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Indian hockey legend Manpreet Singh is set to make history by representing his country in his fourth Olympics in Paris, joining the ranks of the legendary Dhanraj Pillay. The senior midfielder expressed his excitement and pride, stating that it is a "dream come true" and a testament to his hard work and dedication.Manpreet's journey with the national team has been remarkable, with his debut in 2011 and an impressive 370 caps and 27 goals to his name. He has participated in three previous Olympic Games, including the 2012 London Olympics, the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he led the team to a historic Bronze medal.Speaking about his expectations for the Paris Olympics, Manpreet emphasized the importance of enjoying the performance and not underestimating any team. He believes that by focusing on their game and supporting each other, the team can achieve great results.The Indian men's hockey team is currently undergoing a three-day training period in Switzerland to instil mental toughness. They will then move to the Netherlands for practice matches before arriving in Paris on July 20.India is placed in Pool B for the Paris 2024 Olympics, alongside defending Champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. To advance to the Quarter-Finals, the team must secure a top-four finish in their pool.Manpreet's fourth Olympic appearance is a testament to his unwavering commitment to Indian hockey. His experience and leadership will be invaluable to the team as they aim to make a strong showing in Paris and bring honor to their country.

The Tokyo Olympics marked a watershed moment for Indian sports, with the country surpassing its previous medal tally of six with an impressive seven medals. Neeraj Chopra's historic gold in track and field, the men's hockey team's bronze after a thrilling victory over Germany, and PV Sindhu's consecutive Olympic medals were among the highlights.However, India's previous attempt to build on a record haul at the Rio 2016 Olympics proved disappointing. Despite the presence of medalists from London 2012, including Saina Nehwal, Yogeshwar Dutt, and Gagan Narang, the contingent failed to add to their tally.This time, India has a strong contingent of medal contenders, including Neeraj Chopra, PV Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen, and Mirabai Chanu.Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic, Asian, and World champion in men's javelin, is a strong favorite to defend his gold. PV Sindhu, despite recent setbacks, remains a medal contender and could become India's most successful Olympian with three medals.Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have a chance to become the first Indians to win an Olympic medal in men's doubles badminton. Boxers Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen are also in contention for medals.Despite the seven medals in Tokyo, India's shooters underperformed. Manu Bhaker, who will compete in multiple events, and Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar will carry India's hopes in shooting.The men's hockey team, bronze medalists in Tokyo, face a tough challenge in Paris. Under new coach Craig Fulton, they have improved defensively but have struggled in recent tournaments.India's medal hopes in Paris are high, but the country must learn from its past experiences and avoid complacency. With a strong contingent of athletes and a few historic firsts realistically possible, India has the potential to make a significant impact at the Paris Olympics.

India's hockey dominance, once a source of national pride, waned significantly after the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Despite a brief resurgence with the gold medal victory, the decline continued unabated, leaving the men's team struggling to even qualify for the tournament.The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics marked the beginning of a barren run for the hockey team, which lasted over four decades. However, women's athletics witnessed some notable achievements. PT Usha narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the 400m by a mere hundredth of a second. Shiny Abraham became the first Indian woman to reach the semi-finals of an Olympic event in the 800m.At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, India's medal hopes were dashed once again. The men's hockey team failed to progress beyond the group stage, finishing seventh. The 1992 Barcelona Games also proved fruitless, with the hockey team suffering another group stage exit.Finally, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, India's medal drought came to an end. Leander Paes became the first Indian tennis player to win an Olympic medal, claiming bronze in the men's singles. His victory marked the first individual Olympic medal for India in 44 years and the first medal since the hockey team's gold in 1980.Despite the resurgence in tennis, India's overall Olympic performance remained lackluster. The country won only one medal in the 20th century after 1980, highlighting the decline in its sporting prowess.

