India vs New Zealand live score, Paris Olympics men's hockey: Harmanpreet and team aim for positive start

India vs New Zealand live score, latest updates on the Paris Olympics men's hockey match: The Indian ice hockey team has arrived in Paris looking to end a 44-year gold medal drought. Harmanpreet Singh's team will kick off their campaign in Paris against world number 10 New Zealand in what is expected to be a thrilling match.

India is the most successful Olympic hockey team, having won 12 medals in the sport, but looking back at the past few decades, they have not made much of an impression on the big stage. India last won an Olympic hockey gold medal in 1980. However, the Indian team recently made a comeback, winning a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, bringing joy to avid fans of the sport who were waiting to see the team on the podium.

India won their first gold medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, beating the Netherlands 3-0, and continued to dominate thereafter, winning Olympic gold medals in 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980. In addition to their eight gold medals, India also won a silver in 1960, three bronzes in 1968 and 1972, and a gold medal in the last Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.

The Paris Olympics will not be an easy one for the Blue men, who are placed in Pool B with ice hockey powerhouses Belgium (world number 2), Australia (world number 3), Argentina (world number 7), New Zealand (world number 10) and Ireland (world number 11).

However, the athletes have undergone rigorous physical and mental training in preparation for this major sporting event, and to strengthen their mental strength, they underwent a rigorous three-day training camp at the home base of famous Swiss adventurer Mike Horn.

The training camp at Horn's base has been arranged by renowned South African mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, who will be facilitating the Indian men's hockey team in Paris.

Upton was part of the support staff that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup in India and has now been roped in to take on the role of mental conditioning coach for the hockey team.

The ongoing Olympics will be special for one more reason. Veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has announced his retirement from football after the Paris 2024 Games, bringing an end to a career spanning 18 years. Meanwhile, he was a key figure in a historic moment for the national team. His teammates will be looking forward to giving him a grand send-off with a medal.

The 36-year-old is a veteran of 328 international appearances, including three Olympic Games, multiple Commonwealth Games and a World Cup, and will compete in his fourth Olympic Games in Paris from July 26.

However, the Men in Blue will be feeling a bit of pressure after their recent disappointing results in the Pro League. In Europe, India managed just two wins against Argentina and Germany and finished seventh in the Pro League.