Paris Olympics Hockey: India needs to punch above their weight to win successive medals, plays New Zealand in opener

Hockey, Olympics 2024: India men’s hockey team faces tough competition in Paris Olympics, aiming to improve on historic bronze from Tokyo.

Placed in a 'pool of death', the India men's hockey team will have to punch above its weight to better the colour of the bronze medal from the previous edition when it open its Paris Olympics campaign against New Zealand on July 27.

The expectations are high from the Indians after they managed to break a 41-year-old medal jinx at the Tokyo Olympics by bagging a historic bronze.

It was a landmark moment for a rich hockey nation like India, who have a record eight Olympic gold medals to boast of.

And the bronze has only raised expectations of second consecutive podium finish, but it would be easier said than done.

The Indians are clubbed along side reigning champions Belgium, mighty Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland in a tough Pool B, while Pool A consists of Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa and hosts France.

Four teams from each pool will progress to the quarterfinals.

The first three pool matches of India against New Zealand, Argentina (on July 29) and Ireland (July 30) are very crucial as they would look for maximum points from these games before taking on Belgium (August 1) and Australia (August 2).