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Goalkeeper Pathak Wants To Use HIL As A Steppingstone For Glory At Olympics, World Cup

By IANS News December 27, 2024 • 19:04 PM View: 131

Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium: As he gears up for the Hockey India League (HIL) starting in Rourkela on Saturday, India's international goalkeeper Krishan Pathak has one mission -- to establish himself as India's best-ever goalkeeper and represent the country in the Olympics.

Despite being part of the Indian men's hockey team for the last 6-7 years alongside PR Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak has one regret -- he could not make it to the last two Olympic Games, as India won successive bronze medals.

For the Olympics, the squad strength is pegged at 16, and teams invariably go with one goalkeeper. Both in the Tokyo Games in 2021 and Paris in 2024, Pathak lost out to the experienced Sreejesh and was either a stand-by or reserved goalkeeper, thus missing out on the medals.