As the countdown to the Paris Olympics begins, former Indian men’s hockey team captain and current Hockey India president, Dilip Tirkey, has expressed strong optimism about the national team’s prospects. He particularly highlighted the potential impact of the team’s skipper and star drag-flicker, Harmanpreet Singh, suggesting that his performance could be pivotal for India’s success in the games set to commence on July 26, 2024.
Tirkey shared his thoughts at the ‘Glory of Five Rings’ event, hosted by Manav Rachna Educational Institutions, emphasizing the progress Indian hockey has made since clinching a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. That victory marked the end of a 41-year drought for an Olympic medal in Indian men’s hockey, achieved by defeating Germany.
“I have full faith in (goalkeeper PR) Sreejesh and in all the young players in the team. Five players are going to make their debut at the Olympics, but they too have good experience in international hockey. We are expecting a lot from captain Harmanpreet; he is a world-class drag-flicker. If he gets going, there is nothing to worry about,” Tirkey stated.
The event also saw participation from notable sports figures, including former women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal and ex-world champion trap shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu. Tirkey emphasized the critical role of drag-flickers in determining the outcome of matches, noting their significance in scoring opportunities.
“Everything falls upon the drag-flickers who will have to be at their best. If our drag-flickers are on song, nothing can stop us. Having said that, it is not that we haven’t scored field goals,” he added.
Preparations for the Olympics have seen the Indian team leverage the expertise of renowned South African mental conditioning coach, Paddy Upton.
Upton, instrumental in India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup triumph, recently conducted a rigorous three-day camp at adventurer Mike Horn’s base in Switzerland. Tirkey, who himself represented India in three Olympics, underscored the importance of mental fortitude in high-stakes competitions.
“Conceding goals in the last minute has troubled us a lot in the last few years, but recently, we’ve seen vast improvement in this area. For the last 1-2 years, we’ve had a mental conditioning coach with the team, which has made a difference. Before a match in the Olympics, we need to be fully prepared mentally. I am confident that the training program of our mental training coach and all other support staff will yield results in Paris,” he said.
Highlighting the necessity of a robust defense, Tirkey cited Amit Rohidas’s exemplary performance in defending short corners during the last Olympics. With experienced head coach Craig Fulton leading the team, Tirkey expressed confidence in the strategic and physical readiness of the squad.
“The team has already reached Paris. Our first match is against New Zealand on July 27. We had a very good performance in the last Asian Games. Head coach Fulton has vast experience, having coached the Belgium team and other Olympic and World Cup-participating teams. The team has gained a lot of confidence under his coaching. Every player knows that at the last Olympics, we won a medal after a long time, and this time we can change the color of the medal,” he said.
India’s men’s hockey team faces a formidable pool in the Olympics, including heavyweights like Australia, Belgium, Argentina, New Zealand, and Ireland. Despite the tough competition, Tirkey remains hopeful.
