Prior to selecting the final squad for the Paris Olympics, we will test out the best combinations: Harmanpreet Singh

Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the men’s hockey team, said on Tuesday that India would put its best tactics and lineups to the test during the FIH Pro League’s European leg. This is because it will be the last chance to narrow down the final roster for the Olympics in Paris.

The squad departed on Tuesday for the difficult league in Antwerp, Belgium, where the season’s victor will be decided. India, which is now third in the standings after Australia and the Netherlands, will face Argentina and Belgium in Antwerp from May 22–26. Matches versus Great Britain and Germany will take place in London from June 1–9.

Before the final Olympic team is chosen, we are testing out the best lineups. Therefore, the Pro League game is essential to our Paris preparations and to players’ chances of making the 16-man squad,” drag-flicker Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India statement before the team’s departure for Europe.

India, the bronze medalists from the Tokyo Olympics, raised questions about their readiness for the Paris Games this month when they lost all five of their matches in Australia.

Prior to Paris, Harmanpreet said that the team’s main goal would be to iron out any chinks in its armor.

The squad is eager to hit the road once again for another demanding trip in which we will face the top Pro League teams around the globe. We will be traveling fresh off a rigorous training camp where we played many intra-squad matches and concentrated on fitness over the last three weeks.

“The team is coming together nicely, and the Pro League is a crucial competition for us to work out any kinks in our performance before the Olympics,” said Harmanpreet.

The captain said that the Pro League would provide him with hints about the opponents’ tactics in addition to assisting him in evaluating his team’s preparations.

“As well as Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, our Olympic pool includes Argentina and Belgium. In Antwerp, we play Argentina and Belgium.

After placing third in the previous several Pro League seasons, Harmanpreet was hoping his squad would win the championship this time.

We have finished in third place in the last several Pro League seasons. We are really hopeful that we will win this time around, and it would be amazing to do so,” he remarked.