Asian Games 2023: India Men's Hockey Team aiming for Gold in Hangzhou

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The Indian Men's Hockey Team is poised to set sail for Hangzhou, China, to participate in the 19th Asian Games.

Coming off their recent victory at the Asian Champions Trophy 2023, the squad is eager to extend this winning streak and bring honor to their home country by securing the gold.

To note, the Indian Men's Hockey Team boasts of a distinguished track record at the Asian games-proudly wearing three golds (1966, 1998, 2014), nine silvers ((1958, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1990, 1994, 2002), and three bronzes (1986, 2010, 2018) won from previous tournaments.

With this, the Indian team is pushing to maintain their exemplary performance, setting their sights on another gold, a victory that earns them a direct ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It's also worth mentioning that India will be competing in Pool A, grouped with Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Uzbekistan for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022. Their first match will be against Uzbekistan on the 24th of September.

Pool B composes of Korea, Malaysia, China, Oman, Thailand, and Indonesia, with the highest-ranking two teams from each group proceeding to the Semi-Finals.

In the leadup to the event, Indian Men's Hockey Team Captain Harmanpreet Singh, lauded for consistent performance and strong leadership, spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming competition. He declared, "Wearing the tri-color on an international platform is a privilege, and we are all set for a fierce battle at the Asian Games. Our rigorous training sessions have honed every player's focus and dedication. Our objective is unambiguous - securing the gold and a direct pass to next year's Paris Olympics."

Head Coach Craig Fulton, known for his untiring dedication in finessing the team's strategies and skills, believes cohesion and discipline will be the pillars of their success in Hangzhou. He affirms, "We've put in countless hours of preparation, emphasizing teamwork and mental resilience. Our team has the prowess, now the task at hand is to optimally utilize our plans in the game. We are raring to face our opponents and make India proud."

Post their inaugural match against Uzbekistan on the 24th of September, the Indian team is set to face off against Singapore, Japan, and Pakistan on the 26th, 28th, and 30th of September, respectively. Their last clash in the pool stage is marked against Bangladesh on the 2nd of October.