Indian hockey team take on NZ as they eye successive medals in Olympics

Placed in a 'pool of death', the India men's hockey team will have to punch above its weight to better the colour of the bronze medal from the previous edition when it open its Paris Olympics campaign against New Zealand on Saturday.

The expectations are high from the Indians after they managed to break a 41-year-old medal jinx at the Tokyo Olympics by bagging a historic bronze.

It was a landmark moment for a rich hockey nation like India, who have a record eight Olympic gold medals to boast of.

And the bronze has only raised expectations of second consecutive podium finish, but it would be easier said than done.

The Indians are clubbed along side reigning champions Belgium, mighty Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland in a tough Pool B, while Pool A consists of Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, South Africa and hosts France.

Four teams from each pool will progress to the quarterfinals.

The first three pool matches of India against New Zealand, Argentina (on Jul