File photo of Roelant Oltmans with Pakistan Hockey Team© X (Twitter)

Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh said it’s time to move on from the euphoria of a second successive Olympic bronze medal if the side desires to retain its Asian Champions Trophy title in Hulunbuir, China this month. Under Harmanpreet’s leadership, India won a second successive bronze medal for the first time in over half-a-century at the Olympics in Paris recently. But Harmanpreet said it’s time to move and start afresh after a deserving break for the Asian showpiece to be held from September 8 to 17.

“With a brief break after the Paris Olympics, the team is ready to take on the best hockey playing nations in Asia and prove its mettle.

“We had a good outing in Paris but hockey is a very close game, we cannot rest on our laurels,” the skipper said before leaving for China in the early hours on Tuesday.

“The aim will be to play high-octane hockey and retain our title.” Besides India, the Asian Champions Trophy will feature Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and hosts China.

India will begin their campaign against China on September 8, followed by a match against Japan on September 9.

After a one-day break, India will take on Malaysia on September 11, followed by Korea on September 12 and arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14.

The top four teams will advance to the semifinals slated for September 16, with final scheduled for September 17.

India are the most successful team in the tournament with four titles, followed by Pakistan (3).

India won the last edition in Chennai, beating Malaysia 4-3 in the final.

Vice captain Vivek Sagar Prasad said the side has a few new players in the team this time around, who have immense potential and are eager to perform.

“We will do our best to create a nurturing environment for them on the way to our title defence,” he said. 

Representative Image© AFP

Screengrab of PM Narendra Modi with shooter Manu Bhaker.© YouTube/@Narendra Modi

India men’s hockey team in action© AFP

After winning successive bronze medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, the Indian men’s hockey team has shown their strong foundation and they have it in them to go for a gold in four years’ time in Los Angeles, feels the world renowned explorer Mike Horn. The Swiss motivational coach’s intense three-day mental toughness boot camp in the Alps pushed Harmanpreet and Co to their limits, in adventure tasks that also helps in coming out of their comfort zones and also form strong bond.

“The bronze they won is a reflection of their dedication, and I believe they have set a strong foundation for future success, including the possibility of going for gold in the next Olympics,” Horn told PTI in an interview.

“The team’s performance was exceptional, and they indeed came very close to clinching a gold medal. They showed remarkable skill, strategy, and mental toughness throughout the tournament.

“While they didn’t secure the gold, the fact that they were so close is a testament to their hard work and determination.

“It’s important to recognise that winning a medal, especially at the Olympics, is an immense achievement,” added Horn, known for his work with MS Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, Kolkata Knight Riders in their 2014 IPL victory, and Germany’s 2014 football champions.

India started their campaign with a rusty win over New Zealand before they gradually started to find rhythm.

Their biggest win in the group stage came when they defeated Australia for the first time in 52 years.

Their true mental fortitude and team bonding came to fore when they defeated Great Britain in a shootout, despite being reduced to 10 players early in the second quarter.

“I followed their journey at Paris 2024 very closely, and I was genuinely impressed by their resilience and how they handled the pressure. They have so much to be proud of, and it was an honour to be a small part of their journey,” said the 58-year-old said.

The bootcamp was packed with extreme adventures, from walking on Glacier 3000, the highest peak of the Alps, to sleeping on grass — an experience that India defender Amit Rohidas had described as extremely back-breaking.

“They came into the camp with an incredible mindset, ready to push themselves and grow as a team,” recalled the 58-year-old.

“I would like to think that the bootcamp contributed in some way to the team’s success, but the real credit goes to the players and their relentless hard work and dedication.

“The bootcamp was designed to challenge them, and they responded brilliantly, but ultimately, it was their commitment and teamwork that shone through during the Olympics.” Horn also had special words of praise for skipper Harmanpreet whom he described as “all time greats”. Harmanpreet was the top-scorer of the Olympics with 10 goals.

“What impresses me most about Harmanpreet is his ability to lead by example. He’s not just a great player but also someone who inspires his teammates to elevate their game.

“His leadership was crucial to the team’s success, and he has undoubtedly cemented his place as one of the all-time greats in Indian hockey,” Horn said. He also said it’s “hard” to see that PR Sreejesh won’t be there at the goalpost.

“Even though this was his last appearance for Team India, he played with the passion and intensity that have defined his entire career.

“During the bootcamp, Sreejesh was a pillar of strength for the team — his experience and leadership were invaluable, and he set the tone for the younger players.

“Considering his contributions to Indian hockey, it’s hard not to wish he would continue. However, if this is indeed his final chapter, he leaves behind a tremendous legacy that will inspire future generations of players,” he said.

Horn also spoke about newly-appointed India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir and recalled how he made the difference at KKR with his strategic acumen and game-reading skills.

Gambhir began his stint with a 3-0 thrashing of Sri Lanka in the T20Is, but suffered a 0-2 defeat in the ODIs.

“Gambhir’s transformation from a successful KKR captain to a title-winning mentor has been remarkable. As a captain, Gambhir was known for his strategic acumen and ability to inspire his team. He led by example, showing immense dedication and resilience, which were key to KKR’s successes.

“Transitioning to a mentor role, Gambhir continued to be a significant influence. His deep understanding of the game and experience in handling high-pressure situations provided invaluable guidance to the team.

