India’s hockey team, buoyed by their resilient performance against Great Britain in the quarterfinals, will face a formidable challenge in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics against reigning world champions Germany. The Indians, who won bronze in Tokyo, are aiming to better their medal color and make history by securing a silver or gold.
India’s quarterfinal victory was a testament to their tenacity and determination. Despite playing with 10 men for nearly 40 minutes after Amit Rohidas’ red card, the Harmanpreet Singh-led side held Britain to a 1-1 draw in regulation time and emerged victorious in the shootout. Veteran goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, playing his last international tournament, was instrumental in the win, making several crucial saves, including two in the shootout.
Rohidas’ suspension for the semifinal is a setback for India, as he is a key defender and penalty corner specialist. However, the team is confident in their ability to overcome this challenge. “We are focused on the task at hand,” said Harmanpreet, who has been India’s leading scorer at the Games with seven goals. “Every player stepped up and even until the last minute, we were fighting back.”
Germany, ranked fourth in the world, is a familiar opponent for India in high-stakes tournaments. The two teams met in the bronze medal match in Tokyo, where India emerged victorious. In the days leading up to the Paris Games, India played Germany in practice matches and won five out of six contests.
The other semifinal will feature Netherlands and Spain. India will be hoping to repeat their success against Germany and secure a place in the final. A semifinal win would guarantee India a silver medal, which they last won in the 1960 Rome edition.
