Talking after a friendly match with New Zealand the ace goal keeper said he was keenly looking forward to the start of the hockey competition and added that there was n question of him or his players becoming complacent “In Olympics you can underestimate your rival at your own cost."
Asked how he was feeling to lead the National team in this mega event, and his reply was :"It is really a great honour. I will be the captain, but on the field I will not wear the captain (arm) band.
The four players named will wear the captain band, which will help us take the leadership quality on the field. Each position, defence, midfield and forward, will have one captain so those players will take initiative and lead the team from everywhere. That is a good strategy."
To a query but team’s chance in the Olympics he said winning a medal here is my ultimate aim "That's my life. It's a dream. If you look at the Indian history (in men's hockey at the Olympic Games), it is a very prestigious thing for our country.
“ I think it is more important nowadays because our hockey fans are missing it. It has been almost 30 years (Moscow 1980 Olympic Games) since we have won so it is most important, and we are really working hard for that dream."
Earlier chief coach Rolent Oltmans promised a better performance by the team at the Olympics. "For me the Olympic Games is all about winning, nothing else."
Elaborating further he said “ Many years ago someone else said something different, it's about participation. But nowadays in the modern Olympic Games it's all about winning and that's also why I went to India and accepted the challenge when they offered (the coaching job to) me to see if there is any possibility to come close to (getting back) to the history of Indian hockey (at the Olympic Games).
He said he was very satisfied with his stint as coach of the India team: "For me it's a huge challenge because I believe in the players. They have unbelievable skills, skills
“I have never seen in the world sometimes. But in their minds they are not always prepared to execute them in the right moment. That is the big challenge, how to make them aware of what to do, when."
Oltmans said he is happy that he accepted this challenge of rebuilding the team "And that's what it's all about. Sometimes we are very successful at that and then we play like hell; so good.
“But sometimes I want to go behind the curtains, because I see them executing things and I say 'Guys, what is this? We never do anything like this And all of a sudden (the lapse) has come back and to be honest, you never know when it's coming back."
Asked if he was not worried by try inconsistencies in his team and his reply was "You always work on it and discuss things and watch videos together and they have their own discussions to make them aware of what we are expecting and it's getting better and better.
“I'm sure the team has improved, no doubt about that."
"But you need to improve at a level to compete with the best teams in the world and that is still the challenge for India, especially knowing the history of the Olympic Games (India have won a record eight Olympic Games gold medals in men's hockey)."