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Legendary Pakistani hockey player Hassan Sardar has expressed his belief that Team India has the potential to end their long wait for an Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games 2024. India's impressive performance in the ongoing Summer Games, where they defeated Great Britain in a thrilling shootout to enter the semi-finals, has caught the attention of Sardar.India's last Olympic gold medal in hockey came at the 1980 Moscow Games, and they will be hoping to break their drought in Paris. Sardar, who played a key role in leading Pakistan to a gold medal at the 1984 LA Olympics, believes that the current Indian team has the talent and determination to achieve success."I always support India when Pakistan is not playing cricket or hockey," Sardar said. "It's a much better side and one of the best Indian teams I have seen. They have improved a lot and they are giving hard times to the Europeans. They (India) can win and they should win this Olympics."Sardar praised India's performance against Australia in the group stage, highlighting their mental strength and ability to adapt to different situations. He also shared some valuable advice for the Harmanpreet-led side ahead of their semi-final clash against Germany."When we won the Asian gold against India, we only focused on taking the lead and doubling it," Sardar said. "Both teams played well but we were lucky that we could score so many goals. Mental strength is the most important aspect in crucial matches. The Germans are a tough team."Sardar emphasized the importance of short passes, preventing counter-attacks, and scoring from penalty corners against Germany. He also advised the Indian team to stay calm and play as a unit, even when things are not going their way.India will be without key defender Amit Rohidas for the semi-final against Germany after his one-match suspension was upheld by the FIH. However, Sardar believes that the team has the depth and quality to overcome this setback.

In a thrilling quarter-final clash at the Paris Olympics, India's men's hockey team overcame adversity to defeat England 1-1 (5-4) in a penalty shootout. Despite being reduced to 10 men after a red card in the second quarter, India displayed remarkable resilience and determination to secure a semi-final berth.Harmanpreet Singh emerged as the hero for India, scoring the equalizer in regulation time and the decisive penalty in the shootout. His passionate celebration in front of England goalkeeper Ollie Payne reflected the intensity and emotion of the match.Coach Craig Fulton praised his team's unwavering spirit, saying, "When st happens, get together." India's defense, led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, stood firm against England's relentless attacks, saving 21 shots on goal, including 10 penalty corners.Captain Manpreet Singh, who was forced into a defensive role after the red card, acknowledged the significance of the victory. "From one man down, yes, it was the greatest win," he said.Fulton emphasized the importance of teamwork and love for one another in overcoming the challenge. "When you talk about defense, it's also about showing your love for the teammate, by covering him, by helping him," he said.The victory was a testament to India's ability to adapt and respond to adversity. Despite the setback of the red card, they remained focused and executed their defensive tactics with precision.

In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the Paris Olympics, veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a pivotal role in his team's 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Great Britain. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Sreejesh making several crucial saves to keep India in the game.Sreejesh, who is playing in his last international tournament, was the star of the show. He denied Great Britain numerous scoring opportunities, including a penalty stroke in the second half. In the penalty shootout, he saved two shots to help India secure the win."It's a daily job of a goalie," Sreejesh said after the match. "Some days it's a different effort, but today is our day. Even in the shootout, the guys who took shots didn't disappoint."India played with great determination and unity, forcing the match into a penalty shootout. Sreejesh said it was a "do-or-die" situation for him, and he was ready to give it his all."When I stepped on this field today, there were two options for me," he said. "This can be my last match, or I got an opportunity for two more matches, and I think, yeah, I got two more matches now."Sreejesh said India will focus on their own game in the semifinals. "Whoever comes in the semis, we (will) just play our game," he said. "That's it, that's important, because now it's a different game, because we are one man down and we need to focus on that now."India will wait for the FIH's decision on the red card shown to Amit Rohidas with more than 40 minutes left in the game. "I don't know how it's going to be," Sreejesh said. "They must take a decision on that. We are just waiting for that, but still, we need to play our best game in the semifinals."

