Indian Hockey team wins Bronze at Tokyo Olympics
Whole of India is celebrating the brilliant performance by the Indian Hockey team following an exciting 5-4 victory over Germany at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Overcome with emotions skipper Manpreet Singh said, “We worked very hard in the last fifteen months when some of us even got Covid.”
After leading India to its first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years, Manpreet Singh dedicated the historic triumph to the country’s doctors and health-care workers, who have worked tirelessly to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bronze medal gave India its 12th hockey medal in the Olympics. It was in Germany only when in 1936 Olympics held in Berlin that the great hockey player Dhyan Chand had won his third gold medal, first being in Amsterdam in 1928 and second one in Los Angeles in 1932. Fourth Gold was in 1948 in London, fifth in Helsinki in 1952, sixth in 1956 Melbourne Olympics, seventh in Tokyo in 1964 and eighth in Moscow in 1980. Bronze medal in the current Tokyo Olympics has brought the glory back for the Indian hockey team.
The last time India stood on the podium was at the 1980 Moscow Games where they won gold. The country has collected eight gold medals in all in hockey at the Olympic Games.
“I don’t know what to say right now, it was fantastic. The effort, the game, we were 3-1 down. I think we deserve this medal. We have worked so hard, the last 15 months were difficult for us also, we were in Bangalore and some of us got COVID also,” Manpreet recalled.
“We would like to dedicate this medal to doctors and frontline health workers who have saved so many lives in India,” he said.
The 29-year-old from Jalandhar was “speechless” following the epoch-making 5-4 victory over Germany that gave India their 12th hockey medal in the Olympics but one that came after over four decades. The last time India stood on the podium was at the 1980 Moscow Games where they won gold.
“I don’t know what to say right now, it was fantastic. The effort, the game, we were 3-1 down. I think we deserve this medal. We have worked so hard, the last 15 months were difficult for us also, we were in Bangalore and some of us got COVID also,” Manpreet recalled.
“We would like to dedicate this medal to doctors and frontline health workers who have saved so many lives in India,” he said.
Germany gave Indian hockey team tense moments with Manpreet acknowledging the grit of the opposition.
“It was difficult, they got a penalty corner in the last six seconds. We thought we have got to save it with our lives. It is really hard. I am speechless right now,” said the skipper, who seemed overcome by emotion.
“We had a long gap when we didn’t get a medal. Now we will get more confidence, yes we can do it. If we can finish on the podium in the Olympics, we can finish on the podium anywhere,” he added.with India losing eir hopes of a gold at the Games.
Manpreet said coach Graham Reid shook the players out of the disappointment by telling them to stay focussed on the play-off game.
“…we didn’t give up. We kept fighting back. It’s a great feeling, best feeling. We came here for the gold, we won bronze, it is still a great thing. It’s a great moment for all hockey fans,” he said.
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