THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, June 26: Hockey India announced on Wednesday the 16-member Indian Men’s Hockey Team squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics. This team will compete for top honours at the Games, scheduled to run from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
According to a press release from Hockey India, the squad includes five Olympic debutants, bringing a fresh perspective to the team. This new approach is fueled by rigorous training and preparation at the ongoing national camp at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will be led by star drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh, and midfielder Hardik Singh has been named the vice-captain.
After making his Olympic debut in 2016 as the youngest member of the Indian squad in Rio, and then helping the team earn a bronze medal in Tokyo in 2020, Harmanpreet is scheduled to compete in his third Olympics.
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For the Paris 2024 Olympics, India is in Pool B along with defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. To progress to the Quarter-Finals, India must achieve a top-four position within their pool.
Pool A includes the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa, and host country France.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will commence their Paris 2024 Olympics journey on July 27 against New Zealand, followed by a match against Argentina on July 29. Their schedule continues with games against Ireland on July 30 and Belgium on August 1 and on August 2 they will play their last group-stage match against Australia.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team boasts a storied Olympic legacy, having achieved a remarkable 12 Olympic medals, comprising 8 Gold, 1 Silver, and 3 Bronze medals.
Indian Men’s Hockey Team for Paris 2024 Olympics
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