Tokyo: India reached their first-ever men’s hockey semi-final at the Olympics in 49 years but their run ended in the last 4 stage as they were humbled 2-5 by world champions Belgium at the Oi Hockey Stadium at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday.
Goal-scorer Mandeep Singh said it’s a sad day for India but they will not throw in the towel, keeping in mind there’s a bronze medal up for grabs.
India conceded as many as 14 penalty corners and paid the price for it as world-class drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx converted 3 of them. The semi-final was hanging in the balance at 2-2 at the end of the 3rd quarter but everything went wrong for India in the last 15 minutes as a nation of billion watched their hockey gold dreams come down crashing.
Speaking after the heart-breaking defeat, star player Mandeep Singh, who scored to give India the lead in the 2nd quarter, conceded the Men in Blue made far too many mistakes against the world champions. However, he said India will start preparing for the bronze medal match. India will take on the loser of the 2nd semi-final between Australia and Germany on August 5 for a bronze medal.
Alexander Hendrickx (19th, 49th, 53rd minutes), the tournament’s highest goal getter, scored a hat-trick while Loick Luypaert (2nd minute) and John-John Dohmen (60th) also struck to hand the reigning silver-medallists their second successive entry into the final of the Olympics. India’s goals came from the sticks of Harmanpreet Singh (7th) and Mandeep Singh (8th).
India’s last appearance in the final of the Olympics came way back in 1980 Moscow Games, where they went on to win their last of the eight gold medals.
The Indians had only themselves to blame for Tuesday’s disappointment as four of Belgium’s five goals came from penalty corners. The Indian defence was put under relentless pressure by the Belgians as they secured as many as 14 penalty corners out of which they converted four.
Belgium’s game plan was clear from the onset as they tried to enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Luypaert in their ranks.
Wins and losses are part of life: PM on Indian hockey team’s semi-final defeat in Olympics.
After the Indian men’s hockey team lost to Belgium in the Olympics semi-final, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said wins and losses are a part of life and India is proud of its players.
“Wins and losses are a part of life. Our Men’s Hockey Team at #Tokyo2020 gave their best and that is what counts,” Modi tweeted. Wishing the Team the very best for the next match and their future endeavors, he said, adding that “India is proud of our players”.
The Prime Minister also spoke with Manpreet Singh, the captain of the hockey team, after the semi-final match, officials said.