Impression of Indian hockey team conceding late goals has changed: Iqbal

The general impression that the Indian hockey team concedes late goals has changed with its second successive Olympic bronze medal and the Harmanpreet Singh-led side is one of the best in the world in all aspects, feels the legendary Zafar Iqbal.

Iqbal, a gold medallist at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and captain of the 1982 Asian Games silver-winning Indian team, is hoping for an uptick in the game's profile in the country after the bronze medals in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

"The general impression before was that India is a team that concedes goals late in games but that has changed now, we are one of the best teams in the world in all aspects," Iqbal said in a Hockey India release.

"Back in our era, hockey had an immense following. Events like the Nehru Gold Cup, Asian Games and other international matches drew a lot of supporters and palpable excitement always followed the huge stadiums we played in."

Talking about the India vs Germany matches to be played at the Major Dhyan Ch