Hockey Olympic Qualifier Begins in Delhi

Hockey Olympic Qualifier will kick off at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi from Feb. 18-26, 2012. India is geared up to play Singapore in the first Olympic qualifier.

India having a record eight Olympic men's titles, suffered a setback four years ago when they failed to qualify to the 2008 Beijing Games for the first time in 80 years.

But a favorable draw and familiar conditions have made the 10th-ranked Indians a strong favorite for the lone ticket to London, which is up for grabs from the six-team competition, comprising Canada (14th), France (18th), Poland (19th), Italy (28th) and Singapore (41st).