"mens-hockey"

India's men's and women's hockey teams begin their Asian Games campaigns on Sunday, with the men seeking redemption after a disappointing World Cup and the women carrying confidence from their fifth-place finish. Both teams need gold medals to secure direct Olympic berths

India's Araijeet Singh Hundal (7’), Gurjant Singh (18’), and Harmanpreet Singh (29’, 50’, and 52’) found the net, while Argentina's Federico Monja (3’), Nicolas Keenan (24’), Tadeo Marucci (54’), and Lucas Martinez (57’) scored for their team.

India have to overcome the reigning Olympic Champions Belgium (World No. 2), Australia (World No. 3), Argentina (World No. 7), New Zealand (World No. 10), and Ireland (World No. 11) in Pool B to secure a top-four finish in the pool to progress to the quarterfinals.

The V Baskaran-led team was the last to secure an Olympic medal (gold) back in Moscow 1980.

Belgium's Alexander Hendrickx (19th, 49th and 53rd min) scored a hat-trick.

This is India's best performance in the league phase in the last four decades as they had last finished second in the group in the 1980 Moscow Olympics when they won their eighth and last gold medal so far

Drubbed 1-7 by Australia in their last match, India produced a spirited performance against world No.9 Spain.

Under Manpreet's captaincy, the Indian team won the Asia Cup in 2017, the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018 and the FIH Series Final in 2019.

The Indian men's hockey team has won 11 Olympic medals, includes eight gold, one silver and two bronze. However, it has been 41 years since the team last won an Olympic medal.

The Indian men's hockey team is scheduled to begin its campaign on July 24 against New Zealand.

It is very important we follow safety protocols when we return home for a break. We have been given strict instructions from our coaching staff and Hockey India on SOPs to follow when we return home.