When PR Sreejesh pulled off a save to deny Germany a goal from a Penalty Corner in the dying seconds of the match to confirm a bronze medal...
When PR Sreejesh pulled off a save to deny Germany a goal from a Penalty Corner in the dying seconds of the match to confirm a bronze medal for India at the Tokyo Olympics, the Indian players broke out in celebrations. Some danced like there was no tomorrow, some were down on their knees in tears while some (read: Sreejesh) even climbed the goalposts in pure joy. For captain Manpreet Singh, it was just a release of all pent up emotions as he let out a roar on his knees.
For the Indian men’s hockey team players at the time, winning the bronze medal was the realisation of a long-held objective. However, it also meant a lot for the country and the fans who had waited 41 years for a medal in hockey at the Olympics. There were celebrations on the streets, tears in the commentary box and ecstasy on social media.
The players though were not fully aware of what they had achieved. They had barely managed to catch their breath after giving their all on the field.
“When we actually won it, there were too many emotions. Only when we received the medals I felt a sense of achievement,” captain Manpreet Singh told Scroll.in in an...
