanta Sharma, Jugraj Singh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak.
In the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, India is set to compete in Pool B of the men’s hockey tournament, alongside Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland.
To advance to the quarter-finals, the Indian team must secure a top-four finish in their pool. The competition is intense, with Pool A featuring powerhouses like the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa, and host nation France.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will kick off their campaign on July 27 against New Zealand, followed by matches against Argentina on July 29, Ireland on July 30, Belgium on August 1, and their final group stage game against Australia on August 2.
India’s Historic Hockey Legacy At The Olympics
- India clinched their first-ever gold medal in Olympic hockey at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s sporting history. The Indian team showcased exceptional skill and determination, defeating the Netherlands 3-0 in the finals.
- Building on their success, India successfully defended their title at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, earning their second consecutive gold medal.
- The legendary Dhyan Chand led the Indian team to a remarkable hat-trick of Olympic golds at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This win solidified Dhyan Chand’s legacy and India’s supremacy in the sport during that era.
- India continued their Olympic hockey dominance at the 1948 London Olympics, securing their first gold medal after gaining independence. The victory was special as India triumphed over former colonial rulers Great Britain with a decisive 4-0 win in the finals.
- At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, India claimed their fifth consecutive gold medal, a testament to their unparalleled dominance in Olympic hockey. Balbir Singh Sr. delivered a stellar performance, scoring five goals in the final against the Netherlands, leading India to a commanding victory.
- The 1956 Melbourne Olympics marked the beginning of a fierce rivalry between India and Pakistan in field hockey. India secured another gold medal by narrowly defeating Pakistan 1-0 in the finals.
- India’s historic run of six consecutive gold medals came to an end at the 1960 Rome Olympics. In a closely contested final, India suffered a 0-1 defeat to Pakistan, resulting in a silver medal.
- India made a triumphant return to the top of the podium at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, reclaiming the gold medal by defeating Pakistan in the finals.
- The Indian hockey team failed to reach the finals at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. After a semi-final loss to Australia, India secured a bronze medal by defeating West Germany.
- At the 1972 Munich Olympics, India once again missed out on a spot in the finals after a semi-final defeat to Pakistan. However, they bounced back to claim their second consecutive bronze medal by defeating the Netherlands.
- India’s hockey team returned to their golden form at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, winning their eighth gold medal. The tournament, played in a format without semi-finals, saw India defeating Spain in the finals.
- After a 41-year hiatus from the Olympic podium, India secured a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, their 12th Olympic medal in hockey. The team triumphed over Germany with a thrilling 5-4 victory.
