NEW DELHI, Feb 29: Eight-time champions India face a desperate fight to avoid missing the Olympics for the first time when they embark on the men’s qualifying tournament in Santiago, Chile, on Saturday.

A formidable force during a bygone era, India expect to find former champions Britain their biggest threat in the second of three qualifiers, with only the winner progressing to the Beijing Games in August.

Austria, Mexico, Russia and hosts Chile round off the field for the competition in Santiago.

It would be disastrous for India if they fail to qualify, although Britain, ranked a step higher than their Asian rivals in the world, have done better of late.

Gold medallists in 1988, Britain were fifth at the 2006 World Cup in Germany where India slumped to 11th.

Former captain and coach Vasudevan Baskaran said India were best-placed to qualify, however, and urged the team to show courage.

“There is pressure on the team and we have to beat Britain because the other teams are not very good,” Baskaran, captain when they won their last Olympic title in Moscow in 1980, told Reuters.

Baskaran said failing to qualify would set Indian hockey back, but it could not be seen as the end of the world. He said India will have to contend with Olympic history as their eight wins are the most in a team sport in the games.

India failed to clinch an automatic berth after they failed to reach the 2006 Doha Asian Games final. A defeat to eventual runners-up China eventually put them out of the medals for the first time in the games.

Britain’s buildup has included playing in the elite Champions Trophy late last year after the tournament was moved to Malaysia from Pakistan due to security concerns and the field expanded.—Reuters