Overwhelmed by emotion after main India to its first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years, skipper Manpreet Singh on Thursday devoted the historic triumph to the nation’s medical doctors and health-care staff, who’ve labored tirelessly to save lots of lives in the course of the Covid pandemic.
The 29-year-old from Jalandhar was “speechless” following the epoch-making 5-4 victory over Germany that gave India their twelfth hockey medal within the Olympics however one which got here after over 4 many years.
The final time India stood on the rostrum was on the 1980 Moscow Video games the place they received gold. The nation has eight gold medals in all of the Video games.
“I do not know what to say proper now, it was unbelievable. The hassle, the sport, we have been 3-1 down. I believe we deserve this medal. We’ve got labored so exhausting, the final 15 months have been tough for us additionally, we have been in Bangalore and a few of us received Covid additionally,” Manpreet recalled.
“We want to dedicate this medal to medical doctors and frontline well being staff who have saved so many lives in India,” he stated.
A relentless Germany examined each little bit of the resolve that the Indian hockey staff had and Manpreet acknowledged the grit of the opposition.
“It was tough, they received a penalty nook within the final six seconds. We thought now we have received to put it aside with our lives. It’s actually exhausting. I’m speechless proper now,” stated the skipper, who appeared overcome by emotion.
“We had an extended hole after we did not get a medal. Now we are going to get extra confidence, sure we are able to do it. If we are able to end on podium in Olympics, we are able to end on podium anyplace,” he added.
India had endured a 2-5 loss to Belgium within the semifinals, which put paid to their hopes of a gold on the Video games. Manpreet stated coach Graham Reid shook the gamers out of the frustration by telling them to remain focussed on the play-off recreation.
“…we did not hand over. We stored preventing again. It is an important feeling, finest feeling. We got here right here for the gold, we received bronze, it’s nonetheless an important factor. It is an important second for all hockey followers,” he stated.
“It is only a begin right here, it hasn’t completed (with this bronze),” he added.
Drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh, who was one among the many 5 scorers on the day, couldn’t maintain again tears whereas speaking to the media and stated it’s simply the beginning of nice issues in Indian hockey.
“Folks have been forgetting hockey in India. They liked hockey, however they stopped hoping that we are able to win. However we received at this time. They will count on extra from us sooner or later. Preserve believing in us,” he stated. PTI
