Yogeshwar Dutt: PV Sindhu, Men’s Hockey team, Vikas Krishnan, Manu Bhaker among medal hopefuls
Dutt has backed the men’s hockey team to have a successful Olympics campaign in Tokyo
Indian men’s hockey team have found success hard to come by after they won an Olympic gold way back in Moscow 1980. Since then, India’s best performance was in 1984 Los Angeles where they missed out on a podium finish as they took the fifth position.
However, there is a lot of positivity around the men’s hockey team who are working under the guidance of experienced coach Graham Reid and made a winning start to their Olympic campaign in Tokyo against New Zealand on Saturday morning, beating the Black Sticks 3-2. India have defeated every participating nation (11) at Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the last two years, except for Canada.
Yogeshwar Dutt, who won bronze medal in the 60 kg wrestling freestyle category at London 2012, opined that Indian men’s hockey team are in a good position to challenge for a medal at Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“After a long time, our men's hockey team has been playing very good. They are fourth in the rankings. Expectations will be there on them to get a medal after a long time,” he told Olympics.com.
The Padma Shri award winner also believes that India can win several medals in shooting where as many as 15 athletes would participate. The 38-year-old, who won gold medals at 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, also spoke highly of PV Sindhu and Vikas Krishan and backed them to bring home a medal.
“I think shooting is one sport from where we can expect a lot of medals. Manu Bhaker has been doing good, so she is one of the hopefuls. Boxing is also one spot where we have good contenders.
"Vikas (Krishan) can finish on the podium. His preparations have been very good. Then all our eyes will be on badminton as well. PV Sindhu has a good chance there. She is a world champion and this time also she should get a medal,” he expressed his thoughts.