India’s men’s hockey team captain, Harmanpreet Singh, announced plans to evaluate the team’s top strategies and combinations during the upcoming European leg of the FIH Pro League. This phase marks the final opportunity to finalize the squad for the Paris Olympics.
Departing for Antwerp, Belgium, the team gears up for challenging fixtures against formidable opponents like Belgium and Argentina between May 22 and 26. Following this, matches against Germany and Great Britain in London from June 1-9 await.
“We are trying out the best combinations before the final squad is selected for the Olympics. Hence, the Pro League outing is crucial in our preparations for Paris as well as for players to make it to the 16-member squad for Paris,” stated Harmanpreet Singh in a statement released by Hockey India.
Despite facing setbacks with five consecutive losses in Australia last month, Harmanpreet emphasized the team’s determination to address any weaknesses ahead of the Paris Games.
“The team is shaping well, and the Pro League is an important event for us to iron out the flaws in our execution ahead of the Olympics,” he added.
Reflecting on previous Pro League seasons where India secured third place, Harmanpreet expressed optimism about clinching the title this time.
“In the past few seasons of the Pro League, we have finished at the third position. It will be great to finish on top this time, and we are quite optimistic about it,” he concluded.
