Once acclimatised to the weather in the UK, the Indian men's hockey team will do "whatever it takes to win a medal" at the Commonwealth Games, skipper Manpreet Singh said on Saturday. The team left for Birmingham on Saturday to take part in the multi-sport event, which is scheduled from July 28 to August 8. "We are quite excited about this event as we have been training for this competition for quite some time now, and we are looking forward to putting on our best show against some of the best teams in the world.
"Having worked on our strengths and weaknesses in the last few months, we will do whatever it takes to win a medal here," Manpreet said before departure.
India is placed in Pool B along with England, Canada, Wales, and Ghana. The team will kick off its campaign against Ghana on July 31.
Manpreet also believes that India's third-place finish in the FIH Men's Hockey Pro League season 2021–2022, where they faced tough competition, will help them in Birmingham.
Speaking about the mood in the dressing room, Manpreet said, "Everyone is excited and looking forward to giving their 100 per cent." "Right now, we are focused on reaching Birmingham and getting accustomed to the weather and playing conditions there. We are also preparing for our first game, as a strong start against Ghana will be crucial in kicking off our campaign," he added.