Men's Hockey: India Clubbed With Germany, Netherlands in 2016 Rio Olympics
India have defending Olympic champions Germany and world No. 2 Netherlands in their group for 2016 Rio Olympics. The world No. 7 Indian team also has Argentina, Ireland and Canada in their pool. The women's team has Argentina, Australia, Great Britain, USA and Japan in its group
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: December 22, 2015 02:08 PM IST
Eight-time champions India have been clubbed alongside title holders Germany and world No.2 Netherlands in Pool B at the men's hockey competitions of 2016 Rio Olympics. (India Drop One Place to be Seventh in Latest International Hockey Federation Rankings)
Besides, Germany and Netherlands, the team Sardar Singh and Co. defeated en route to the bronze medal in the Hockey World League Final earlier this month, Argentina (ranked 6th), Ireland (12) and Canada (14) are also in seventh-ranked India's group. (Hockey World League Final: Rupinder Pal Singh, Ramandeep Singh Shine as India Pip Netherlands to Clinch Bronze)
The teams in Pool A are reigning world and Hockey World League champions Australia, currently ranked No.1 in the world, Great Britain (4), 2015 Hockey World League runners up Belgium (5), New Zealand (8), Spain (11) and hosts Brazil (32). (Hockey World League: Bronze Medal Will Boost Confidence Ahead of Olympics, Says India Coach Roelant Oltmans)
The hockey event in Rio Olympics will be played according to the new format, which will include a quarter-final round. So, India just need to beat lower-ranked Ireland and Canada to progress from their group.
Women's team in tough group
Meanwhile, the Indian women's team, the lowest ranked among all the qualified sides, have been placed along side Argentina (2), Australia (3), Great Britain (6), USA (7) and Japan (10) in Pool B.
While Pool A in the women's section consists defending Olympic and reigning world champions Netherlands, 2015 Hockey World League runners up New Zealand (4), China (5), Germany (8), Korea (9) and Spain (14).
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed the line-up on Monday after Spain women's and New Zealand men's teams officially accepted invitations to participate in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games hockey events.
Spain women and New Zealand men were invited to participate following the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee's (SASCOC) decision to reject invitations for South Africa's men's and women's hockey teams, a statement from the FIH read.