The India hockey team made it to the finals of the qualifiers after winning their last pool match against home nation Chile and they will look to push for a win in the final against Great Britain -- who qualified for this clash after defeating India on Thursday 6th March, 2008. It is a do or die match for the team as they take on the Britain team in the final qualifier on Sunday 9th March, 2008 to book a place in the Beijing Olympics.
Since 1928, when hockey as a discipline was introduced in Olympics, India have never failed to qualify. It will be the lowest point in Indian Hockey's history, if the men fail to qualify and the loss on 6th March will only give Britain a pyschological advantage before the final. Both the teams topped the table and therefore qualified to play the big final. Only one team will qualify for the Olympics from this tournament and so far team India have won four games in the competition as they defeated Russia, Austria, Mexico and Chile convincingly.
India's Chief Coach -- Joaquim Carvalho -- is confident that his team can make the 2008 Beijing Olympics depsite the loss to Great Britain in the earlier pool match. Carvalho said that it was important to understand Great Britan's gameplan and after havibng played them his team is confident that they can pull off a victory agaisnt Great Britan in the finals and qualify for the Olympics. He also added that the team is aware of what Britain is capable of and that the team will qualify for the Olympics.