The Indian Men’s Hockey team is set to kick off their campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics against New Zealand on July 27. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced the schedule at a ceremony held at the Olympic House in Lausanne in the presence of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and FIH President Tayyab Ikram.

India, currently fourth in the FIH rankings, finds itself in Pool B along with reigning Olympic champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. The team will face these formidable opponents in the group-stage matches scheduled from July 27 to August 2.

Pool A consists of the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, Great Britain and South Africa.

Indian Men’s Hockey begin their campaign on July 27th

The #Hockey schedule for the #Paris2024 Games was announced earlier today.

IOC President Thomas Bach along with FIH President Tayyab Ikram revealed the schedule.

We spoke to some of the participating teams on their fixtures at the @paris2024 #Olympics. Listen in to what they… pic.twitter.com/ZpE4Hdetnt

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) March 6, 2024

The Indian team’s first challenge will be New Zealand, ranked 10th in the world. This match will set the tone for India’s campaign in the tournament. Following this, India will take on Argentina on July 29, Ireland on July 30, Belgium on August 1, and Australia on August 2.

The quarterfinals of the men’s hockey tournament will be played on August 4, followed by the semifinals on August 6. The tournament will culminate with the bronze-medal playoff and the final on August 8.

The entire Hockey event in Paris is scheduled from 27th July to 9th August and will be played in the historical venue of the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium – an Olympic Games arena from 1924.

The Indian team, led by Manpreet Singh, is entering the tournament with high expectations. The team secured its Paris 2024 berth by winning the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games. They are also carrying the momentum from the Tokyo Olympics, where they won a bronze medal, ending a 41-year wait for an Olympic medal in hockey.

The team’s performance in Tokyo was remarkable, especially their comeback victory against Germany in the bronze medal match. Such performances have raised hopes for a strong showing in Paris.

However, the path to glory won’t be easy. The team will face stiff competition, especially from Belgium and Australia, both former Olympic champions. Yet, the Indian team’s recent performances suggest they are more than capable of taking on these challenges.

As the Indian men’s hockey team gears up for their opening match against New Zealand, the entire nation will be cheering them on. The Paris Olympics presents another opportunity for the team to make their mark on the global stage and bring glory to the nation.

Also Read: PV Sindhu & Srikanth advances, but Prannoy faces defeat at French Open