Indian men's hockey team drops a place to 6th spot in latest FIH rankings
The Indian men's hockey team gave us hope only to finish the competition with two wins, two losses and a draw in the group stage and a defeat to Belgium in the last-eight stage. As a result of which, the PR Sreejesh-led team now sees itself placed in 6th spot among all the contenders in international hockey.
With merely one month to go for the Summer Games, India broke into the top 5 for the first time since the ranking system was initiated by FIH in 2003. Belgium are comfortably seated in the 5th position with 1863 points at this moment, 202-point ahead of Roelant Oltmans' side who have 1661.
With 2154 points, Australia are miles ahead as the leaders in world hockey rankings – but Olympic champions Argentina have jumped five places to the second position with 1949 points. Defeating defending champions Germany in the semi-finals and favorites Belgium in the final is testimony enough of their capabilities. Netherlands and Germany have both moved one rank below to occupy the third and fourth position. Ireland's Olympic performances have also bore fruit moving them up to 10th in the rankings table.
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The Blueskirts, on the other hand, gained one position to be at 12th in the latest charts. Great Britain's shoot-out victory over the Netherlands saw them claim gold and move up to third just behind top-ranked Netherlands and Argentina. Australia, New Zealand, and USA, all move down one place to fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, with Olympic bronze medallists Germany climbing two places from ninth to seventh.
The Indian men's hockey team reached the quarter-finals after a gap of 36 years at the ongoing Rio Olympics despite beaten 1-2 by the Netherlands in their penultimate match.