/sportzpoint/media_files/3n0MX9SS7rgEaAIZmThV.jpg)
Hockey India on Wednesday announced the 16-member Indian men's hockey team for the Paris Olympics 2024.
Indian men's hockey team are placed in a challenging group in Paris, which includes teams like defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
Harmanpreet will lead the team
Jugraj Singh, Mohammed Raheel, and Krishan Pathak has not been included in the 16-member team. While the team will have five debutants: Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Raj Kumar Pal, Abhishek, and Sukhjeet Singh. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Singh with midfielder Hardik Singh will serve as his deputy.
PR Sreejesh was selected as the lone goalkeeper while Krishan Pathak was named as the alternate athlete.
The defence line includes Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, and Sanjay, while the midfield will see the contributions of Raj Kumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad. The forward line boasts formidable players such as Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, and Gurjant Singh.
Apart from Pathak, midfielder Nilakanta Sharma, and defender Jugraj Singh have been named as alternate athletes.
India has huge legacy of eight gold medals
This time in the Paris Olympics, India has a chance to end the gold medal drought of the last four decades. The Indian hockey team has a vast legacy of eight gold medals in the Olympics. Expectations from the men's team have increased manifold after winning the historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Now fans not only expect the Indian team to win another medal but also want it to be gold or silver.
Before Paris, India went to play a series in Australia where they lost 5-0, which is not a good result and not a good preparation.
Paris Olympics: Indian Men's Hockey Team
Goalkeeper:
Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran
Defenders:
Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay
Midfielders:
Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad
Forwards:
Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh
Reserves:
Nilakanta Sharma, Jugraj Singh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak