The Indian men’s hockey team has brought an end to the 41-year long draught of a hockey medal at Olympics on 5th August (Thursday). The team created history by defeating Germany with 5-4 and winning a bronze medal match at Tokyo 2020 Games.
The last time India won an Olympic medal in hockey was in 1980 when they won gold at Moscow Games. The eight-time former gold-winners are finally bringing home a medal after 41 years.
India took a two-goal lead at the end of the third quarter after coming back from a two-goal deficit. Even though Germany reduced the deficit in the q4 by securing a goal from the penalty corner they couldn’t win. Indian players strongly defended their one-goal lead. Even though with just seconds left for the game to end, Germany was awarded a penalty corner. PR Sreejesh successfully repelled the ball away from the goal as Indian players fell to the ground in pure joy, finally ending the long wait for a hockey medal at the Olympics.
Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal getters for India.
Meanwhile Germany’s goals were scored by Timur Oruz (2nd), Niklas Wellen (24th), Benedikt Furk (25th) and Lukas Windfeder (48th).
The Manpreet Singh led team celebrated the moment with their Australian coach Graham Reid.
After 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games this is India’s third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. This was India’s 12th hockey medal overall at the Olympics. India has now won 12 medals (8 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze) in men’s hockey at Olympics. India overtook Germany’s tally of 11 medals (4 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the men’s hockey team after their win by tweeting, “Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men’s Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team.”