The Indian hockey crew is probably the most profitable facet within the Olympics, having gained a complete of 12 medals, together with 8 gold, within the Summer time Video games. Nonetheless, the crew has just one medal (bronze) within the final 44 years.
On August 5, 2021, the Indian males’s hockey crew ended a 41-year-long await an Olympic medal in hockey, lastly successful the bronze medal.
Traditionally, India has dominated world hockey from the Twenties to the Eighties, being probably the most profitable nation in hockey on the Olympics.
This time, India is just not solely hoping for a medal on the summer time video games but in addition anticipating the crew to alter the color of the distinguished award.
Nonetheless, as a consequence of its present type and challenges, the crew won’t be capable to win a medal this time. Let’s discover the explanations behind this.
Poor efficiency within the FIH Professional League
India had a poor European leg of the Professional League, dropping many factors in each the Professional League and the world rankings, the place they now discover themselves in seventh place, simply 2 factors behind Argentina.
Within the FIH Professional League, India had a extremely unhealthy run over the previous two months. Of the final 8 video games within the league, India misplaced 5, and the 2 they misplaced had been by a really skinny margin.
Extra on Olympics
Just one goalkeeper within the squad
The Indian squad has just one goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh, main the goalkeeping efforts on the Olympics.
Though India has a second goalkeeper, Krishan Pathak, he’s a part of the reserves and can solely come into play if Sreejesh will get injured. If the harm occurs throughout a sport, India shall be pressured to complete it with an outfield participant in aim, which might occur in a vital match.
Poor report towards Australian and European Groups
Though India has gained gold within the Asian Video games and the Asian Champions Trophy, displaying dominance towards Asian groups, they’ve struggled towards European and South American groups. An ideal instance is the 2023 Hockey World Cup, the place India completed ninth within the match.
India’s group contains Australia, Argentina, Eire, and New Zealand. India has a poor report towards Australia. In April of this 12 months, India misplaced all 5 matches towards Australia in a 5-match take a look at collection.
Additionally, towards Belgium, India has misplaced 16 out of the final 30 matches and gained solely 8. The identical is true with the Netherlands; within the final 20 matches, India has gained solely 5 and misplaced 8. In the event that they meet within the later phases, it might be powerful.
Editors decide
