Hockey star Mandeep Singh on Olympics: Team in good shape

India’s Mandeep Singh (right) during a FIH Pro League match against Argentina in Buenos Aires recently

Indian hockey team forward Mandeep Singh has said that its recent performance against reigning Olympic champions Argentina is a "huge confidence booster" and the team is shaping up well for the Tokyo Games.

India won both their matches against Argentina in the first FIH Hockey Pro League and two out of the four practice games on the tour, which was held from April 6 to 14.

"Putting up a great performance against the Olympic gold medallists is certainly a huge confidence booster for us," Mandeep, who had scored a goal in India's 3-0 win in the second FIH Pro League match, said in a release issued by Hockey India.

Successful Europe tours

"We played very well against Germany and Great Britain as well and it was great to back that up with a brilliant tour of Argentina. We have attained a great rhythm in our last two tours, and we are currently working on a few aspects that we could have done better in our recent matches."

Mandeep said the coordination among players during the tours of Argentina and Europe was a huge plus point for the team. "When a team plays matches after a long break, a team could lose its coordination. However, it was great to see how we all found our coordination quickly and gelled very well as a team when we played each of our matches this year. "The team is shaping up really well at the moment. We just have to keep focussing on the basics and keep moving forward with each practice session." Mandeep, 26, said the Indian team's aim is to do well at the Olympics which is just three months away.

Sole focus is Tokyo

"Our sole focus is the Olympics and we are totally on track to put up a great performance." The Pro League matches between India and Great Britain, scheduled for May 8-9 in London, were postponed last week following the UK government's decision to add India to the ‘red list' in wake the of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are fortunate to be training for the Olympics in a safe and secure environment at the SAI campus in Bangalore during a very difficult time for our country," said Mandeep, who had tested positive last August.

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