Chennai : For former India midfielder Mohammed Riaz, the Sydney 2000 Olympics remain a reminder of how brutally small margins can alter sporting history.
India were just two minutes away from a semifinal berth when Poland scored a late equaliser in their quarterfinal match, ending India’s medal hopes. More than 25 years later, Riaz admits the moment still defines his career. “I will regret it for the rest of my life,” he said.
Source: Rediff.com
What deepens the pain, Riaz believes, is the quality of that Indian side. Featuring players such as Dhanraj Pillay, Mukesh Kumar, Dilip Tirkey and Baljit Saini, the Sydney squad is often regarded as India’s strongest since the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold-winning team. Yet the missed opportunity marked the start of a difficult period, including a poor showing at Athens 2004 and failure to qualify for Beijing 2008.
Source: Rediff.com
Today, Indian hockey has finally rediscovered its footing. The men’s team is now consistently ranked among the world’s top five and has claimed back-to-back Olympic bronze medals at Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024. For Riaz, the resurgence offers redemption — and a belief that India can now aim higher, with Los Angeles 2028 firmly in focus.
Source: Rediff.com
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