India are serious medal contenders in Rio: MM Somaya

Former India hockey skipper MM Somaya is optimistic that the national men's team has shown enough indications that it stood a very good chance of ascending the podium at next month's Rio Olympics, a feat previously achieved by the nation last in 1980 Moscow Games

Former India hockey skipper MM Somaya is optimistic that the national men's team has shown enough indications that it stood a very good chance of ascending the podium at next month's Rio Olympics, a feat previously achieved by the nation last in 1980 Moscow Games.

Hockey greats MM Somaya and Eliza Nelson at a function arranged by the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai at the Cricket Club of India yesterday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

"India are serious contenders for a medal in Rio. Coach Roelant Oltmans has done wonders with the team. He has brought a big change in the way the team plays with emphasis on system of play rather than depending on individuals," he said yesterday.

Somaya spoke on India's prospects in men's hockey at Rio along with 1980 Moscow Games' women's captain Eliza Nelson at a function organised by the Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai at the Cricket Club of India here.

Pointing out that he was pretty impressed with the way India played in the recent Champions Trophy where they finished runners-up to Australia, the three-time Olympian — who led in the 1988 Seoul Games — said Oltmans changes the system of play not only during a tournament but even midway during a match.

"He can change the formation for every game depending on the opposition and even within a match."

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