"The chances of a podium finish are very good" - Former goalkeeper Muneer Sait hopeful of a medal from the Indian hockey team in Paris Olympics 2024
Former India goalkeeper Muneer Sait is confident of the Indian men’s hockey team bagging a medal and ending up on the podium in the Paris Olympics 2024. However, he is not sure if they can bag a gold medal.
Notably, India have won eight gold medals in hockey at the Summer Games and they have not won an Olympic gold medal since 1980. Most recently in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, they settled for a bronze medal. Sait added that luck also plays a crucial role in modern hockey.
"The chances of a podium finish (at Paris Games) are very good. But, I can't say the same for a gold medal," Muneer Sait told PTI.
"Also, making the most of the chances that come your way is extremely crucial. Sometimes, luck also plays its part,” he added.
He further stated that modern hockey is fast-paced and all about fitness as skills take a backseat. Notably, Sait was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the Mexico Olympics in 1968.
"Since the sport began to be played on synthetic surfaces, it has become very fast-paced. As a result, it has become mainly about fitness and less about skills," Sait continued.
“Sreejesh is one of the best goalkeepers we have found” - Muneer Sait
Additionally, Muneer Sait heaped praises on the veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Sreejesh is playing his final Olympics in Paris.
"We used to do goalkeeping on natural turfs. But playing on synthetic surfaces has changed it completely, especially now that the keeper has to be fully padded up to tackle the fast pace of the ball," he stated.
Furthermore, Muneer Sait added that India needs more goalkeepers like Sreejesh in the future. He added that the Indian national team might need Sreejesh’s services as the goalkeeping coach.
"But, Sreejesh is one of the best goalkeepers we have found, who has done tremendously well on this surface. He is good at saving even the penalty shots," he said.
"We need many more keepers like him in the coming years and I'm sure of it. Also, Sreejesh is sure to become the goalkeeping coach of the national side in the future," Sait added.
The Indian team will initiate their Paris Olympics 2024 campaign against New Zealand on July 27. Later, they will lock horns with Argentina on July 29, Ireland on July 30, and Belgium on August 1. The final group stage contest will be against Australia on August 2.