Men’s hockey team top Germans to end the 41-year medal drought; emotions swell across nation

Tokyo, August 5

A resolute Indian men’s hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympics medal after 41 years, defeating a plucky Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat playoff match here today.

The eight-time former gold winners, who battled a heartbreaking slump in the last four decades, made the resurgence of the last couple of years count in the best way possible with an Olympics medal. Their bronze, which is worth its weight in gold for the sheer emotion and nostalgia that hockey invokes in the country, became India’s fifth medal at the ongoing Games.

There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the moment. It is India’s third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came at the 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games. All In all, the country now has 12 medals, of which eight are gold. — PTI

Goalscorers

India: S Singh (17th, 34th), H Singh (27th), H Singh (29th) and RP Singh (31st)

Germany: Timur Oruz (2nd), Niklas Wellen (24th), Benedikt Furk (25th) and Lukas Windfeder (48th)

Indian hockey finally resurrected

A great moment. I am sure this will be the first of many more medals. We must now create a better system for the players so that we can become a hockey power again — Pargat Singh, former India skipper

I know that apart from the country, this group has been waiting for a medal for a fairly long time and I know how much hockey means to India and I am privileged to help play a part in that. It means a lot after being in quarantine for for the last eight out of 16 months — Graham Reid, India coach

I always had the regret that I could not win an Olympics medal. I used to wonder whether I would be able to see India at the Olympics podium again in hockey. Now with this historic win, I have no regrets — Dhanraj Pillay, former India captain

Manpreet ji many many congratulations. You and the entire team did a great job, the entire nation is dancing in joy for your achievements. Your hard work paid dividends. I wish all the players for what they have achieved — Narendra Modi, PM

I am extremely happy for Indian hockey as a whole because at one time people said that hockey is in ICU, hockey is dead. But now we have witnessed Indian hockey’s resurgence — Ajitpal Singh, former India skipper