Harmanpreet Singh's Indian hockey team will have to attend to some unfinished business from the Paris Olympic Games when they take on reigning World Cup winner Germany in a two-match bilateral series at the iconic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Germany had defeated India in a semifinal match in the Paris Olympics. India then defeated Spain in the third-place match to claim the bronze medal while Germany lost to the Netherlands in the final and had to settle for the silver medal.
The first match of the India and Germany series on Wednesday is set to be a landmark moment as international hockey returns to the capital after a decade-long hiatus. The Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium last hosted an international match during the Hockey World League final in January 2014, making this event even more special.
The India vs Germany series promises to deliver intense and exciting hockey, as both teams share a fierce rivalry. Since 2013, the two sides have faced each other 19 times, with India winning 8 matches and Germany 7. While Germany, who have done well recently by winning the World Cup and bagging silver in the Paris Olympics, will look to continue their dominance, India will be eager to avenge their narrow 3-2 loss in the semifinals in Paris.
For the Indian men's hockey team, chief coach Craig Fulton, this series carries special significance. The South African made his international debut as a 21-year-old at the 1995 Indira Gandhi Gold Cup, held at the same stadium. His return to this historic venue, now as head coach of the Indian national team, is a full-circle moment in his career. After 29 years, Fulton brings his wealth of experience and leadership to a team that has shown significant improvement under his
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