WATCH | Tokyo Bound India's Men & Women Hockey Team Receive Warm Welcome At IGI Airport

Tokyo 2020: It was heart-warming to see the players being honoured in this fashion, Watch the video below.

Image: Twitter/ @Media_SAI

New Delhi: The airport staff at the Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi gave a warm welcome to the departing Indian men's and women's hockey teams. Both the teams were heading for Tokyo to represent India at the Olympics. 

It was heart-warming to see the players being honoured in this fashion. India's hockey team has been most successful at the Olympics over the years. India's men's team has won eight gold medals with hockey. The last gold medal came in the year 1980. 

Take a look at the video below:

Just In!

India's Men and Women Hockey team arrive at IGI Airport, Delhi.

Take a look at the warm welcome they received! #Cheer4India@PMOIndia @ianuragthakur @NisithPramanik @WeAreTeamIndia @TheHockeyIndia @manpreetpawar07 @imranirampal @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/krNa4DOUVk

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 17, 2021

This kind of reception from the IGI staff and the general public will surely boost the confidence of India's players. The Indian men's hockey team will begin their Olympic campaign on July 24 against New Zealand in their first Pool A match.

"The team is absolutely excited. They have all worked really hard for this moment and it is time to convert the sacrifices made over the last couple of months and years into desirable results in Tokyo," Graham Reid said to ANI.

As I have always said, our aim will be to perform best match-by-match. The team is mentally prepared to face the challenges on and off the field in Tokyo," he added.

On the other hand, the women's team who have qualified for Olympics for a second consecutive time will play their first match on July 24 against the Netherlands. The team will play a total of five league matches. Germany, Britain, Ireland and South Africa will be the teams that India will play against.