The 2024 Paris Olympics are here and things are heating from the get-go. The Indian hockey team ranks among the hot favorites to win gold in the Olympics.
The team broke its 41-year-long at Tokyo 2020 after winning bronze. However, it is a tough task at hand, given the competition in Group B of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The hockey group has World No. 5 Australia, World No. 2 Belgium, World No. 10 New Zealand, World No. 12 Ireland, and World No. 7 Argentina. Among the lot, Australia and Argentina have been crowned Olympic hockey champions.
For the Indian team, the road has already been tough. The squad secured its position in the 2024 Olympics by winning the 2023 Asian Games. A gold medal at the competition allowed the Indian hockey team to encounter Belgium, the defending champion. Their match is scheduled for August 1 while the match against Australia is scheduled for August 2.
The Indian team is ready to meet New Zealand on Sat 27 at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. The teams have met each other in 7 World Cup matches, out of which, both teams have won 3 matches each. The teams have only produced one draw, where they each scored 3 goals.
The tied match was the most recent encounter between the two in Jan 2023. Prior to that, India had only faced New Zealand way back in 2002 where it lost 2-1.
As for the upcoming encounter, India seems to be the absolute favorite to win. The team carries momentum, having won gold at the Asian Games. Moreover, the team is in form with better individual names all around.
Even the legendary Ashok Dhyanchand has expressed immense confidence in the current market. The ex-player stated that India has secured 8 medals in hockey, and the 2024 Olympics will only add to the tally. With such a strong performance, it’s no surprise that the best hockey betting sites are buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming events.