India's men's hockey team, buoyed by their historic victory over Australia in their final pool match, will face Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics on Sunday. The Indians, who finished second in Pool B behind Belgium, will be looking to continue their momentum and secure a berth in the semifinals.India's performance against Australia was a testament to their growing confidence and tactical prowess. The midfield, led by Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh, controlled the tempo of the match with their relentless attacking play. The forwardline, spearheaded by Gurjant Singh and Sukhjeet Singh, capitalized on the opportunities created by the midfield, with Abhishek scoring a superb field goal to give India the lead.Skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who has been in scintillating form throughout the tournament, added two more goals to his tally, taking his total to six. The backline, anchored by Amit Rohidas and Jarmanpreet Singh, defended stoutly, while veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made several crucial saves.The transition of the ball from defense to midfield to forwardline was a key factor in India's success against Australia. The Indians used aerial passes to great effect, a tactic that proved highly effective against the Kookaburras.India's chief coach, Craig Fulton, has instilled a sense of self-belief in his team, who are now just two wins away from back-to-back Olympic medals. "It was an important match. We needed a match like this before the quarterfinals. From the start we put them under pressure. It's a proud moment to beat Australia," said Harmanpreet after the Australia match.In other quarterfinals, Belgium will take on Spain, Australia will face Netherlands, and Germany will face Argentina. India will be hoping to emulate their bronze medal performance from the Tokyo Olympics and make history by reaching the semifinals.

Fifteen years ago, Malay Desai, a college student, never imagined himself capturing the iconic moments of Rafael Nadal's potential last match at Roland Garros. Today, as a 38-year-old Mumbai-based content creator, he finds himself at the heart of the Paris Olympics, leading a team of five to produce captivating content for the official Olympic channels and social media.Desai's journey into the sports content industry was serendipitous. With a keen eye for storytelling and a passion for sports, he stumbled upon an opportunity to create content for the Olympics. Since then, he has been preparing diligently for this moment, working tirelessly since January to ensure the delivery of exceptional content.As part of his role, Desai has witnessed the electrifying atmosphere of the hockey matches, the precision and power of boxing, and the finesse of badminton. He has also had the privilege of capturing the historic moment when Nadal and his doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz lost their match."I was so close to the hockey action that volunteers warned us about the potential danger of flying balls," Desai recalls. "It was an exhilarating experience, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to witness these incredible events firsthand."Desai's team is responsible for creating reels and videos that showcase the highlights of the Olympics, capturing the emotions, triumphs, and challenges of the athletes. Their content is tailored specifically for Indian audiences, providing them with an immersive and engaging experience.Beyond content creation, Desai also produces a daily show, where he shares his insights and analysis of the Games. He has the unique responsibility of selecting the content that makes it to the official Olympics feed and social media handles in India."It's an honor to be able to share these moments with the Indian audience," Desai says. "We want to bring the spirit of the Olympics to every corner of our country."After the Games conclude, Desai plans to take a well-deserved break with his family, exploring the cultural landmarks of Paris. He hopes to visit the Centre Pompidou and stroll through the charming La Marais neighborhood.

Indian men's hockey team made history at the Tokyo Olympics by defeating Australia 3-2 in a thrilling Group B encounter on August 2, marking their first Olympic victory over the Aussies in 52 years.The match began with India dominating the proceedings, with Abhishek scoring a brilliant field goal in the first quarter. Captain Harmanpreet Singh followed suit with a penalty corner conversion, giving India a commanding 2-0 lead.Australia's Thomas Craig narrowed the margin with a beautiful goal, but Harmanpreet restored India's two-goal advantage in the 32nd minute, scoring his sixth goal of the Olympics.In the 55th minute, Australia's Govers scored through a penalty stroke, bringing the score to 3-2. The Aussies pressed hard for an equalizer, but goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh stood tall, making several crucial saves to preserve India's lead.India's victory was a testament to their determination and resilience. They played with passion and skill, overcoming a strong Australian team. The win not only ended a long drought but also boosted India's hopes of a medal at the Tokyo Games.

