Tokyo, Aug 2 (IANS) The Indian women's hockey team made history on Monday as it stormed into the semifinals of the Olympic Games hockey tournament for the first time.
India defeated world No. 2 Australia 1-0 in the quarterfinals for their maiden entry into the medal rounds of the Olympic Games hockey tournament.
This is India's biggest win in women's hockey as the team is playing in the Olympics only for the third time and had struggled to the knockout rounds, finishing fourth in Pool A.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday congratulated the Indian women's hockey team for making history and reaching the semi-finals of the Olympics 2020.
Proud of our Women #HockeyTeam for making it to Olympic Semi-Finals by beating three-time Olympic Champions Australia. Kudos to Gurjit Kaur from Amritsar who scored the lone goal of the match. We are on the threshold of history. Best of luck girls, go for the gold. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/vvk1TLftFR
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) August 2, 2021
Expressing his joy at Indian women's hockey team entering the semi finals at the Tokyo Olympics, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday said the team is scripting history.
I am absolutely delighted at the victory of Indian women's #Hockey team against Australia to storm into the semi-finals. You're scripting history. I wish you all the best to enter the finals and clinch the #Olympics #Gold.#Tokyo2020 https://t.co/LIaT0bEHY7
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 2, 2021
Indian women's hockey team coach, Dutch tactician Sjoerd Marijne, said after his side's historic win against world No. 2 Australia in the quarterfinals at the Olympic Games that his mantra to the girls before the match was to "stay in the moment" and that is what made "a big difference" on Monday. Underdogs India defeated Australia 1-0 to secure an unprecedented place in the semifinals, with many comparing the victory to the Indian men's cricket team's title triumph in the 1983 World Cup at Lord's. The Indian women's team will take on Argentina in the semifinal on August 4.