“He was able to connect with the players on a personal level, offering insights and support that went beyond just technical advice.

Working with Gautam was a special experience. His passion for the game and commitment to excellence were truly inspiring.

“He has a unique ability to read the game and anticipate challenges, which made him an exceptional mentor. His presence and leadership helped foster a winning mentality within the team, proving that his contributions are vital whether on the field or off it,” he signed off.

Indian men’s hockey team arrived from Paris in New Delhi on Saturday morning.© PTI

A bronze medal finish is not what hockey coach Craig Fulton had wanted but the South African would relish the achievement simply for the fact that “underdog India” lifted themselves up from disappointments when no one gave them a chance. India dominated Spain in their bronze play-off to secure a 2-1 win. The last time India achieved back-to-back medals at the Olympic Games was in 1968 and 1972. India had endured a rough build-up to the Games, receiving a 0-5 hammering at the hands of Australia and also struggled in the FIH Pro-League.

Fulton, though, said his team had what it takes to deliver at the biggest stage. In the past India would desperately look for a medal-finish but now even a second consecutive medal is not seen as the desired result.

“We’re not happy here where we are. We wanted the one above and we didn’t get it. But the next best thing to do was this,” Fulton said after India won its second consecutive medal.

The coach said the time period between 2021 and 2024 was of building a team that could fight together.

“I think the biggest thing was that we became a team, and we did that through a very short space of time. We needed to build trust, because that’s the number one thing that you can rely on,” Fulton said.

“And I thought we did a good job in the Asian Games to start that process. And then we obviously pushed through. We had some tough times in Australia, tough times in the Pro League.

“We knew we had it in us, and we came in here as underdogs. In a sense, no one even thought we were going to make the top four.” Fulton said he knew India could compete against all these teams.

“And we had good results. And, yeah, to get the trust back there, Paddy’s (Paddy Upton) had a big input into that. But so has our staff, so has our group.” Only India and Germany have achieved back-to-back medals and Fulton said it gives a clear message: “That shows we’re on the right track. We’re proud of our ability to get up after the disappointments.” India largely dominated the match against Spain, attacking more and defending well but Fulton said “it was a tough game, man”.

“Spain threw everything at us. And it was beautiful to finally get the results.” It was Spain that took the lead by converting a penalty stroke but Fulton said they were not perturbed.

The mindset is now such that they have the belief that the team can bounce back. “So, we’ve seen it all, been through it all. So, it was just, start again. And I think the nice thing was, we knew if we got corners, we were going to score because we had a great plan. And it worked like a bolt,” he said.

“It was good. Yeah, well, the third quarter was great. We were able to put real pressure on. And we did that. And the main thing is, we had to manage the ball better.” Asked about the pre-match conversations, he said, “We told them, it’s not about who deserves it. It’s about who wants it more and that was a key message for everyone.” It took India 41 years to break the Olympic medal jinx in Tokyo and the second came within three years. Can India stay consistent? “You saw the consistency in the tournament. It was a tough start for us. But then from, obviously, when we qualified, beating Ireland. And then the game with Belgium, we still played well. We had to make some improvements. And then that came in the Aussie game,” Fulton said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian men’s hockey team on its bronze medal success at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024. India captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice as India beat Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal match at Stade Yves-du-Manoir on Thursday. Marc Miralles had pulled Spain in front after converting a penalty stroke in the 18th minute. However, Harmanpreet equalised in the dying embers of the second quarter, before grabbing his second three minutes into the third quarter. Despite Spain’s all-out attack in last five minutes of the final quarter, India held on for a famous win and clinced the fourth medal for the country in the ongoing Paris Olympics. 

After the match, PM Modi called the Indian hockey team to congratulate the players for their success. During the phone call, PM Modi spoke with captain Harmanpreet and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who was played his final game for India in the bronze medal match.

During the phone call, Modi called Harmanpreet as “Sarpanch” (leader). Harmanpreet has been nicknamed “Sarpanch” for leading the team from the front at the Paris Olympics, ending the tournament with 10 goals, including two on Thursday.

Modi also asked the retiring Sreejesh to help groom a team for the future.

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi spoke to the Indian Hockey team and congratulated them on the #Bronze medal victory. #OlympicGames #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/OuuaEHVj0y

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

Meanwhile, this is India’s fourth bronze medal, and second in succession following Tokyo, and adds to those eight golds, the last of which came in 1980, and three silvers.

India had won seven of their previous 10 encounters with three-time champions Spain but after a cagey first half they found themselves trailing when Miralles fired an 18th minute penalty stroke past the ‘Wall of India’ Sreejesh Raveendran, playing his 336th and final international.

Borja Lacalle almost made it two, beating Sreejesh only to see his shot rebound off the post. 

India began to press hard and with just a few seconds remaining of the first half, Harmanpreet buried a penalty corner to level the scores. 

Three minutes after the break, Harmanpreet repeated the trick, sweeping another penalty corner just inside the Spanish post.

World champions Germany were scheduled to face Netherlands in the gold medal match later on Thursday.

(With ANI Inputs)

India vs Spain LIVE Score, Men’s Hockey, Paris Olympics 2024© AFP