EIGHT-time gold-medal winners India won the bronze in men's hockey at the Tokyo Olympics defeating four-time gold-medallists Germany 5-4 in a thrilling game on Thursday (5). They have won a medal at the quadrennial tournament after a gap of 41 years.
The Germans took an early lead in the match when Timur Oruz scored within two minutes. The Europeans kept the Indian defence under pressure in the first quarter but yet could not extend their lead.
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The Asian side equalised in the second quarter when in-form Simranjeet Singh scored from a well-executed shot. But the relief did not last too long for the Indians as the Germans scored twice more in the next two minutes to take 3-1 lead. Niklas Wellen and Benedikt Furk were the scorers.
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India, who have produced some fine hockey at this Olympics, did not give up and converted the two penalty corners they got. Hardik Singh scored on the rebound from the first one and Harmanpreet Singh drew level with a superb dragflick onto the back of the nets.
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India then extended their lead with Rupinder Singh and Simranjeet striking twice more in the third quarter to make it 5-3. Lukas Windfeder pulled on back in the final quarter but some excellent show from the Indian goalkeeper, P R Sreejesh denied the Germans the equaliser and India made history with an Olympic medal in hockey after a gap of 41 years.
The last time India won a medal was gold at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. India’s last bronze came in 1972 when they beat the Netherlands 2-1. They had beaten Germany, then West Germany, in the bronze-medal match at the 1968 Games when they won 2-1.
This is India’s third bronze in hockey at the Olympics and the 12th overall medal.
The Indian women's hockey team has also made the semi-finals of the Olympics this year and will take on Great Britain in the bronze-medal match on Friday (6).
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