India Win Olympic Silver In Wrestling & Bronze In Men’s Hockey

TOKYO: India on Thursday bagged two Olympic medals at Tokyo Games 2020 with Ravi Kumar Dahiya clinching the silver medal in 57kg freestyle while India men’s hockey team won bronze by defeating Germany.

With these victories India’s medals tally at the Games swelled to 5, which includes 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.

Dahiya became only the second Indian wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympic Games. There were huge expectations from Dahiya for a gold medal after his phenomenal semifinal victory but the reigning world champion Zavur Uguev of Russian Olympic Committee dashed those hopes with a comfortable 7-4 win the men's freestyle 57kg title clash.

Dahiya had lost to Uguev at the 2019 World Championship also.

Meanwhile, the Indian men's hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating a plucky Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in an edge-of-the-seat play-off match.

Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minutes) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal getters for world no.3 India.

Determined to clinch a medal, the Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the game, fighting back from a two-goal deficit to turn the match in their favour.

There were tears and hugs on the field as the Indians led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid savoured the historic moment.

It is India's third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics. The other two came in 1968 Mexico City and the 1972 Munich Games.

PM Modi, J&K LG Hail Hockey Team

Prime Minister Modi led India in congratulating the Olympic medallists.

"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," tweeted Modi.

"With this feat, they have captured the imagination of the entire nation, especially our youth. India is proud of our Hockey team."

J&K’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also congratulated the Indian hockey saying the whole country was proud of them.

"Congratulations to the Indian Men's Hockey team on winning the bronze medal at Tokyo Olympics. This tremendous achievement will inspire generation of sportspersons. The whole country is proud of you!" the LG said on his official Twitter handle.

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