New Delhi: The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams were accorded a warm welcome by the airport staff at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. Both the teams were on their way to Tokyo to represent India at the Olympics.
It was heartwarming to see the players being honored in this way. India’s hockey team has been the most successful in the Olympics over the years. India’s men’s team has won eight gold medals along with hockey. The last gold medal came in the year 1980.
Take a look at the video below:
in bus!
India men’s and women’s hockey team arrives at IGI Airport, Delhi.
Take a look at their warm welcome! #cheer4india@PMOIndia @ianuragthakur @Nisith Pramanik @WeAreTeamIndia @TheHockeyIndia @manpreetpower07 @mranirampal @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/krNa4DOUVk
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 17, 2021
Such a welcome from the IGI staff and the general public will surely boost the confidence of the players of India. The Indian men’s hockey team will begin its Olympic campaign against New Zealand on July 24 in their first Pool A match.
Graham Reid told ANI, “The team is absolutely excited. They have worked really hard for this moment and the time has come to translate the sacrifices made over the last few months and years into desirable results in Tokyo.”
As I have always said, our aim will be to do our best match by match. The team is mentally prepared to face the challenges on and off the field in Tokyo.”
At the same time, the women’s team, which has qualified for the Olympics for the second time in a row, will play its first match against the Netherlands on 24 July. The team will play a total of five league matches. Germany, Britain, Ireland and South Africa will be the teams India will play against.
.