India's men's hockey team has been placed in Pool B for the Paris 2024 Olympics, alongside champions Belgium, the draw released on Wednesday (Mar 6) revealed.

Experts have dubbed Pool B the 'group of death' as alongside India (world no. 4) and Belgium (world no.2), the likes of Australia (world no. 5), Argentina (world no. 7), New Zealand (world no. 10) and Ireland (world no. 12) have also been classified. India, the 12-time medallists in field hockey, qualified for the 2024 edition of the Summer Olympics after winning the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the People's Republic of China. The men-in-blue will open the campaign against New Zealand on July 27. Notably, the last time India played NZ in its opening game at the Olympics was in Mexico City, in 1968. The next encounter will be against Argentina, followed by Ireland and Belgium with India's Achilles heel in such tournaments, Australia, squaring up in the final league encounter. All matches will take place at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Paris. Indian men's hockey team's schedule for the 2024 Paris Olympics:

• July 27 - India vs New Zealand (9 pm IST)
• July 29 - India vs Argentina (4:15 pm IST)
• July 30 - India vs Ireland (4:45 pm IST)
• August 1 - India vs Belgium (1:30 pm IST)
• August 2 - India vs Australia (4:45 pm IST)

Meanwhile, Pool A of the tournament will feature the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France and South Africa. Despite the tough draw, hopes will be high from the Indian contingent, especially after its stellar performance at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. The Indian team ended a 41-year medal drought by clinching the bronze medal after staging a stunning comeback against Germany. India's renaissance India's renaissance in the hockey world is an endearing feat as the country once ruled the sport, winning six consecutive golds from 1928 to 1956.