Indian men’s team will have a tough task at hand at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men’s hockey competition as the men in blue are clubbed along with defending champions Argentina and world number one side Australia in Pool A of the competition. To add to India’s worry the group also features teams like Spain and New Zealand who are capable of pulling out an upset every now and then. Hosts Japan is also part of Group A. The international hockey Federation has named Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Canada and South Africa in group B.
The story is quite similar for the Indian women’s as well as they are also placed in a tough group A, which features the likes of defending champion Great Britain and world number one Netherlands. The other teams which are competing in the group are Germany, Ireland and South Africa. While, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, Spain, China and host Japan form the Pool B.
The men’s team which is ranked fifth in the world has been playing some great hockey in the recent past. The men’s team qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after they defeated Russia 11-3 on aggregate earlier this month.
On the other hand, the Indian’s women team who are placed 9th in the ranking table had booked their spot for the quadrennial event after they overcame US 6-5 on aggregate in the qualifiers held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar earlier this month.
The road to finals will not be an easy task for the men’s as well as the women’s team. With the defending champions and the number one side placed in the same group the India men’s and women’s team have a difficult task at hand. Both the teams will have to keep punching above their weight and play exceptional hockey to book a place in the finals of the Olympics. Both the teams are aiming to bring back glory to the game that it has been missing for decades.
