New Delhi, 26th July, 2023: With just a year to go for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the preparations of the Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams are in full swing as they look to secure direct qualification for the prestigious event.
~ Preparations are in full swing for Indian Men’s and Women’s Team ahead of 2024 Paris Olympic Games ~
A year from now, the City of Lights will welcome athletes from around the world as players will compete for a podium finish at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team will be playing in the upcoming Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2023 in Chennai where they will be competing against South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and China. The tournament will be a crucial contest for the team ahead of the all-important Hangzhou Asian Games in September. At Hangzhou, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team will be vying for direct qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games by winning the Gold medal.
In addition to the rigorous training in the camps under the leadership of Chief Coach Craig Fulton, Hockey India has also roped in the services of mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton for the Men’s team. Besides this, special camps are being organized with Dennis van de Pol, the renowned hockey goalkeeping coach from the Netherlands for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team goalkeepers.
“We have important matches coming up as we inch closer to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. We are excited about our upcoming tour as it also gives us a great opportunity to play against quality teams. These matches will be crucial for us as we prepare for the all-important Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled later this year. We are aware of what is at stake and we are not taking anything for granted,” Captain Harmanpreet Singh said.
Meanwhile, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team has achieved new highs over the past few years. The team finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, won the Bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and emerged victorious in the 2022 Nations Cup.
Earlier this month, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team played matches against Germany and China in Germany. The team is currently in Spain for the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation-International Tournament from 25th July to 30th July 2023.
Savita, Captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team spoke about the team’s preparation ahead of the biggest sporting event in the world. She said, “The players are more motivated and determined than ever before to finish on the top. All the players in the team know that we have to win the Gold Medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games to earn direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and we will give our everything on the field. We hope to maintain the same consistency and form as we have been doing so far.”
HOCKEY INDIA TEAM PARTNERS
Odisha (India’s Best Kept Secret) – Major Team Partner
Sports Authority of India (SAI)
Shiv Naresh
About HOCKEY INDIA
HOCKEY INDIA (HI) is the governing body with exclusive mandate to direct and conduct all activities for both men and women’s hockey in India. It is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India as the sole body responsible towards promoting Hockey in India.
Headquartered in New Delhi, Hockey India was established on 20th May, 2009 and is affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
Committed to the development of Hockey in the country, Hockey India with the assistance of Sports Authority of India and Department of Sports, Government of India, trains players at sub-junior, junior and senior level. The governing body engages in Coaching the coaches with International Standard certification programs, educates and equips technical officials and umpires to find a foothold in international arena, provides world-class infrastructure and International exposure for the players besides regular international competition. Hockey India has also pioneered in bringing top International hockey events to India such as the FIH Men’s World Cup in 2010 and 2018, FIH Champions Trophy in 2014, FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in 2016 and 2021, FIH Hockey World League Final in 2017. With its vision to popularize the game and constantly promote it, Hockey India brought the Indian Men’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world. Hockey India is also dedicated to getting the Indian Women’s Hockey Team into the top three in the world.
About ODISHA
Odisha – the Eastern State of India – is known for its love for Hockey and over the years it has evolved to be the Global Hub of Hockey. The State successfully hosted the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, followed by the FIH Men’s Series Finals Bhubaneswar Odisha, FIH Olympic Qualifiers Odisha, and FIH Hockey Pro League 2020-21. Odisha has previously hosted the Champions Trophy 2014 and the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017. Odisha also hosted the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup in 2021.
Kalinga Lancers, the team owned by the State, were the winners in the Hockey India League 2017. Taking a step further towards realising the dream of restoring the glory of Indian Hockey at the global level, the State is sponsoring the Indian Hockey Teams till 2033.
Odisha also hosted the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023.
