Ever since the Tokyo Olympics, there has been a new craze for Indian hockey. India’s boys and girls clinched the semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, India’s girls beat Canada by three goals to two in a close-fought match. An in-form Indian men’s team thrashed Canada 8-0 in the evening. Manpreet Singh’s last match in the group stage yesterday, Thursday was against Wales. However, in terms of points and goals, Harmanpreet Singh’s semi-final was practically confirmed.
Details of women’s team’s match
A moment of anxiety was rightly created. But the Indian women’s hockey team players did not let the situation get out of hand. India’s women’s hockey team advanced to the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games after defeating Canada 3-2 in a match to the death on Wednesday.
India took control of the match in the first twenty-two minutes. At that time, they went ahead by two goals. Salima Tete scored India’s first goal after 3 minutes. Navneet Kaur then made the score 2-0 in 22 minutes. Till that time everything was going well. But then Canada counter-attacked. They equalized with goals from Brienne Stairs and Hannah Hoff.
England had earlier defeated India in the semi-finals of this group. That’s why this match became a fight to the death for Indian girls. Canada only needed a draw. Only then would they have advanced to the semi-finals on goal difference. But Savita Punia’s team did not give up. Lalremsiami gave India a 3-2 lead by sending the ball from the penalty corner into the goal after 51 minutes. The goal that sent India into the semi-finals.
It is Australia again in front of India in the last four. That match will be on Friday i.e., today. Savitas’ campaign ended at number 9 after losing to Australia in the semi-finals of the recent Hockey World Cup. Four years ago, India lost to Australia in the bronze medal match at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as well. So, this fight is getting another dimension. Salima Tete and the team is desperate to erase past failures.
Indian team captain Savita told the broadcaster after the match, “This victory has proved that our team is a fighter. No one could forget the loss to Australia. We have to win the semi-final by throwing everything at ourselves. All are ready for it.”
Fight of the men’s team
However, the fight in the boys’ match was one-sided. Harmanpreet Singh and Akashdeep Singh scored two goals for the team in this event. Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Amit Rohidas, and Lalit Upadhyay scored one goal each.
After the match, captain Manpreet Singh said, “The team went on the attack from the start. We have to hold on to this hockey.”
With such confidence from both teams, we the people of India can expect both sides to make it to the finals. Best wishes to them. We believe in the semi-finals, defeating their opponents, they will reach the finals and return with the gold.