Eyeing glory, Indian hockey teams arrive in Rio for 2016 Olympic Games
Eager and determined to put up a top-notch performance at the 2016 Olympic Games, the Indian men and women’s hockey teams arrived in Rio earlier this morning (local time).While the men’s team traveled from Madrid after playing friendly matches against Spain, the women’s team arrived from the USA .
The excitement and anxiousness
This is our first Olympic Games and we are aware that our performance here will help the future generation of women to take up the sport and excel. We are looking forward to putting up a good show and our aim is to make the quarterfinals first."
Sushila Chanu
“This is our first Olympic Games and we are aware that our performance here will help the future generation of women to take up the sport and excel. We are looking forward to putting up a good show and our aim is to make the quarterfinals first,” a confident Chanu added further.
Also, read : India women's hockey skipper Sushila Chanu opens up about captaincy and the Olympics
Meanwhile, the men’s team riding high on their recent exploits in the FIH Champions Trophy in London, where the PR Sreejesh-led squad won a historic Silver medal, is vying to get the better of some of the top teams in their pool. On arrival, Captain and goalkeeper of the Indian Hockey Team, PR Sreejesh said, “Our first priority is to beat some of the top teams in our pool including Germany, Argentina, and Netherlands. Though we have beaten each of these teams in the past or have come close to beating Germany in the Champions Trophy recently, the Olympic Games is a different ball game and we need to put up something extraordinary and special to excel against them.”
Obviously, we are here to win a medal. But to do that, we need to take it match-by-match. We will not take any match lightly, be it Ireland (the first team we play), Canada or the defending Olympic Champions Germany. We will play each match like it is our last."
PR Sreejesh
The captain further stated that every match will be crucial and their first goal is to make the quarterfinals. “Obviously, we are here to win a medal. But to do that, we need to take it match-by-match. We will not take any match lightly, be it Ireland (the first team we play), Canada or the defending Olympic Champions Germany. We will play each match like it is our last,” stated the goalkeeper.
Also, read : PR Sreejesh: Goalkeeping is a thankless job
The Indian men’s team will play Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Ireland and Canada in their pool ‘B’ matches and will need to be in the top four in the pool to make it to the quarterfinals.
Chief Coach Roelant Oltmans expressed the team’s eagerness to compete in the greatest tournament on the planet. “This is the first Olympics for most of the boys in the team and
The men’s team will take on Ireland on August 6,
Report Courtesy : © Hockey India media
Men’s Team Schedule
|
Date |
Day |
Match |
Time (IST) |
|
August 6, |
Saturday |
India vs Ireland |
19:30 |
|
August 8, |
Monday |
Germany vs India |
19:30 |
|
August 9, |
Tuesday |
Argentina vs India |
19:30 |
|
August 11, |
Thursday |
Netherlands vs India |
18:30 |
|
August 12, |
Friday |
India vs Canada |
21:00 |
Women’s Team Schedule
|
Date |
Day |
Match |
Time (IST) |
|
August 7, |
Sunday |
Japan vs India |
19:30 |
|
August 9, |
Tuesday |
India vs Great Britain |
02:30 |
|
August 10, |
Wednesday |
India vs Australia |
19:30 |
|
August 12, |
Friday |
USA vs India |
04:00 |
|
August 13, 2016 |
Saturday |
Argentina vs India |
18:30 |
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