NEW DELHI: The Indian men's hockey team is geared up to extend its impressive run as they participate in the upcoming Asian Games set to begin on September 23 in Hangzhou.
India begin their campaign against Uzbekistan on September 24. In the tournament, India find itself placed in Pool A, alongside formidable competitors such as Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Pool B comprises Korea, Malaysia, China, Oman, Thailand, and Indonesia.
The tournament format will see the top two teams from each pool securing a spot in the semifinals, which adds to the excitement and competitiveness of the event.
The Indian team will be under the leadership of Harmanpreet Singh, with Hardik serving as his deputy. The team's rigorous preparation has been evident in their performances, particularly at the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai. Now, they aim to maintain that level of performance and secure a podium finish at the Asian Games.
Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian team, shared his thoughts before the team's departure to Hangzhou, saying, "The team has been rigorously preparing for the Asian Games, and we performed well at the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy Chennai, so the goal is to maintain that level of performance. We have some tough opponents in our Pool, but we are confident in our preparation and hope to finish on the podium."
The team roster includes goalkeepers PR Sreejesh and Krishan Pathak, while the defensive duties will be entrusted to Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, and Sanjay. The midfield will be anchored by Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sumit, and Shamsher Singh. The attacking line will be led by Abhishek, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay.
Vice-captain Hardik Singh expressed his optimism, stating, "We are in the best possible mental and physical shape to travel to Hangzhou, and we are looking forward to the tough competition in our group. The goal is to continue performing as well as we have in recent months and return from China with a medal."
India's group stage matches will see them face Singapore, Japan, and Pakistan on September 26, 28, and 30, respectively, before concluding the group stage against Bangladesh on October 2. The Indian team will be aiming to make their presence felt in the hockey arena and emerge as strong contenders at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
(With PTI inputs)The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
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