Indian men's hockey team captain, Harmanpreet Singh, has set his sights on clinching the gold medal at the upcoming Paris Olympics, aiming to honor both the country and the sport's legends.
India's eight-time Olympic champions last secured an Olympic medal, a bronze, in the Tokyo 2020 games, marking a revival of the sport's golden era.
In an exclusive feature on JioCinema's 'The Dreamers,' Harmanpreet expressed the team's dedication.
"We are giving our all to elevate our history and legacy. Winning the gold will be a tribute to India and our seniors," stated the ace drag-flicker.
Echoing his sentiments, former captain Manpreet Singh, who led India to the historic bronze in Tokyo, highlighted the team's resolve.
"Seeing our flag on the right, I felt we could strive harder to place it at the center next time, with our anthem playing. This marks the beginning of our renewed journey," Manpreet shared.
Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh highlighted the team’s relentless drive and collective spirit.
"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," Sreejesh explained.
He noted the transition from reliance on individual brilliance to a cohesive unit, which has been pivotal to India's international success.
India's chief coach, Craig Fulton, detailed the team’s mentality, philosophy, and strategy, pointing out their readiness to compete with the best.
"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?" he remarked.
Fulton described the team’s philosophy as a blend of robust defense, rapid counterattacks, and resilience.
"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 coach concluded.
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