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With Olympic dates set, Hockey India ready to prep

Last updated on: March 30, 2020 20:27 IST

'It's good we have certainty when the Olympics will be held and we can work towards that. We are all in the same campus and available for each other in these hard times, a new date for the Olympics is good news for all of us'.

Sjoerd Marijne, chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team, during a training session

IMAGE: Sjoerd Marijne, chief coach of the Indian women's hockey team, during a training session. Photograph: Hockey India/Instagram

Indian men's hockey team coach Graham Reid on Monday said the announcement of new dates for the Tokyo Olympics has given them clarity in chalking out a fresh action plan for the next 15 months.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which had postponed the Tokyo Games last week due to the rapidly-spreading COVID-19 pandemic, on Monday announced that the mega event will now run from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

"It's great to get some clarity about the new starting date for the Tokyo Olympics," Reid said.

"This allows us to begin the planning process to be ready for July next year. In the meantime, we are looking forward to getting through this current tough period and hope to be back out on the training field as soon as possible."

Sjoerd Marijne, chief coach of the Indian women's team, too welcomed the new schedule.

"It's good we have certainty when the Olympics will be held and we can work towards that. We are all in the same campus and available for each other in these hard times, a new date for the Olympics is good news for all of us," Marijne said.

"But for now, we are living by the day, staying strong mentally and physically and wait eagerly to get back to our normal routine. We are prepared to hit the reset button."

Both the Indian men and women's team core group is currently based out of Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru.

"We will be working closely with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Ministry, Youth Affairs & Sports and Sports Authority of India in this next 15 months to ensure both our teams have the best resources to achieve success at the Olympics," Hockey India president Mohammad Mushtaque Ahmad said.

All hockey activities are currently suspended across the globe due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has so far killed nearly 35,000.