Rio de Janeiro, Sep 25 (IANS): Argentina women's hockey team captain Carla Rebecchi said that only hard work would allow the team to break their Olympic gold medal duck.

'Las Leonas' have taken home other medals at the last four Olympic Games and are now determined to win the gold for the first time in Rio de Janeiro next year, reports Xinhua.

"Our goal is always to make the podium and, obviously, another goal is to win the gold medal which is what's missing in Argentinean hockey," Rebecchi said on Thursday.

Last year's retirement of long-time captain Luciana Aymar has coincided with a rebuilding phase in Argentinean hockey and Rebecchi does not expect instant miracles.

"(Consolidating a team) takes time, work and above all training. You have to give 100 percent to training so that the younger ones build up experience. International matches and tours also help get the team as strong as possible," the 31-year-old said.

Argentina are one of 10 teams to have qualified so far for the women's hockey tournament in Rio. The others are New Zealand, South Korea, Great Britain, China, Germany, Australia, the United States, the Netherlands and India.