Team India celebrates after the men's bronze medal match of hockey between Germany and India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
Indians celebrated for their men's hocky team winning a broze medal at Tokyo 2020.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Indians woke up Thursday morning to high-pitched celebrations over their men's hockey team winning a bronze medal, the country's fourth medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
With the third-place finish where India defeated Germany 5-4 on Thursday, India now has one silver and three bronze medals.
TV channels beamed stories from the homes of the Indian hockey players who clinched the medal, interviewing their family members eliciting their reactions over the win that broke a 41-year old jinx.
The country's top leadership, including the President and the Prime Minister, congratulated Team India.
The last Olympic medal, a gold, for Indian hockey came in the 1980 Moscow Games. Thereafter, the Indian hockey team couldn't even qualify for the semifinals at as many as nine successive Olympics.
Amit Rohidas (R) of India competes against Timur Oruz of Germany during the men's bronze medal match of hockey between Germany and India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)
Hockey is considered India's national game.
President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated the Indian team, tweeting - "Congratulations to our men's hockey team for winning an Olympic Medal in hockey after 41 years. The team showed exceptional skills, resilience & determination to win. This historic victory will start a new era in hockey and will inspire the youth to take up and excel in the sport."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet, "Historic! A day that will be etched in the memory of every Indian. Congratulations to our Men's Hockey Team for bringing home the Bronze. With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team."
The country's Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said the countrymen could not keep calm at this moment when the Indian hockey team won an Olympic medal after over four decades. "A billion cheers for India. Boys, you've done it! We can't keep calm! Our men's hockey team dominated and defined their destiny in the Olympic history books today, yet again! We are extremely proud of you!"