The Indian men's hockey team secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Ireland in a Pool B match at the Paris Olympics, solidifying their position in the quarterfinals. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh led the charge with a brace, scoring in the 13th and 19th minutes.Despite a few defensive lapses, India dominated the first half, consistently penetrating the Irish circle. Harmanpreet's first goal came from a penalty stroke awarded after Gurjant intercepted the ball and passed it to Mandeep Singh, who was tackled by Shane O'Donoghue.In the second quarter, India doubled their lead through a penalty corner converted by Harmanpreet. Ireland had a chance to reduce the deficit with a penalty corner, but India's goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made a crucial save.The second half saw Ireland improve their performance, earning eight penalty corners in the third quarter alone. However, India's defense held firm, preventing Ireland from scoring.In the final quarter, Ireland continued to press, earning two more penalty corners, but their finishing let them down. India's victory takes them to seven points from three matches, while Ireland's defeat eliminates them from the quarterfinal race.Belgium and Australia, both unbeaten, have six points each and will face off later in the day. Argentina and New Zealand are likely to compete for the fourth spot in Pool B, with the top four teams from each pool qualifying for the quarterfinals.

India's men's hockey team will face Ireland in their next Pool B match of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Tuesday, July 30. The match will be crucial for India's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals.India is coming off a 3-2 victory over New Zealand and a 1-1 draw against Argentina. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a last-minute penalty corner to salvage a draw against Argentina.Ireland, on the other hand, lost their opening match to Germany 3-2 but bounced back with a 4-2 win over Canada.India will be looking to continue their unbeaten run in the tournament and strengthen their position in the pool standings. A win against Ireland will put them in a strong position to qualify for the quarterfinals.The match will be played at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Paris and will start at 4:45 PM IST. It will be telecast live on the Sports 18 Network and live streamed on the JioCinema app.India's performance in the tournament so far has been encouraging. They have shown resilience and determination, especially in the match against Argentina. Harmanpreet Singh has been in excellent form, scoring crucial goals.Ireland will be a tough opponent, but India will be confident of victory. They have a strong team and are determined to make a mark in the Olympics.

For most teams, the Olympics is a meticulously planned four-year cycle, from player selection to training regimens and target setting. However, for the Indian men's hockey team, Craig Fulton had just five months to prepare them for the Olympic qualifiers. Now, as the team prepares to take the field for their opening game on Sunday, Fulton will have been in charge for exactly 15 months.For the Indian team, this is nothing new. The team and the sport have witnessed a revolving door of coaches and playing styles over the years, leading to a remarkable adaptability among the players.In a candid conversation, Fulton and captain Harmanpreet Singh, the duo responsible for India's hockey fortunes in Paris, shared their insights:Partnership and Communication:"He's like a big brother," says Harmanpreet about Fulton. "We have open discussions on every situation with the team. The trust is very high."Fulton echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of trust in building a strong partnership. "Once you have that, you can be honest and then you can move mountains."Team Environment and Expectations:"The expectation is through the roof," says Fulton. "But we have a good environment and a good staff."Harmanpreet adds, "We are very close to what we want to achieve in major tournaments."Leadership and Growth:As captain, Harmanpreet has embraced his responsibilities. "I think the big change is you have more responsibilities and need to talk more, be a good communicator and guide the team."He has also experienced personal growth. "I have become a father so patience levels have skyrocketed! But seriously, as a senior player and with growing maturity, you learn to handle different situations and play smartly."Team Composition and Strategy:Fulton explains the team's selection process. "What strengths we have in the squad, what do we need for who we playing against, how do we play our best hockey?"He believes the team's chemistry and balance in attack and defense are key to their success.Rankings and Pressure:"Rankings are there for periods of time," says Fulton. "Right now, we are seventh, but we don't want to be there."Harmanpreet acknowledges the pressure but remains focused. "The responsibility to score is there but it is not a pressure. We have variations that we have not revealed."Medal Hopes and Legacy:"It'll be a reward for the process that we've put in place," says Fulton about the possibility of a medal.Harmanpreet adds, "It will be everything for me. More importantly, I want to bring back the time when people thronged to watch hockey matches and loved the game – a medal will be key to reach more people and revive the game more than ever before."