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INDIA HOCKEY TEAM ‘LIKE A FAMILY’, WE KNOW EACH OTHER’S LIKES AND DISLIKES, SAYS CAPTAIN MANPREET SINGH

India men’s hockey captain Manpreet Singh said that the team is like a family to him and congratulated the rest of the Indian athletes who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Manpreet led the team to a bronze, which is India’s first medal in hockey at the Olympics since 1980. “I would like to thank […]

India men’s hockey captain Manpreet Singh said that the team is like a family to him and congratulated the rest of the Indian athletes who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Manpreet led the team to a bronze, which is India’s first medal in hockey at the Olympics since 1980.

“I would like to thank SAI, IOA because they helped us during our difficult times. They told us only to focus on the tournament and assured us of everything we needed for the Games. I would like to also thank every medal winner, especially Neeraj Chopra,” said Manpreet.

“We are like a family and we know all our likes and dislikes. The upcoming tournaments are very important so we will turn out focus on that now. Maybe Sree (goalkeeper PR Sreejesh) will come back a little late because he needs to spend time with his children,” Manpreet joked. Sreejesh, on the other hand, said that it is women’s goalkeeper Savita Punia who should be called the ‘Great Wall of India’ and congratulated the women’s team for their bronze medal win. The hockey players were among Indian athletes who arrived in New Delhi from Tokyo on Monday to a festive reception. India beat four-time champions Germany 5-4 in a thrilling bronze medal match, securing a first Olympic medal for Indian hockey in 41 years. Simranjeet Singh, Hardik Singh, Harmanpreet Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh scored as India came from 3-1 down in the second quarter to win the match. India were thrashed 1-7 by Australia in their second match of the Olympics. However, they staged a clinical comeback after that, even equalling Australia on points to finish second in the group. They then beat Great Britain 3-1 in the quarter-finals before losing 2-5 to eventual gold medallists Belgium in the semis.

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