New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) He used to be a resident threat to Indian hockey teams of late ’70s and early ’80s but Hassan Sardar, Pakistan’s master centre forward of yesteryears is amazed to see the maturity shown by the national team from the neighbouring nation in recent years.

In his opinion Australia, Belgium and Netherlands are other strong contenders apart from India.

The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup gets underway in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from Friday. India is pitted in group D along with England, Spain and Wales.

Olympic gold medallist Sardar, who mesmerized the Indian hockey loving public with 11 goals during the 1982 World Cup in Mumbai, feels that there is not much difference between Harmanpreet Singh led team and other top nations.

“I had said before the Tokyo Olympics that this Indian team is capable of winning medals at the highest level. They won bronze but there is hardly any major difference in top 4 teams in world hockey now,” Sardar told

Source: PTI News