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'We didn't give up': 'Speechless' Manpreet thanks COVID warriors with Olympic bronze

A MEDAL IN HOCKEY AFTER 41 YEARS!

Manpreet Singh and the company ended India’s medal drought after beating Germany 5-4 in their Olympic bronze medal match on Thursday.

Overwhelmed by emotion after leading India to its first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years, skipper Manpreet dedicated the historic triumph to the country's doctors and healthcare workers, who have worked tirelessly to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Manpreet Singh Indian hockey captain
India's Manpreet Singh reacts after winning the men's bronze medal match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images) (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT via Getty Images)
Players of India celebrate after winning the men's bronze medal match
Players of India celebrate after winning the men's bronze medal match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images) (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT via Getty Images)
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Men - Bronze medal match - Germany v India
Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran of India poses for pictures as he celebrates winning the match for bronze. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo (Bernadett Szabo / reuters)
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Men - Rupinder Pal Singh of India
Rupinder Pal Singh of India celebrates after scoring. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo (Bernadett Szabo / reuters)

The 29-year-old from Jalandhar was 'speechless' following the epoch-making 5-4 victory over Germany that gave India their 12th hockey medal in the Olympics but one that came after over four decades

The last time India stood on the podium was at the 1980 Moscow Games where they won gold. The country has eight gold medals in all the Games.

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“I don't know what to say right now, it was fantastic. The effort, the game, we were 3-1 down. I think we deserve this medal. We have worked so hard, the last 15 months were difficult for us also, we were in Bangalore and some of us got COVID also,” Manpreet recalled.

“We would like to dedicate this medal to doctors and frontline health workers who have saved so many lives in India,” he said.

A relentless Germany tested every bit of the resolve that the Indian hockey team had and Manpreet acknowledged the grit of the opposition.

“It was difficult, they got a penalty corner in the last six seconds. We thought we have got to save it with our lives. It is really hard. I am speechless right now,” said the skipper, who seemed overcome by emotion.

“We had a long gap when we didn't get a medal. Now we will get more confidence, yes we can do it. If we can finish on the podium in Olympics, we can finish on the podium anywhere,” he added.

India had endured a 2-5 loss to Belgium in the semifinals, which put paid to their hopes of gold at the Games. Manpreet said coach Graham Reid shook the players out of the disappointment by telling them to stay focussed on the playoff game.

“…we didn't give up. We kept fighting back. It's a great feeling, the best feeling. We came here for the gold, we won bronze, it is still a great thing. It's a great moment for all hockey fans,” he said.

“It's just a start here, it hasn't finished (with this bronze),” he added.

Drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh, who was one among the five scorers on the day, could not hold back tears while talking to the media and said it is just the start of great things in Indian hockey.

“People were forgetting hockey in India. They loved hockey, but they stopped hoping that we can win. But we won today. They can expect more from us in the future. Keep believing in us,” he said.

PM, others hail men's hockey team's Olympic success

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in hailing and celebrating the Indian men's hockey team's historic bronze medal-winning feat at the Olympic Games, saying the day will be etched in the memory of every Indian.

The Indian men's hockey team's Australian coach Graham Reid said he feels 'privileged to be a part of the game's revival in India after the side clinched its first Olympic medal in 41 years by beating Germany in the bronze play-off.

The 57-year-old, who was a part of Australia's silver-winning team in the 1992 Barcelona Games, took over as India coach in 2019 and has obsessively talked about pursuing a process and investing in youth to get the results at a big stage like the Olympics.

WITH PTI INPUTS