[Watch] Indian men’s hockey team arrives in Paris ahead of the Olympic Games
The Indian men’s hockey team reached Paris on Saturday ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics. Hockey India shared a video on Instagram which shows the Indian team arriving at the airport in Paris.
In the clip, the team appears all smiles and optimistic as they arrive for the coveted event. The video was posted with the caption
"Olympic Dream here we come! The Indian Men's Hockey Team has arrived in Paris. With a million hopes and well-wishes behind us, we're ready to shine at Paris 2024!"
The Indian men’s hockey team will be entering the Summer Olympics with the goal of going a couple of steps further and upgrading from their bronze medal finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
As part of their preparations for the mega event, the Indian team trained at renowned adventurer Mike Horn’s base in Switzerland. The camp, which lasted three days, was designed to develop mental toughness. The team then also went through a training camp in the Netherlands, which involved practice games before embarking to compete in Paris.
Indian men’s hockey team at the Olympics through the years
Those who have followed the Indian men’s hockey team over the decades will never forget the team’s golden run at the quad event. Between the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, India went on an astonishing streak, winning six consecutive gold medals. They further added another two golds to their kitty over the years.
However, the team had to then go through a drought where they could not win any medals for a lengthy period of 41 years after the gold medal finish in the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
The barren run was finally ended by the men's team that represented the country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. India defeated Germany 5-4 in the third-place playoffs to win bronze in Tokyo.
All set for the 2024 Olympics, the team led by skipper Harmanpreet Singh will be facing New Zealand for their opening encounter on July 27.