Manpreet-led team breeze past Britain to storm into semis

Manpreet Singh-led team rose like a phoenix and exorcised the ghosts with four successive wins, three in the league phase and this victory over Britain.

Hyderabad: It is incredible. That is how I can describe India’s magnificent 3-1 win over Great Britain to book a semifinal place in the Olympics after a long gap of 41 years. In a fast-paced quarterfinal match, India held their nerves, especially when they were reduced to ten players, to record a historic win at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday. It could be one of the finest days for Indian hockey in recent times. Never in the past, had we seen this type of resilience. Many of them had written off after the humiliating 1-7 defeat against Australia. But this Manpreet Singh-led team rose like a phoenix and exorcised the ghosts with four successive wins, three in the league phase and this victory over Britain.

Australian coach Graham Reid and his support staff deserve the credit for turning this team into a formidable unit. They did not lose their cool. They fought against all odds to make a memorable run in Tokyo so far. With a day’s rest, India will definitely look to continue their fine run when they take on Belgium in the semifinals on Tuesday. They are within a touching distance of an elusive Olympic medal.

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India came out with a good plan. They played with a frenetic good pace. They troubled the British defence with fast breakthroughs. Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Shamsher, Gurjant Singh and Simranjeet Singh worked beautifully at the front. The British defence was at its wits end as the Indian mounted pressure with controlled hockey.

There was tremendous coordination between forwards, midfielders and defence. Manpreet, Hardik Singh, Nilankanta Singh were standout performers in the midfield. Hardik even joined the attack whenever India raided the British citadel. They kept the forward line busy with incisive moves while the defence quartet of Amit Rohidas, Varun, Harmanpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh were cool and efficient. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh yet again rose to the occasion. He stood like a rock in the last quarter as he saved a couple of penalty corners.

India, in fact, started in rousing fashion with a seventh minute counter attack. It started from the left. Showing great ball sense, Mandeep Singh beat the British defence on the left and it culminated in a goal with Dilpreet shooting home from close. Immediately on resumption of the game in the second quarter, India were on top as Gurjant Singh put the team ahead. The tireless Hardik intercepted a pass on the top of the British `D’ and in a trice sent a lovely pass and Gurjant put the ball into the net through the legs of opposition goalkeeper Oliver Payne.
Stung by the two goals, Britain tried to stage a comeback into the match and put pressure on the Indian defence. They could get a few short corners but Sreejesh held his forte admirably. But Britain could reduce through Sam Ward’s penalty corner in the 45th minute.

Britain pressed hard and in the last quarter they attacked in numbers. India had a setback of sorts when skipper Manpreet was shown the yellow card. It was a harsh decision by the umpire. India had to play with ten players but handled the pressure superbly. In a brilliant counter attack, Hardik scored one of the finest goals of the tournament. Moving with the ball from the centre line, he sped past the British defence and shot it from close even as the ball rebounded, he went for the second shot to give India a 3-1 lead.

In a desperate move, Britain even took their goalkeeper out and looked for goals but India did not relent. They held on bravely to eke out one of the best victories in recent times.

(The author, N Mukesh Kumar is a three-time hockey Olympian)

Also read: Indian men’s hockey team in semifinals after 41 years

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