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Sreejesh & co begin quest to end 36-year wait

India face first-timers Ireland in a tricky opening clash in their mens’ hockey Pool B encounter on Saturday.

India face first-timers Ireland in a tricky opening clash in their mens’ hockey Pool B encounter on Saturday.

Buoyed by strong performances in the run-up to the Rio Olympics, the Indian men’s team will look to break their 36-year-long medal jinx when the hockey competition begins here on Saturday.

Eight-time champions, India won their last Olympic gold at the 1980 Moscow Games. What followed were years of missed opportunities and then came the ignominy of failing to qualify for Beijing Games.

Four years ago, they qualified but finished last and the Sreejesh P.R.-led side, who took a historic silver in the Champions Trophy, will eye redemption for the 202 London debacle when they begin their campaign against Ireland in a potentially tricky encounter at the Olympic Hockey Stadium in Deodoro.

The women’s team will also hope to continue a fairytale run that helped them to earn a berth at Rio after a gap of 36 years.

Clubbed in a group comprising defending champions Germany, runners-up the Netherlands and Pan-Am toppers Argentina and Canada, the men’s team will have to get into rhythm quickly as any slip-up could derail their quarter-final hopes.

Ireland are first-timers at the Olympics as they made the cut finishing third ahead of Britain and Belgium in the European Championship, and in the World League they beat Pakistan and Malaysia.

Australia the team to beat Germany might be twice Olympic champions defending their title but top-ranked Australia will be the team to beat.

Since 1992, Australia have won a medal at every Olympic tournament and the World Cup winners will be the favourites to clinch what would be their second gold medal.

The Kookaburras only managed bronze in London 2012 despite being overwhelming favourites, triggering a lot of soul searching from the men in gold and green.

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