Rio 2016: Hockey team up against Ireland
The women's team will also hope to continue a fairytale run that helped them to earn a berth at Rio after a gap of 36 years.
Rio de Janerio: Buoyed by strong performances in the run-up to the Rio Olympics, the Indian men’s team will look to break their 36-year-long medal jinx when the hockey competition begins here on Saturday.
Eight-time champions, India won their last Olympic gold at the 1980 Moscow Games. What followed were years of missed opportunities and then came the ignominy of failing to qualify for the Beijing Games.
Four years ago, they qualified but finished last and the Sreejesh-led side, who took a historic silver in the Champions Trophy, will eye redemption for the 2012 London debacle when they begin their campaign against Ireland in a potentially tricky encounter in Deodoro.
The women’s team will also hope to continue a fairytale run that helped them to earn a berth at Rio after a gap of 36 years.
Clubbed in a group comprising defending champions Germany, runners-up the Netherlands and Pan-Am toppers Argentina and Canada, the men’s team will have to get into rhythm quickly as any slip-up could derail their quarter-final hopes.
Oz, team to beat
Germany might be twice Olympic champions defending their title but top-ranked Australia will be the team to beat. Since 1992, Australia have won a medal at every Olympic tournament and the World Cup winners will be favourites for the gold medal.