India men’s hockey team to open Olympics campaign against NZ

The women’s team will be up against the mighty Netherlands in its first match on the same day. Eight-time champion India has been clubbed alongside Australia, Argentina, Spain, New Zealand and host Japan in a tough Pool A in the men’s competition, while Pool B consists of Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Canada and South Africa.

The Tokyo Olympics was originally scheduled to be held in 2020 but has been postponed by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Indian men’s team, which won its last of the eight Olympic golds in 1980 Moscow, will next meet Australia on July 25, followed by matches against Spain (July 27), reigning Olympic champion Argentina (July 29) and Japan (July 30). In the women’s competition, India is placed in Pool A alongside Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and South Africa.