Archery contingent hopes to end India's Olympic medal drought

Former captain and Hockey India president, Dilip Tirkey, has high hopes for Indian men's hockey team skipper Harmanpreet Singh ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics. Tirkey believes that if the star drag-flicker performs at his best, India has a strong chance of improving on their bronze medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. India had ended a 41-year wait for an Olympic medal by defeating Germany to clinch bronze at the Tokyo Games. With the Paris Olympics set to start on July 26, expectations are high for the Harmanpreet-led team to achieve an even better result.

"I have full faith in (goalkeeper PR) Sreejesh and in all the young players in the team. Five players are going to make their debut at the Olympics, but they too have good experience in international hockey. We are expecting a lot from captain Harmanpreet; he is a world-class drag-flicker. If he gets going, there is nothing to worry about," Tirkey stated at the 'Glory of Five Rings' event, organized by Manav Rachna Educational Institutions.

The event also featured notable sports personalities such as former women's hockey skipper Rani Rampal and ex-world champion trap shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu. Tirkey emphasized the importance of drag-flickers in securing victories, noting that their performance will be crucial.