India Hockey Captain Manpreet Singh “Hopeful” Of Olympic Medal In Tokyo

“We do not like to seem as well a lot into previous data every single sport is a new studying curve. We are heading into the Olympics with a favourable frame of intellect and very good operate of results,” Manpreet advised IANS in an special job interview.

“We are self-assured heading into the Olympics in Tokyo. We managed to get the greater of current Globe Champions Belgium which is an indicator that we are heading into the event with a good deal of positivity. We will check out our very best to enjoy very good hockey on the pitch and check out to earn a medal at the Olympics,” he added.

In accordance to the midfielder, heading into the Olympics, the team needs to strengthen their defense to put up a hard combat from top rated oppositions like Australia, Netherlands and Belgium.

“There are a good deal of positives heading into the Olympics, for occasion we are incredibly risky on counter attack we are also incredibly very good at converting penalty corners as we have fantastic drag glints in the team. So the additional we use them, the greater it is for us. As I pointed out before, we are on the lookout to strengthen our defense and be additional constant,” he stated.

The Crimson Bull athlete also spoke about coach Graham Reid’s job in improving upon the overall performance of the team in the previous two a long time.

“We have enhanced a good deal underneath Graham he believes that we need to get greater at attack and in defense. Whenever we enter the opponents circle, we should really check out to achieve something be it a penalty corner or a goal,” he stated.

“He believes that we are a incredibly very good attacking team so we will get a opportunity in the opening 10 minutes and if we score a goal early, it will be a big morale improve.

“Graham also believes that if we strengthen on our defense, then naturally we will concede fewer and put the opposition underneath pressure,” he added.

India experienced not done very well in the 2018 Globe Cup and were knocked out in the quarter-finals after getting rid of to Netherlands.

Nonetheless, in 2019, as captain, Manpreet led his team to victory in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers, as a result securing a place at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

In the ongoing FIH Pro League, India have arrive up with very good performances from Netherlands and Belgium. From Netherlands, the results read 5-two and three-three in the two games performed in January though from Belgium, the results were two-1 and two-three in February.

“We performed incredibly very well from Netherlands and Belgium, now we shall enjoy from Australia. This is a terrific obstacle and a studying curve for us prior to the Olympics. As a team, we are on the lookout at actively playing alongside one another as just one unit and strengthen our consistency by winning as lots of games as possible,” stated the India skipper.

Manpreet, who has develop into the 1st member of the India national team to earn the Very best Participant award given that the awards were instigated in 1999, also showered praise on his female counterpart Rani Rampal for winning the Globe Games Athlete of the Yr 2019 Award.

“Rani Rampal warrants all the accolades that she has gained so far as she has labored incredibly challenging for this and has led her team from the entrance. The entire men’s hockey team is delighted that she gained the award. We are all hoping that she proceeds to do very well and lead India to glory in the Olympics,” he stated.

Manpreet is also anticipating the women’s team to make a podium complete in Tokyo in what would be the only 3rd appearance of the Indian women’s hockey team at the Olympics.

“We are hoping that the women’s hockey team will come residence with a medal and a podium complete. They have been doing definitely very well a short while ago and we would like to would like them all the very best and hope that they will make the entire country very pleased in Tokyo,” he stated.