Last Updated: January 22, 2024, 17:18 IST
Indian Men’s Hockey Team. (Twitter)
India have been placed in a tough Pool B in the men’s hockey competition at the 2024 Paris Games.
the International Hockey Federation (FIH) revealed the pools of the Paris 2024 Olympic hockey tournaments after the completion of the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers.
Eight-time champions India, who clinched a historic bronze medal in Tokyo after a hiatus of 41 years, have been clubbed with reigning Olympic champions and world no.2 Belgium, mighty Australia, Rio Games gold medallist Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
The Indians are currently ranked third in the world, behind Belgium and the Netherlands, and they had found it tough to beat Tokyo silver medallist Australia and Argentina in the past.
Men
Pool A: Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France and South Africa
Pool B: Belgium, India, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland
In the women’s competition in Paris, there will be no representation from India, who finished a creditable fourth in Tokyo, as they failed to qualify, having finished fourth after losing to Japan 0-1 in the Olympic Qualifiers in Ranchi on Friday.
Women
Pool A: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Japan, China and France
Pool B: Australia, Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, United States and South Africa
The participating teams have been allocated to their respective pools on the basis of the FIH World Rankings at 23:59 CET on 21 January 2024 and in the following order:
Pool A: teams ranked 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 12th
Pool B: teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th
The 12 teams per gender have qualified for the Olympic Games either as hosts, winner of their continental qualifier or top three finisher of their FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier.
The top four teams from each pool in both men’s and women’s competitions will qualify for the quarterfinals.
The Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 till August 11 and hockey competitions will start from July 27 and end on August 9.
(With inputs from Agencies)
