Men’s hockey team aim for medal after coming back empty-handed last time outBENGALURU: The storyline for Indian men’s hockey at the Commonwealth Games did not go as they would have liked. Since the sport was introduced at the quadrennial event in 1998, Australia won gold on all six occasions. India came close twice – in 2010 and 2014 – before being topped by the team from Down Under.
This edition of the event starting in Birmingham on Friday was not on the priority list until the Asian Games were postponed for a year. With a full squad and an eye on improving their performance in the competition, Manpreet Singh and Co landed in Birmingham earlier this week.
Having lost against England 1-2 in qualifying for the bronze medal and came back empty-handed in 2018, India are keen to redeem themselves.
India’s history at the Commonwealth Games
On the lessons learned from the Golden Coast debacle four years ago, skipper Manpreet said: “At the last CWG things didn’t go our way. We underestimated a few teams like Wales in the group stage. In this edition we want to win a medal. We are not under – will estimate any team. In every game, we will focus on our game plan and do our best.”
India, ranked fifth in the world, are in Pool B alongside Ghana, England, Canada and Wales.
Manpreet, who will play his historic 300th match for India when the team face Ghana in their tournament opener on Sunday, said the team had faced the weight of expectations as CWG will be the team’s first major outing after bronze- winning performance at the Tokyo Olympics Last year.
Head Coach Graham Reid broke down the pressure factor and explained, “I don’t think anyone’s expectations of us are higher than what we have of ourselves. We have high expectations of what we want from ourselves as as a team and individually and that keeps the pressure on us in the right direction.”
On the outside pressure, the Australian added: “When it comes to hockey, people talk about medals every time India go to any event. There is not much we can do against the outside pressure.
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In Photos – India’s 2018 CWG medalists are all set for Birmingham glory
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The 22nd Commonwealth Games open in Birmingham on Thursday, bringing together around 5,000 athletes from 72 nations and territories to compete in 19 sports over 11 days. (Getty Images)
This time, more than 200 Indian athletes will compete in Birmingham. Among them, a number have managed to secure podiums in the past and will once again be the favorites for a medal. (Photo PTI)
Indian star wrestler and Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, who won a gold medal at the 2018 Gold Coast Games, will be aiming for a second consecutive podium finish in Birmingham. Bajranj, competing in the 65kg freestyle category will be one of the favorites for gold in the category. (Photo credit: Twitter)
India’s pride of women’s wrestling, Vinesh Phogat won a gold medal in the 2014 edition followed by another gold medal in the 2018 edition of the Games. In the 53 kg category, Vinesh is ready to give her opponents a hard time. (Photo credit: UWW)
Commuter Kidambi Srikanth was 25 when he picked up a silver medal in the Gold Coast edition. A much more experienced and fiery Srikanth, who this time will lead the men’s team and aim for the top spot on the podium. (Photo Reuters)
A bronze medalist in 2014 and a silver at the 2018 Games, the flag bearer of Indian women’s badminton, PV Sindhu will be desperate to get her hands on the gold medal when she begins her campaign at the upcoming Birmingham Games. (AP picture)
At the last edition of the Games, Amit Panghal settled for a silver medal in the light flyweight category. This time, the 26-year-old will be competing in the 51kg class and will be desperate for an upgrade in the color of the medal. (Photo Reuters)
With 8 medals in 4 appearances at the Commonwealth Games, Achanta Sharath Kamal, 40, will once again look to produce powerful performances for India in table tennis. Sharath will compete in the men’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles and team events. (IANS Photo)
At the 2018 Gold Coast Games, paddler Manika Batra won a total of 4 medals: Gold in Women’s Singles and Women’s Team, Silver in Women’s Doubles and Bronze in Mixed Doubles. The 27-year-old will once again be one of the top medal hopefuls in multiple events. (Photo credit: ITTF)
The power duo of Joshna Chinappa and Dipika Pallikal Karthik have been phenomenal for India in squash and performed quite well in multi-sport events. Silver medalists in Gold Coast, the pair will once again be one of India’s top medal hopefuls. (Photo credit: Twitter)
Olympic silver medalist and two-time CWG podium finisher Mirabai Chanu will be among the top contenders for a gold medal at this year’s Games. The 27-year-old will take center stage in the 49kg category. (Photo credit: Olympic Games)
If India go beyond the league stage, serious challenges await them, but none are bigger than Australia.
In the 128 games the two teams have played, Australia have won 85 while India have won 22 games with 21 games ending in a draw.
Aside from skills, one of the key elements to overtaking Australia, according to Reid, will be India’s mindset. “One thing we would never do is take Australia lightly. Everyone puts Australia on a pedestal and rightly so because they have won a lot over the years. But to be able to beat them , we have to change our mindset and understand that we are also good and can compete at the highest level,” Reid stressed.
