Amit Rohidas, India’s defensive mainstay, endured sleepless nights after his red card in the hockey quarterfinal against Great Britain led to a one-match suspension for the semifinal. However, he expressed gratitude to his teammates for their unwavering support during this challenging time.
Despite the setback, the Indian men’s hockey team secured a record-extending successive bronze medal, their 13th Olympic hockey medal. Rohidas’ red card in the 17th minute of the quarterfinals, which was upgraded to a red card after a video referral, resulted in his suspension for the semifinal against Germany.
Reflecting on the incident, Rohidas emphasized that it was unintentional and that the referee’s decision is part of the game. Despite being down to 10 men, goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh put up a heroic performance, taking the match to a shootout where he made the difference with his saves.
Rohidas expressed pride in the team’s ability to overcome the numerical disadvantage and defeat their opponents in the shootout. He highlighted the team’s resilience and determination, noting that they had set records by beating Australia after 52 years and winning with 10 players.
While acknowledging that a gold or silver medal would have been ideal, Rohidas emphasized that the team is grateful for the bronze medal. He believes that destiny plays a role and that the team is fortunate to return home with a medal.
The Indian team’s journey began with a rusty win over New Zealand in a tough pool A. They grew stronger with each match, culminating in a 3-2 victory over Australia in their concluding league match. The bronze medal match against Spain marked a fitting farewell for veteran goalkeeper Sreejesh, who played his last international match.
Rohidas spoke about the collective leadership within the team, emphasizing that there is no single leader and that everyone contributes to the leadership role. He also highlighted the team’s challenging three-day boot camp in Switzerland led by adventurer Mike Horn, which tested their physical and mental limits.
