‘India unlucky to lose to Germany in Paris’

German players (in black) celebrate their semi-final win over India at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Pic/AFP

Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning former German hockey star Moritz Fuerste believes the Indian team were good enough to play the final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Harmanpreet Singh-led side lost 2-3 to Germany in the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics after which they beat Spain 2-1 to clinch the bronze. "India are right up there with the top five-six countries, who compete for medals internationally. They did a decent job [in Paris] but were unlucky to lose to Germany in that semi-final. They could've easily qualified for the final. I expected them to do it. On the semi-final day, anything can happen, but as long as you're in the mix for winning medals, it's all good," Fuerste, 40, who is in the city for the inaugural edition of HYROX, an obstacle-ridden race co-founded by him and held recently at Goregaon, told mid-day.

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Moritz Fuerste at the HYROX fitness race in Goregaon recently

Credit to Hockey India League

Fuerste, who was part of Germany's 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics gold medal-winning teams, feels Indian hockey has progressed massively since the 2012 Games, thanks mainly to the franchise-based Hockey India League (HIL).

"Indian hockey has come a long way in the last few years. They were struggling until the 2012 Olympics in London, where they finished close to the bottom [India finished last]. But ever since the Hockey India League started [in 2013], they have made great progress. They have won two [Olympic] bronze medals on the men's side and the women are progressing too. The Hockey India League is really important for the Indian players as they learn from international players how to play the game better, apart from improving the individual skills that they possess," added Fuerste, who was the marquee player when Ranchi Rhinos won the inaugural edition of the HIL in 2013.

More medals to come

With the FIH World Cup coming up next year (August 14 to 30 in Belgium and the Netherlands), Fuerste, a World Cup-winner, is hoping India can continue its medal-winning streak. "I hope this Indian team can keep working hard. They have a good chance of winning medals everywhere, not just at the Olympics,"
concluded Fuerste.