Head coach Craig Fulton is well aware of the expectations from the Indian men's hockey team in the upcoming Paris Olympics. His mantra to his players is to play the game and not bother about the occasion."I agree that the expectations are higher after Tokyo bronze, but the bottom line is that the team has been progressing well. They are in the top eight and from 12th in London (2012) to 8th in Rio (2016) to bronze in Tokyo (2020). It was a big jump and now we are preparing for Paris," the South African coach told PTI Bhasha in an interview."My mantra to players is play the game, not the occasion. It's still a hockey match and rules have not changed," said the former Olympian who has represented his country in 1996 and 2004 Olympics.He said he's a "process driven" coach and all focus now is on the first game of the Paris Olympics against New Zealand. "We are training for that and we take one game at a time which is the most realistic way to do it," said the 50-year-old who was assistant coach of the Belgium team that won the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup in India.He did not get a full four-year cycle for the preparation of the team but has no complaints. "Yeah, you normally have a four year cycle from one Olympics to another to prepare. It's not an excuse but that's how it is. I think we did well in three months to qualify for the Olympics through Asian Games gold. The team is confident and playing well," said Fulton, a former winner of FIH coach of the year award.He believes in players who are ready to take a bullet for his teammates and his team bonding methods have yielded good results too. He took the team to South Africa where the players did mountain hiking, surfing, barbeque at the beach, etc."I believe that if someone is not playing well, you have to cover him up. At the end, If you want to do something special at the big stage, it's all about the chemistry between the players and how much they care for each other. "The bond and the trust needs to be there so that you can give 100 per cent for each other," said the coach who had guided Ireland to Olympic and World Cup qualification in 2016 and 2018.Fulton is not bothered by India's seventh finish at FIH Pro League or the current drop in the world ranking. India is placed at seventh position in the latest rankings. "We struggled a little bit in the Pro League but the main purpose there was the selection so there were lots of rotations and changes and that's all right. Our main goal was to get the right team for Paris," he said"Not bothered by the rankings as we were trying to improve the depth of our squad, so we gave new players opportunities. We try to win every game with whatever team we play and that's not an excuse. We had six draws and five wins and 10 points was the difference between 7th team and the winner, so it was really close," said Fulton.He feels mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, who has the experience of working with top cricketers, has an important role to play. "Paddy has worked with high profile cricketers like Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli which also encouraged our players to open up to him. Mental skills are one of the things we needed to improve but the real challenge is to do it back to back and that is what we are focusing on," he added.His focus has been on creating a good defensive structure because that is the area where teams often make mistakes. "Focus is on basics like PCA (penalty corner attack) and PCD (penalty corner defense). In today's hockey, anyone can beat anyone on their days. So a lot comes down on the goalkeepers, PCA and PCD where you make many mistakes. It is the area where we are trying to make technical and tactical improvement. We have a good offense but we need to keep improving the consistency of defence," he said"Field goal numbers have improved from the last Pro League to this one. But in the last Pro League, PCA count was higher. So it's like a zig zag and we are trying to put it together in the Olympics," he added.On India getting a 'Pool of Death' with Australia, Argentina and Belgium in the same group, the coach said, "We have to win five games to be in the top four. First game against New Zealand is very important."

Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh is determined to reclaim the Olympic gold medal in Paris 2024, paying tribute to the country and legendary players. After winning a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020, ending a 41-year Olympic medal drought, India is aiming for the top prize in Paris."We are striving to elevate our legacy. Winning gold would be a tribute to India and our seniors," said Harmanpreet in an exclusive interview with JioCinema's 'The Dreamers.'Former captain Manpreet Singh, who led India to the historic bronze in Tokyo, shared similar sentiments. "Seeing our flag on the right, I felt we could strive harder to place it at the center next time, with our anthem playing. This marks the beginning of our renewed journey."Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh emphasized the team's relentless drive and unity. "Someone somewhere is training to beat you. That thought pushes me out of my comfort zone. I am driven by the desire not to disappoint our country.""Indian hockey once relied on individual brilliance, but now we play as a cohesive unit, which has been key to our success," added Sreejesh.Chief coach Craig Fulton explained the team's mentality and strategy. "There isn't a team that this Indian team hasn't beaten. Our philosophy is to defend, counter, and win. We have a team that can defend against the best and counterattack from anywhere."India's resurgence in hockey has been attributed to a combination of factors, including the team's determination, unity, and strategic approach. The team's success has rekindled the passion for hockey in India and inspired a new generation of players.

