Gold in Paris will be tribute to India and senior hockey players, says skipper Harmanpreet Singh

NEW DELHI: Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh is determined to secure the gold medal at the forthcoming Paris Olympics. His ambition is to pay homage to the nation and the legends of the sport.
India, having won eight Olympic gold medals in the past, ended a 41-year drought by clinching a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, reigniting the glory days of hockey in the country.As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, Harmanpreet and his team are focused on nothing less than bringing home the gold medal.
"We are giving our all to elevate our history and legacy. Winning the gold will be a tribute to India and our seniors," the ace drag-flicker said, as quoted by PTI, in an exclusive feature on JioCinema's 'The Dreamers.'
Manpreet Singh, who captained the Indian team to a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, expressed views that aligned with Harmanpreet's perspective.
"Seeing our flag on the right, I felt we could strive harder to place it at the centre next time, with our anthem playing. This marks the beginning of our renewed journey," he said.
PR Sreejesh, the experienced goalkeeper of the Indian team, emphasized the unwavering determination and united mentality of his teammates.
"Someone somewhere is training to beat you. That thought pushes me out of my comfort zone. Every time I train, I am driven by the desire not to disappoint the 1.4 billion people of our country.
"There was a time when Indian hockey relied on individual brilliance, but now we play as a cohesive unit, and that transformation has been key to our success on the international stage," Sreejesh said.
Craig Fulton, India's chief coach, dissected the team's approach, mindset, and tactics that enable them to compete on equal footing with the world's top teams.
"There isn't a team that this Indian team hasn't beaten. The question you could also be asking is -- what do the other teams have to do to beat India?
"The whole philosophy in my mind is to defend, to counter, and to win - having a team that can defend against the best teams in the world but then counterattack from anywhere. And that's in the DNA of this Indian team," the South African said.