OUR BEST MEDAL CHANCE IN TOKYO, SAYS MANPREET

BENGALURU: The Indian men’s hockey team is clocking long hours in the sun to be ready for the heat and humidity that awaits them in Tokyo during this year’s Olympics, says skipper Manpreet Singh who is confident that his team will peak at just the right time.

India have won eight Olympic gold medals in the past, but their last top finish came way back in 1980 Moscow Games.

“We strongly believe we have the best chance to win a medal at the Olympics and this belief is keeping everyone motivated and optimistic,” Manpreet said on the occasion of the 75-day countdown for the Tokyo Olympics which opens on July 23.

“Our training has been planned in such a manner that we peak at the right time and also we are clocking long hours in the sun to get our bodies acclimatised to the hot conditions in Tokyo.” Meanwhile, Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal is relieved that all seven players, who had tested positive for Covid-19 recently, will resume training from next week after recovering.