Harmanpreet Singh will lead India's 16-member men's hockey squad at the Paris Olympics, aiming to secure a second consecutive podium finish. The team, selected after two days of trials, boasts a blend of experience and youth.Veteran goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, along with Manpreet Singh, will become the first Indian hockey players to participate in four Olympics. Harmanpreet, who made his Olympic debut in 2016, will be appearing in his third Games.Five Olympic debutants will join the experienced core, including Sanjay and Jarmanpreet Singh in defense, Rajkumar Pal in midfield, and Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh in attack.Coach Craig Fulton expressed confidence in the team's ability to manage a second successive podium finish. "The selection process was incredibly competitive, but I am confident that every player chosen will bring their best," he said.India is placed in Pool B alongside defending champion Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. They will need to finish in the top four to advance to the knockout stage.The squad's experience and youthfulness are expected to complement each other, providing the versatility and energy required to tackle the challenges ahead.

Hockey India has announced a 27-member core group of players for a pre-Olympic national camp, which will be held from June 21 to July 8 at the SAI center in Bengaluru. The camp is part of India's preparations for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, where they will face a tough challenge in Pool B, alongside Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland.The core group includes experienced players who have been instrumental in India's recent success in the FIH Hockey Pro League, where they currently occupy the fourth spot. Goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak, PR Sreejesh, and Suraj Karkera will be joined by defenders Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, and Amir Ali.The midfield will be led by captain Manpreet Singh, along with Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Sumit, Shamsher Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Rajkumar Pal, Vishnukant Singh, and Akashdeep Singh. Mohammed Raheel Mouseen will also be part of the midfield contingent.The forward line will feature Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Boby Singh Dhami, and Araijeet Singh Hundal. Notably, striker Dilpreet Singh is a notable absentee from the core list.Indian men's hockey team chief coach Craig Fulton believes the Pro League outing against top teams of the world was a great experience for his side. "We are looking to start an important block of training in this camp, and we need to make sure that we are in the best form ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The players have learned a lot from their matches in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24," he said."It has helped us in realizing where we need to improve. We have a lot of time to work on those areas. We have a strong mix of players who are capable of winning anything," the South African added.The Indian men's hockey team will be hoping to build on their bronze medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics and challenge for a podium finish in Paris. The pre-Olympic camp will provide them with a valuable opportunity to fine-tune their skills and tactics ahead of the Games.

Sharmila Devi, a promising young forward, has made a remarkable comeback to the Indian women's hockey team. Her unwavering determination to improve and her relentless work ethic have been instrumental in her return to the national side.After a nine-month absence, Sharmila returned to the Indian team in February 2024 during the FIH Hockey Pro League game against China. The 22-year-old from Haryana faced challenges during her time away from the national team, missing out on the Asian Games and Olympic Qualifiers.However, Sharmila remained mentally strong and focused on her training. She dedicated herself to improving her game, working on both her offensive and defensive skills. Her hard work paid off when she finally got her chance to take the field against China."I was more than excited to be wearing the Indian jersey once again," Sharmila said. "It felt very rewarding for all the work that was put in."Despite India's loss in that game, Sharmila vowed to continue giving her best. She believes in the importance of consistency and is committed to helping the national team achieve success."Every time we step onto the field, we give our hundred percent," Sharmila said. "I will work hard to consistently do well for the national team and help us win more and more games as time goes by."Sharmila's journey serves as an inspiration to young athletes. Her determination, resilience, and unwavering belief in herself have paved the way for her comeback. She is a testament to the power of hard work and the importance of never giving up on one's dreams.

The Indian men's hockey team, led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, has concluded their FIH Pro League campaign with a commendable performance, finishing fourth in the points tally with 24 points from 16 matches. The team's journey included five wins, three shootout victories, five defeats, and three shootout losses.Harmanpreet Singh, the star drag-flicker, emerged as a standout performer, finishing as the top scorer for India with 12 goals. He also holds the joint lead in the tournament's scoring charts alongside Australia's Blake Govers and the Netherlands' Jip Janssen. Singh's scoring prowess was evident as he netted eight goals from penalty corners and four from penalty strokes.The FIH Pro League has served as a valuable preparatory event for the Indian team ahead of the Paris Olympics. The tournament provided the team with an opportunity to compete against top-tier teams and assess their strengths and areas for improvement."This league has been crucial in helping us understand our strengths and areas for improvement. Competing against top-tier teams has given us valuable insights into our game," said Harmanpreet Singh. "We now know where we stand and what we need to work on to perform at our best on the global stage."The Indian team will now take a short break before assembling for a brief camp in Bengaluru. "We have identified specific aspects of our game that need attention, and the upcoming camp will be vital in working on those areas," said Harmanpreet. "Our goal is to build on our performance and ensure we are fully prepared for the Paris Olympics."