Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning former German hockey star Moritz Fuerste believes the Indian team were good enough to play the final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Harmanpreet Singh-led side lost 2-3 to Germany in the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics after which they beat Spain 2-1 to clinch the bronze. “India are right up there with the top five-six countries, who compete for medals internationally. They did a decent job [in Paris] but were unlucky to lose to Germany in that semi-final. They could’ve easily qualified for the final. I expected them to do it. On the semi-final day, anything can happen, but as long as you’re in the mix for winning medals, it’s all good,” Fuerste, 40, who is in the city for the inaugural edition of HYROX, an obstacle-ridden race co-founded by him and held recently at Goregaon, told mid-day.