Insisting that India is currently at par with or leing hockey-playing nations, four-time Olympian Dhanraj Pillay says he is confident of national team's qualification for next year's Tokyo Games. draw to determine matches of upcoming FIH Hockey Olympic qualifiers will be held on September 9 at International Hockey Federation (FIH) hequarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. It will be conducted by FIH CEO Thierry Weil and will be streamed live on FIH Facebook p. 14 men's and 14 women's teams, including India, will be involved in draw.

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Dhanraj Pillay confident about India presence at Tokyo 2020

"Right w, we (India) are at par with Australia, Germany, Holland, Argentina, Belgium and so y ( team) should t be scared to face any team and move ahe with full confidence," Pillay told reporters on Thursday night after attending a National Sports Day function organised by Maharashtra government.

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Pillay, who also played in four World Cups apart from four Asian Games, said way men's national team was performing right w, y would surely make it to Tokyo Games.

"It is very important that first we qualify for Olympics. It is t only my dream but that of entire hockey fraternity that Olympics medal should come to India because last was in 1980 Games. After that we have struggled to get a medal in Olympics," he ted.

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Dhanraj Pillay on Team India and past records

India won last medal in hockey at Olympics, a gold in 1980 summer Games at Moscow, but after that, country hasn't tasted any success at qurennial event. y h even failed to qualify for 2008 Beijing Olympics. former skipper feels real work for coach Graham Reid and his men would begin after qualifying for Olympics. 

" way team is performing and playing right w, I am confident that y will qualify for Olympics and after that ir (real) works starts because Olympics is a different ball game and you cant take even one match lightly. Points are important in every match and you will be playing 5-6 (teams) in alternate days," Pillay said.

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Pillay, who hails from Khki area in Pune, also heaped praise on Australian Reid, saying he was doing his job earnestly. "As of w he (Reid) is doing a good job. His job is to coach and he is doing job earnestly," Pillay signed off.