Indian women’s hockey team coach Sjoerd Marijne, speaking to India Today, said he is proud of his team and that they have inspired a million girls back home despite not finishing their stunning campaign with a medal.
The history-making Indian women’s hockey team’s dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled. It lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off but stout-hearted side managed to record its best ever finish at Games here.
The team had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Games for first time.
But the maiden Olympic medal remained out of bounds as world no.4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter.
Indian women’s hockey team lost 3-4 to Great Britain in the bronze medal play-off
The heartbreak came day after Indian men’s team ended 41-year-old medal drought by clinching bronze with 5-4 win over Germany.
The Indians played their hearts out and overcame a two-goal deficit to lead 3-2 at half time.
But desperate Great Britain gave their everything in second half and scored two goals to snatch match from India’s hands.
India scored three goals in span of five minutes through Gurjit Kaur and Vandana Katariya (29th) to stun Great Britain.
India’s best performance in the Olympics was a fourth place finish in the 1980 Moscow Games. In that edition, there were no semifinals as only six teams competed in a round-robin format with the top two featuring in the final.
Britain began the second quarter on the same pace and took the lead when Elena Rayer’s push went into the net after getting a deflection of Deep Grace Ekka’s stick.
Minutes later, the former gold-medallists secured their third penalty corner which yielded no result.
Lalremsiami came close to equalising for India only to be denied by experienced Maddie Hinch, who brilliantly kept away Indian striker’s reverse hit.
India got their first penalty corner soon but wasted it.
Great Britain doubled their lead in 24th minute when Robertson scored with powerful reverse hit from top of the circle.
A minute later, India got two back-to-back penalty corners and Gurjit converted the second chance to reduce the margin.