Tokyo: The scorecard read 5-4 at the end game as the Indian men’s hockey team took its second and final shot at a podium finish in the bronze-medal match against Germany at Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
With this, the Indian Men’s hockey team has scripted history by winning a medal after 41 years. India had won its 8th gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Germany took an early lead in the match with Timur Oruz scoring within two minutes. India came back from a two-goal deficit to take a two-goal lead at the end of the third quarter. After several attempts, Germany reduced the gap in the Q4 when it scored a goal from the penalty corner.
To win the match after being 1-3 down was incredible.
Simranjeet Singh scored the first goal for India from a well-executed tomahawk shot. Hardik Singh and Harmanpreet Singh then converted two penalty corners. Rupinder Pal Singh and Simranjeet Singh scored two more goals in the third quarter to give India a 5-4 lead.
“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,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
