India, finally 41 years after their last medal has got a bronze medal in the Men’s Hockey Event at Tokyo 2020!! The game was a concise portrayal of India’s fighting spirit and India’s ability to pull the game back. This victory can be named to all of the youngsters coupled with veterans such as Rupinder, Sreejesh, and Manpreet. India’s former coach Harendra Singh was in tears while discussing the victory with analysts on Sony Sports Network!
First Quarter: –
The game began on a sour note for the men in blue! The defenders of the team were all over the place and the Germans, alert as ever took advantage of this situation! 2nd minute saw them take the lead with a goal coming from Florian Fuchs’ stick. However, in the fourth minute, the Germans conceded a green card and were down to 10 men. The 7th minute witnessed Srejeesh’s first heroic moment as he made a great save coming from Mats Grambusch’s stick. The quarter ended with a trio of PCs for the Germans. Nevertheless, all of them went in vain.
Second Quarter: –
The Second Quarter has a “Shubh Shuruvaat” with Simranjeet scoring a goal after receiving a pass from Nilkanta Sharma in the 17th minute. Sreejesh made another courageous save in the 20th minute. In the 24th and the 25th minute, Germany pulled back two goals in quick succession. Nicolas Wellan and Benedict Furk were the protagonists of the Germans. India, however, countered two goals with two delightful strikes in the 27th and 29th minutes. One was Hardik Singh scoring off the rebound and the other was a tracer bullet-like strike from Harmanpreet Singh. 3-3, India.
Third Quarter: –
The third quarter was most exciting from an Indian point of view. The 31st minute saw India go up 4-3. This was due to Rupinder Pal Singh scoring a penalty stroke. The stroke was given as Mandeep was fouled on by a German Player. The 34th minute witnessed India taking the lead further ahead with Simranjeet’s field goal. Gurjant made an attack from the right flank, slipped the ball to Simran and the latter made a clinical finish. The 42nd minute, brought two PCs for India but both were in vain.
Fourth Quarter: –
Lukas Windfeder of Germany brought a ray of hope after converting a PC in the 48th minute itself. 4-5, Germany. In the 50th minute, German veteran Tobias Hauke conceded a Yellow Card and had to miss 5 crucial minutes of the play. The star of Indian Hockey for the forthcoming months, however, will be Sreejesh. He saved two penalty corners. The first one was in the 54th minute and the most crucial one was in the dying seconds of the game!! As the final hooter went of Manpreet Singh was in tears!! Tears of joy……India had won a medal at the Olympics in Hockey.