Manpreet knows it won't be easy to clinch the country's ninth Olympic hockey gold and first since the 1980 Moscow Games. But he believes a concerted team effort can achieve even the impossible.
A two-time Olympic gold-medallist (1948, London and 1952, Helsinki), the 95-year-old Datt died after battling age-related ailments in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The Two-time Olympic gold medallist died around 12.30 am at his residence in Santoshpur, Kolkata.
With less than 30 days to go for the Tokyo Games, the Indian team is gearing up for the marquee event.
The Indian hockey team are being considered as serious medal contenders and one of the prime reason for that is the flamboyant Kerala custodian's presence.
Reid is of the view that Indians, in general, are unaware of their own mental fortitude.
Amit Rohidas, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Sumit, Shamsher Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh and Lalit Kumar Upadhyay are the 10 players who will make their Olympic debut in Tokyo.
Manpreet is determined to pay tribute to the country's frontline workers by finishing on the podium in the Tokyo Games to be held from July 23 to August 8.
The Indian men's team will begin their campaign in Tokyo on July 24, against New Zealand in a first round-robin match.
The FIH announced the schedule for the 2021-22 season on Friday. This year's edition of the home-and-away League will start on 6 October when reigning women's world champions, the Netherlands, face Belgium.
India will still travel to Europe in May to play the Pro League matches against Spain (May 15-16) and Germany (May 22-23).
The 23-year-old, who earned his 50th international cap during India's tour of Argentina, played a big role in his side registering back-to-back wins against the reigning Olympic champions.
Eight-time champions India are looking to end an over four-decade-long Olympic medal drought in Tokyo this year.
India had won the last of their eight Olympic gold medals in the 1980 Moscow Olympics before the team endured a sharp slide in its fortunes.
India registered a comprehensive 3-0 win over Argentina on Sunday in Buenos Aires in the second match of the FIH Pro League.
Lalit Upadhyay, Rupinder Pal Singh and Dilpreet Singh were on target in the shoot-out, while goalkeeping stalwart Sreejesh came up with some breath-taking saves to fetch India a bonus point.
After being stuck at their base at the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru centre for the entire last year during the coronavirus outbreak, the Indians will finally get to play high-intensity international matches.
The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) was earlier forced to postpone the ACT for both men and women twice because of the pandemic.
The 22-member Indian team arrived here last week for the six-match tour against the Olympic champions.
The 18-day camp will conclude on March 31 before the team departs for the FIH Hockey Pro League against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
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