India’s Men’s Hockey team’s leader Harmanpreet Singh encouraged people to stop cherishing the bronze in the Paris Olympics. The euphoria of winning the second successive bronze medal for the Indian Hockey Team has to be deemed, as the team India will now face the challenge to retain the title for the Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir, China in the upcoming month. 

Team India is completely gearing up and preparing to become the Asian Champion, which is scheduled to start from 8th to 17th September. The team left for China on Tuesday, in the early hours. 

When asked about the preparation the leader stated that - "With a brief break after the Paris Olympics, the team is ready to take on the best hockey playing nations in Asia and prove its mettle.”

Continuing his statement the skipper said  - "We had a good outing in Paris but hockey is a very close game, we cannot rest on our laurels, The aim will be to play high-octane hockey and retain our title." 

Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, and the host country China are set to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy. 

India will play their first match against China on 8th September, and against Japan on  9th September. Against Malaysia on 11th September, and against Korea on 12th September. Then on 14th September India will face Pakistan. 

The semi-finals are scheduled for 16th September.  Followed by the awaited finals on 17th September.