Men go down fighting to Belgium 5-2 on a day of mixed fortunes in Tokyo
The Indian women’s hockey team proved to be giant killers beating three-time Olympic champions and world number Australia 1-0, to blaze their way into the semi-finals at the Tokyo Olympic on Monday.
The Indian women are in the medal round for the first time after 1980.
The mighty Australians on top of the table in Pool A, went on the offensive right from the very start narrowly missing a chance to score in the 2nd minute of the game, when Ambrosia Malone’s shot hit the post.
But after that, the Indian girls closed ranks and never gave the Australians a chance to score. On top of that, India’s goalkeeper Savita Punia’s lightning fast reflexes were more than a match for the opponents. She stood there like an impenetrable wall and made nine brilliant saves.
India’s solitary goal came from a brilliant drag-flick off a penalty corner in the first quarter of the game by Gurjit Kaur.
After that, Australian women tried their level best for an equaliser, but all their efforts were in vain.
The Indian women’s next match is against Argentina.
The Indian women are in the medal round for the first time after 1980.
Indian skipper Rani Rampal says: “I seriously don’t know what to say. I’m super proud. Before the start of the game, she told her teammates “, we must play our game and play it well, and so we did. We put everything into the next 60 minutes”.
In men’s hockey, India lost to world number 1 Belgium 5-2 in the semi-final match. But they still have a chance to win a bronze in their playoff.
ATHLETICS: India’s hope in Athletics, 25-year-old discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur failed to come up to her own national record of 66. 59 metre. Her two throws of 61.62m and 61.37m could only fetch her sixth in her maiden attempt at the Tokyo Games on Monday.
Kamalpreet says, heavy spells of rain left the ground damp and slippery. “I was afraid of falling and injuring myself”.
She is equally keen on playing cricket.