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Having displayed nerves of metal to be inside touching distance of a second successive Olympic medal, the Indian hockey staff will fancy its probabilities in opposition to acquainted foe and reigning world champion Germany within the semifinal of the continuing Video games, hoping to higher the bronze that it claimed within the Tokyo version. India gained final of their eight Olympic gold medals approach again within the 1980 Moscow Video games. Paris gives them an important alternative to make historical past. A semifinal win will guarantee a silver for India, which they final gained within the 1960 Rome version.
The Indians displayed a tenacious efficiency in opposition to Britain within the quarterfinal on the iconic Yves-du-Manoir Stadium on Sunday.
Taking part in with 10 males for near 40 minutes after Amit Rohidas was proven a purple card for unintentionally hitting rival ahead Will Calnan on his face, the Harmanpreet Singh-led facet defended stoutly to carry Britain 1-1 in regulation time and power a shoot-out, the place it emerged 4-2 winner.
Veteran goalkeeper P R Sreejesh, enjoying his final worldwide event, appeared to have saved his finest for the final leg of his profession as he made save after save, together with two within the shoot-out, to seal India’s second consecutive Olympic semifinal spot.
It was one of many bravest performances from the Indians as in modern-day hockey, to play and win with a person down is a Herculean job.
And are available Tuesday, Harmanpreet and his males wouldn’t solely look to higher the color of their Tokyo medal however would additionally wish to give a befitting farewell present to the talismanic Sreejesh who will stroll into the sundown after the Paris Video games.
Nicknamed ‘The Nice Wall of Indian hockey’, Sreejesh has been phenomenal within the Video games to this point, standing like a warrior in entrance of the put up and having fun with each second of his final hurrah on the Olympics.
Towards Britain, Sreejesh made 10 spectacular saves from discipline photographs. If that was not sufficient, he stored out 10 penalty corners.
“After I stepped on this discipline right now (Sunday), there have been two choices for me. This may be my final match, or I obtained a chance for 2 extra matches and I feel, yeah, I obtained two extra matches now,” Sreejesh stated later.
“See, whoever comes within the semis, we (will) simply play our sport. That is it, that is necessary, as a result of now it is a completely different sport, as a result of we’re one man down and we have to concentrate on that now.” But it surely will not be simple for the Indians as key defender and first rusher Amit Rohidas has been suspended from the semifinal match after receiving a contentious purple card in opposition to Britain, a choice which Hockey India has appealed.
Rohidas’ absence can even weaken India’s choices from penalty corners as he has been second to Harmanpreet from set items and the complete duty will now relaxation on the skipper.
“Now, these items are usually not in our management. Whereas it’s a setback to not have Amit on the pitch for the semis, we’re targeted on the duty at hand,” stated Harmanpreet, who has been India’s main scorer on the Video games with seven objectives.
“On Sunday, what stood out in our efficiency was the staff’s skill to tackle the added duty of a key place that Amit performed. Each participant stepped up and even till the final minute, we had been preventing again.” Going by world rating and up to date head-to-head report, there’s hardly something to distinguish between present world champions and four-time Olympic gold medallists Germany from India.
Whereas Germany are ranked fourth on the planet, the Indians are a rung under. Germany, who beat Argentina 3-2 within the quarterfinal, are acquainted opponents for India in high-stakes tournaments, essentially the most well-known being the bronze medal match in Tokyo the place India registered an exhilarating 5-4 win, thanks a surprising last-second save by Sreejesh.
Within the days main as much as the Paris Video games, India had performed Germany in follow matches and the Harmanpreet-led facet gained 5 out of these six contests.
India’s most up-to-date contests in opposition to Germany had been within the FIH Professional League’s London leg in June this yr, the place they defeated the Honamas 3-0 earlier than shedding 2-3 within the return tie.
“We wished to play Germany within the ultimate. At the least, that was what we had mentioned amongst ourselves throughout staff conferences forward of the Olympic Video games.
“They’re difficult opponents and after we play in opposition to them, the match often goes down until the final second,” stated Harmanpreet.
Within the different semifinal, Netherlands will quare off in opposition to Spain.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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