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Hockey’s emotional reference to India and its sports activities lovers is such that it will not be off the mark to name it the ‘most beloved sport’ within the nation. For years, India’s dominance in hockey on the world stage noticed hundreds of thousands getting hooked on it. Then, there got here a lean interval, a darkish section when all appeared misplaced. A workforce that had as soon as received eight gold medals on the Olympics, couldn’t even qualify for the quadrennial extravaganza within the 2008 version. However Indian hockey is previous that section, and the Paris Olympics 2024 was a powerful instance of it.
The Indian hockey workforce, led by Harmanpreet Singh, achieved a historic first in 52 years on the Paris Video games because it received the bronze medal defeating Spain. This was the primary time because the 1972 Olympics that India received medals on the Video games in back-to-back editions. On the Tokyo 2020 Video games, India had ended a protracted medal drought in hockey by bringing residence the bronze.
Some members of the bronze medal-winning facet are already again in India from the French Capital. In a particular interplay with NDTV on Saturday, Harmanpreet, Manpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Gurjant Singh delved deep into their marketing campaign and the highway forward.
“It was an amazing expertise in Paris. We had gone there with the goal of successful the gold medal. We had nice help from the countrymen. In a giant match something can occur. Particularly if I converse, the win towards Australia, the win towards Nice Britain regardless of enjoying with 10 males for many of the match was really nice. We received back-to-back medals and it was a giant achievement,” Harmanpreet mentioned.
The younger Vivek Sagar Prasad, 24, performed a pivotal position within the win. “It is all about workforce spirit. It is vital to haven’t any divide between seniors and juniors. Senior gamers ensured that we mingle with them. That factor is admittedly nice on this workforce. The seniors motivated us effectively,” he mentioned.
“All of us have accountability. At present’s hockey is so quick that usually there may be little divide between striker and defender. So, in such a situation, a constructive workforce atmosphere helps,” Gurjant Singh added.
Former India captain Manpreet Singh that they knew that the expectations have been excessive this time round after the facet’s win in Tokyo. “We had particular planning for all of the matches and the workforce bonded effectively in executing the plan,” he mentioned.
Harmanpreet then delivered an vital message to all those that observe the sport. “All the game lovers, regardless of the recreation is, ought to help us in our powerful interval too. If that occurs, we’ll develop and ship higher outcomes,” he mentioned. “No participant, who stars for India, goes right into a recreation pondering she or he will lose. So I’d say help gamers.”
Harmanpreet was India’s top-scorer on the Paris Olympics with 10 targets. He was India’s predominant Penalty Nook converter.
“Speaking about services, we’re one of the best nation. So far as European international locations are involved, the matches that they play amongst themselves, it is nice. The European hockey League is nice, it makes them sturdy. Their information will increase. Now, we can have the Hockey India League. That can be vital. All high gamers and coaches will come. It will likely be a greatest alternative for the kids,” he mentioned.
After the Olympics, the gamers will get a remainder of two to a few weeks. Submit that, India will compete on the Asian Champions Trophy.
Harmanpreet went on to say that they’ve felt a shift in perspective on how rivals and followers handled India on the Paris Video games. “After we received the quarter-final vs Nice Britain, we acquired further consideration, even from those that didn’t play hockey,” Harmanpreet mentioned.
Whereas most gamers of this present workforce will proceed to deliver extra laurels for India, goalkeeper PR Seejesh has determined to retire. “With him we share nice reminiscences. Our medal was devoted to him. He’s a legend. He saved vital pictures within the shootout vs Nice Britain in the quarter-final,” Manpreet Singh mentioned. Jarmanpreet revealed that they typically name Sreejesh as ‘Siri’.
Vivek, who was Sreejesh’s roommate on the Olympics, mentioned: “He’s educated. He inspired me to be disciplined, to maintain issues tidy, and skim books earlier than sleeping. I’m attempting to be taught from him, although I’ve not began studying books (laughs). He reads numerous novels. I do know his secrets and techniques however I will not speak about them.”
Sreejesh would be the subsequent coach of the Indian junior hockey workforce.
Earlier than signing off, Harmanpreet lauded the efforts of Hockey India, Odisha Authorities and the Authorities of India for his or her continued help.
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