Five, six. Pick up sticks

The Asian Games are around the corner. The Paris Olympics are on the line. The Indian men’s hockey team is calm, confident and raring to go

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India has been playing hockey since 1850, yet, for some readers of this magazine, it's likely the modern hockey story began only in 2014.

That was the year the Indian men's team won gold at the Asian Games, defeating Pakistan in the final. At this year's Asian Games, India will go up against Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, from September 24. The muchanticipated India vs Pakistan game is scheduled for September 30.

In hockey, India has won the Asian Games twice. Pakistan has won a record eight times. So, anticipation is high. But the stakes are higher. The team that wins here qualifies for the Paris Olympics 2024.