NEW DELHI: India’s males’s hockey workforce on Thursday secured a bronze medal on the Olympic Video games for the second time in a row, defeating Spain 2-1.
With the thrilling come-from-behind win, the workforce clinched a second successive bronze medal on the Olympics for the primary time in 52 years.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed that whereas the dream was to clinch gold, the bronze holds immense significance and the workforce has the potential to tackle any top-tier opponent.
“The largest factor is that we now have gained back-to-back (medals) and (Indian) hockey is on the rise. We’re exhibiting that we will beat any workforce. I believe this can be a massive factor for the entire nation and an enormous factor for us too,” mentioned Harmanpreet, who scored 10 objectives in the course of the course of the mega-event, together with the 2 profitable strikes on Thursday.
“This can be a stage the place you must wait rather a lot. And you must face a whole lot of phases. As a hockey participant, this isn’t straightforward. We’re so proud that we performed as a workforce. We trusted one another and an enormous due to our coaches too,” the 28-year-old informed host broadcaster ‘Jio Cinema’ after the match.
The final time India gained back-to-back Olympic medals was in 1968 (bronze) and 1972 editions (bronze).
Regardless of not reaching the ultimate after a loss to Germany within the semis, Harmanpreet acknowledged the workforce’s efforts and guaranteed they’ll attempt for a gold medal within the subsequent version.
He sought forgiveness from the followers for not assembly their gold medal expectations however emphasised the significance of the bronze medal they secured.
“Our dream was to win a gold medal right here, and everybody was trusting us. I wish to ask for forgiveness as a result of we may have executed it (win gold medal), we now have missed out on it very intently however this medal is all the pieces for us.
“Our mindset, our mentality is that every time we come on the bottom, we all the time come to win. Generally, outcomes aren’t in our favour. However I believe that is our future.
“The historical past of hockey (in India) has been huge and we try to take it ahead, win extra medals for the nation. I might request you to offer like to hockey, assist us and we hope that subsequent time, we’ll do higher than this and win (extra) medals for the nation.”
Sreejesh shall be missed
The skipper paid glowing tributes to iconic custodian PR Sreejesh who performed his final match on Thursday after an 18-year-long illustrious profession.
“A number of the boys in our workforce are of the age equal to (variety of years) Sreejesh has spent in hockey, or in all probability extra. He has been with us for a very long time and has introduced many proud moments for India.
“This was his final match and it was additionally a really emotional second for our workforce. After we got here right here, we have been speaking about dedicating this match to Sreejesh,” he mentioned.
“The journey that he has had, it’s a massive factor. We’re so pleased that we gained the bronze medal for the nation and him.”
Speaking concerning the bronze medal match in opposition to Spain, he mentioned, “The final 8-10 minutes have been very tough. Their goalkeeper was off and an attacker got here in. Our mentality was that we might defend strongly.
“Sadly, we gave them possibilities. However we consider that we now have among the best PC defences. Our goalkeeper and everybody who’s included within the PC defence did an excellent job. We’re so proud that we gained this medal.”
Key mid-fielder Manpreet Singh, who led the workforce in Tokyo, mentioned it was massive achievement for the aspect, particularly for Sreejesh.
“We wish to dedicate this medal to PR Sreejesh as a result of it was his final match. He has spent 13 years with me and we now have seen rather a lot collectively.
“We’re very pleased to win the bronze medal for the second time. We needed to play and win the ultimate however sadly, we misplaced the semi-final. However it was a superb efficiency all through the Olympics.
“We’re not leaving empty-handed. We’re taking the bronze medal with us.”
Requested how the workforce stored itself motivated after the semifinal loss to Germany, he mentioned, “We have been slightly down after we misplaced the semi-final. However, after that, everybody knew that we might positively take the bronze medal with us.
“Everybody knew that this final match was very essential for us as a result of we now have sacrificed a lot to achieve right here.”
With the thrilling come-from-behind win, the workforce clinched a second successive bronze medal on the Olympics for the primary time in 52 years.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh expressed that whereas the dream was to clinch gold, the bronze holds immense significance and the workforce has the potential to tackle any top-tier opponent.
“The largest factor is that we now have gained back-to-back (medals) and (Indian) hockey is on the rise. We’re exhibiting that we will beat any workforce. I believe this can be a massive factor for the entire nation and an enormous factor for us too,” mentioned Harmanpreet, who scored 10 objectives in the course of the course of the mega-event, together with the 2 profitable strikes on Thursday.
“This can be a stage the place you must wait rather a lot. And you must face a whole lot of phases. As a hockey participant, this isn’t straightforward. We’re so proud that we performed as a workforce. We trusted one another and an enormous due to our coaches too,” the 28-year-old informed host broadcaster ‘Jio Cinema’ after the match.
The final time India gained back-to-back Olympic medals was in 1968 (bronze) and 1972 editions (bronze).
Regardless of not reaching the ultimate after a loss to Germany within the semis, Harmanpreet acknowledged the workforce’s efforts and guaranteed they’ll attempt for a gold medal within the subsequent version.
He sought forgiveness from the followers for not assembly their gold medal expectations however emphasised the significance of the bronze medal they secured.
“Our dream was to win a gold medal right here, and everybody was trusting us. I wish to ask for forgiveness as a result of we may have executed it (win gold medal), we now have missed out on it very intently however this medal is all the pieces for us.
“Our mindset, our mentality is that every time we come on the bottom, we all the time come to win. Generally, outcomes aren’t in our favour. However I believe that is our future.
“The historical past of hockey (in India) has been huge and we try to take it ahead, win extra medals for the nation. I might request you to offer like to hockey, assist us and we hope that subsequent time, we’ll do higher than this and win (extra) medals for the nation.”
Sreejesh shall be missed
The skipper paid glowing tributes to iconic custodian PR Sreejesh who performed his final match on Thursday after an 18-year-long illustrious profession.
“A number of the boys in our workforce are of the age equal to (variety of years) Sreejesh has spent in hockey, or in all probability extra. He has been with us for a very long time and has introduced many proud moments for India.
“This was his final match and it was additionally a really emotional second for our workforce. After we got here right here, we have been speaking about dedicating this match to Sreejesh,” he mentioned.
“The journey that he has had, it’s a massive factor. We’re so pleased that we gained the bronze medal for the nation and him.”
Speaking concerning the bronze medal match in opposition to Spain, he mentioned, “The final 8-10 minutes have been very tough. Their goalkeeper was off and an attacker got here in. Our mentality was that we might defend strongly.
“Sadly, we gave them possibilities. However we consider that we now have among the best PC defences. Our goalkeeper and everybody who’s included within the PC defence did an excellent job. We’re so proud that we gained this medal.”
Key mid-fielder Manpreet Singh, who led the workforce in Tokyo, mentioned it was massive achievement for the aspect, particularly for Sreejesh.
“We wish to dedicate this medal to PR Sreejesh as a result of it was his final match. He has spent 13 years with me and we now have seen rather a lot collectively.
“We’re very pleased to win the bronze medal for the second time. We needed to play and win the ultimate however sadly, we misplaced the semi-final. However it was a superb efficiency all through the Olympics.
“We’re not leaving empty-handed. We’re taking the bronze medal with us.”
Requested how the workforce stored itself motivated after the semifinal loss to Germany, he mentioned, “We have been slightly down after we misplaced the semi-final. However, after that, everybody knew that we might positively take the bronze medal with us.
“Everybody knew that this final match was very essential for us as a result of we now have sacrificed a lot to achieve right here.”
