Two-time Olympian and Asian Games gold medallist V R Raghunath felt that a current lot of Indian hockey players are better prepared for the Games than the ones who took part in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. In a candid conversation with Hockey TeCharcha, a podcast series launched by Hockey India in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, Raghunath reflected on India's campaign in Brazil five years ago.

"The Canada match which we drew cost us in 2016," he said, adding, "That result put us in a different qualification group. But I feel the current batch of players can handle the Olympics a lot better. The same batch of players have been around for seven-eight years now, they are in touch with European players. They can perform much better than Rio."

"In the Olympics, it comes down to one or two matches and how you get your rhythm right in the arena. I have seen teams keeping it simple and playing with a free mind. I'd tell the players not to think much about the occasion," the 32-year-old full-back said.

"The players are in the same age group and have been quarantined together for a long time so they are familiar with each other and have been winning Pro League games as well. Players like Rupinder and Manpreet were around in the previous edition as well. They have covered every area well," he added.

The member of the 2014 Asian Games gold medal-winning team was full of praise for current vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh, who took over drag-flick duties from Raghunath. "Harman had immediately arrived after the U-21 World Cup win. There were instructions from the coaches to take him under our wing; to protect him at least for 30-40 matches, so that he could get an idea of what international hockey is all about. We guided him and he grasped things very quickly. We could see the results in just 3-4 months. He started scoring as well. Rupinder Pal Singh and I tried to treat him like a brother and not as a player. Our coaches have molded us in such a way that the juniors are comfortable around the seniors. He has come a long way over the last four years, and I feel he has another 8-10 years of international Hockey in him. Varun Kumar and AmitRohidas have also entered the mix. This is good for Indian hockey as we are not sure when a player will be down with an injury," Raghunath recalled.