Australia Series Will Be Stepping Stone For Paris Olympics Preparation, Believes Indian Hockey Forward Lalit Upadhyay

The preparation for the Paris Olympics has already started for the Indian men's hockey team as they are ready for a new challenge. The Indian men’s hockey team has arrived in Australia to compete in a five-match Test series beginning on April 6, a crucial assignment ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Following the April 6th opener, the series includes games scheduled for April 7, 10, 12, and 13. The Indian team must elevate their performance, assess areas for improvement, and prepare for the upcoming mega event in July this year.

Pro League Confidence Helped The Team: Lalit Upadhyay

Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, one of Team India's star hockey players, spoke exclusively with myKhel before leaving for Australia. He said, "We got to play against the best teams in the Pro League, which was a big deal. It boosted our confidence for future matches against tough opponents. We learned a lot about how to prepare and what we need to work on.

"Next, we're up against Australia, one of the best teams globally. They're known for their aggressive style of play. We'll do our best to win, and then we'll see how ready we are for the Paris Olympics," Lalit added further. Also Read: Our Top Priority Is Australia Tour Right Now: India Head Coach Craig Fulton

Tokyo Memories Embedded In Heart & Mind: Lalit Upadhyay

Lalit, who was also part of the Indian team that won the historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, admitted that the memories from Tokyo are still fresh in his mind. "That is our golden memory which will never fade away, and it has given us a significant boost."

At the Tokyo Games, India lost to Belgium in the semifinals by 5-2 but secured a bronze by defeating Germany 5-4 in a nail-biting encounter. Also Read: In His Third Olympics, Harmanpreet Singh Aims To Achieve More - Exclusive

"...Hockey India has provided us with much, including support from the government, and the most anticipated fulfilment that people had hoped for and waited for, for so many years. I hope that India will achieve even more in hockey, building upon its past to create a brighter future," the Uttar Pradesh forward added.

Lalit - who hails from the holy city of Varanasi - made his India debut at the 2014 Hockey World Cup. He was also part of the squad that won the 2016 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy, gold in the 2022 Asian Games, and played a key role in India’s 2017 Asia Cup victory, scoring as many as four goals.

Lalit, who completed his 150th international cap during India's match against Pakistan in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, also stated that the loss against Belgium still hurts the team.

"Getting to the semi-finals of the Olympics is a big deal. We all really wanted to make it to the final, but sadly, we lost to Belgium. It was a tough blow, but we know that win and loss are part and parcel of the game, it happens sometimes. We worked very hard and gave up a lot to get this far. Even though we're sad about not getting to the final, winning the bronze medal makes us happy. We're going to keep getting better, and the support from Hockey India keeps us going strong."

The 30-year-old forward reflected on the pressure of competing in the Paris Olympics and emphasised the team's growth and determination to succeed despite past challenges.

"Definitely, there is pressure; it is not as though we are playing in the Olympics for the first time. We should respect the top teams and learn from them as well. Now, people no longer see us solely from the perspective of India as before, when we had participated in some major tournaments and faced losses.

"You all have also watched our Pro League matches, have faith in us, and as players, we have always emerged victorious. We have played some close matches in the past," he added further.

As Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and his teammates get ready to play in Australia, they will be keen on making a habit of winning and learning from defeats. They are determined to do well again on the world stage and the Test series Down Under will act as a stepping stone for them.