London: Back in the Olympics after eight years, the Indian hockey team will look to relive the glory days when it opens its campaign against the formidable Netherlands on Monday.
Eight-time Olympic gold medallists India, currently ranked 10th in world hockey, are confronted with the aggressive world number three Dutch, whose robust European tactics can be quite a handful.
London evokes fond memories as it was the city in which independent India scripted its maiden sporting success story by winning the Olympic hockey title in 1948.
Winners of the 1996 and 2000 Olympic titles, the Dutch are the only team after India to have won successive gold medals.
India won Olympic titles in a row between 1928 and 1956, but are now striving to earn their first semifinal berth in 32 years since the gold medal in the 1980 Olympics.
World champions Australia start as the title favourites in men’s hockey with reigning Olympic champions Germany rated as the other formidable contender.
Despite losing several of their established stars in recent years, the Netherlands are still considered just a notch behind Australia and Germany.
Indian captain Bharat Chetri said his team has worked hard and was aware of the significance of the return to London for the Olympic Games.
“We want to produce a good display. We are eager to show that the London connection with Indian hockey is not just symbolic,” he said. (PTI)