‘India hockey women players did something special at Olympics’: Britain girls in consolation act after heartbreaking loss

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, August 6

Thankyou messages started pouring in for the hockey coach even as the Indian women team lost 4-3 to the Great Britain.  Soon as the game ended, the girls were on their knees and in tears. The coach, Sjoerd Marijne, consoled the girls and hugged them.

Interestingly it was not just the coach, but also the opponent Britain team that consoled the Indian team.  

Great Britain Hockey tweeted, “Hockey India you’ve done something special at Tokyo 2020 – the next few years look very bright.”

Marijne also took to Twitter after the heartbreaking loss. He wrote: “We did not win a medal, but I think we have won something bigger. We have made Indians proud again and we inspired millions of girls that dreams CAN come true as long as you work hard for it and believe it! Thanks for all the support!”

India’s dream of a bronze medal in their maiden entry into the semifinal by the women’s hockey team came crashing down as it lost 4-3 to Great Britain in a playoff at the Tokyo Olympic on Friday.

The Indians played their hearts out, storming back after trailing 0-2 to take the lead but could not maintain the tempo as Great Britain scored the winner in the fourth quarter to claim the bronze medal, their third medal in three Olympic Games starting from London 2012.

Gurjit Kaur’s brace of goals and one by Vandana Katariya went in vain as Great Britain struck through Elen Rayer, Sarah Robertson, Hottie Webb Pearne and Grace Baldson to seal victory.