Exclusive: 'Indian Men's Hockey Team Isn't Ready For Paris 2024 At This Stage,' Says 1972 Munich Olympics Medallist MP Ganesh

It wasn't the result that the Indian men's hockey team or the fans would have wanted as Australia whitewashed them in the 5-match Test series Down Under. The sad part is the Harmanpreet Singh-led side conceded 16 goals in this series and only scored 7. It is a matter of concern because there is only some time left for the Paris Olympics.

Since India arrived in Perth, there was a glimmer of hope for a series victory, given their drought since 2014. However, by the end of the five Tests, the hosts completed a whitewash of the Indian side which looked undercooked throughout the series.

In the last match of the series, the Indian men's hockey team did put up a brave fight before losing 3-2 against a dominant Kookaburras side. Captain Harmanpreet (4') and Boby Singh Dhami (53’) found the back of the net for India on Saturday (April 13) in the final game.

Former India head coach MP Ganesh discussed India's performance exclusively with myKhel, emphasising the need for proper planning for the mega event in Paris. He noted the presence of many senior players in the team and highlighted the lack of rotation in the squad for international trips. Ganesh further suggested that 50 per cent of the team for the next Olympics should be composed of junior players to address this issue and improve planning for future competitions.

MP Ganesh said, "Winning and losing are part of the game. I believe we should properly plan for the Paris Olympics. In the team, there are many senior players, and on every trip abroad, the same team goes. Of course, juniors are also included, which is fine, but from the past Olympics to the next Olympics, 50% of the team should comprise the junior team. The team's planning is lacking."

The 77-year-old Ganesh, who was a member when the Indian team won the bronze medal in the 1972 Munich Olympics, said, "At this stage, India is not ready for the Paris Olympics. We can't afford to lose five matches continuously to one team, as I mentioned earlier, we don't have any plan."

In the upcoming FIH Pro League, India will face Argentina, Belgium, Germany, and Great Britain. These matches will serve as the final preparation before the Paris Olympics. When asked about how India will change their strategy, Asian Games medalist MP Ganesh replied, "Where is the time for experimentation? By now, they should have finalised the 22-25 players. The performance is unacceptable."

The Australian team has always been a headache for the Indian team, whether it was during the Tokyo Olympics, where they defeated India 7-1, or in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where the Kookaburras demolished the Indian team 7-0 in the finals.

With the recent 5-0 series mauling, asked if it is indeed so difficult for the Indian team to defeat Australia. MP Ganesh remains confident that defeating Australia is not an impossible task for Team India. He recalled instances when Indians successfully outplayed the Aussies in tournaments, citing specific players and victories

He said, "Definitely not. I still remember when Australia was handled well by our players. Rawat (Rajinder Singh) was the goalkeeper, Pargat Singh was a full-back, and we defeated Australia in the Champions Trophy in Australia. In many tournaments, we have defeated Australia. It's only about the tactics. So, it's not difficult to beat Australia, but you have to change your plan, and that's all I can say."

Australia and India are placed in Pool B for the men's hockey tournament at the Paris Olympics. Their encounter is scheduled for August 2, marking their final group match. Despite the setbacks, the Indian team must regroup, learn from their mistakes, and channel their focus towards a more determined performance in Paris.