Asian Games 2023 champions and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists India men's hockey team has been placed in tough Pool B for the Paris Olympics. India ended their 41-year-old wait for a medal at the Olympics with a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The eight-time champions will face current Olympic champions and world no.2 Belgium, dangerous Australia, Rio Games gold medallist Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
While India are currently ranked third in the FIH world rankings, they have struggled against Australia and Argentina. The International Hockey Federation announced the polls of both men's and women's hockey competitions on January 22, a day after the completion of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers.
Pool A features the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France and South Africa. On January 21, Pakistan failed to book their berth at the mega event after a 2-3 loss to New Zealand in the third-place playoff.
On the other hand, India's women's hockey team will not feature in the competition. India lost 0-1 to Japan in the third-place playoffs in the Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi on January 20. Germany, the USA, and Japan advanced for the mega event from the tournament hosted in Ranchi. The last time Indian women's team played in the Olympics was in the previous edition where they finished fourth.
Pool A in the women's competition features reigning Olympic champions Netherlands, along with Belgium, Germany, Japan, China, and hosts France. In Pool B, Australia, the current silver medalist, faces tough competition from Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, the USA, and South Africa.
Both men's and women's competitions will see the top four teams from each pool advance to the quarterfinals.
The Paris Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, with hockey competitions commencing on July 27 and concluding on August 9.
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