டோக்கியோ 2020 முதல் காயமடைந்த ஜெர்மனி, பாரிஸ் ஒலிம்பிக்கில் இந்தியாவை பழிவாங்கியது

Exactly three years back, on August 5, 2021, it was the Germany men’s hockey team who were in tears, after the bronze medal match vs India. It’s August 7, 2024, and it is India’s turn to suffer the same fate, as that German team in Tokyo. The fortune tables have turned, and it is Germany who have made it to the Paris Olympics final.

While that fight for the third place, this IND vs GER encounter was the one for a place in the gold medal match. The Germans are now in final, after losing out on a medal then. They are assured of a silver now. Whereas India won’t be able to better their bronze from 2020.

It is nothing short of a heartbreak for a team, who wanted to give a perfect farewell gift to their veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, with a gold at the Olympics. But that is not to be. Now, the maximum they can do is, give another bronze to him, after the match vs Spain.

IND vs GER, As it Happened

It was Sukhjeet Singh who opened the scoring for India in the seventh minute. Post that, the Germans struck back with two goals to take the lead. Harmanpreet Singh equalised with a PC conversion, but a goal by Christopher Ruhr meant, that the Indian hopes were dashed.

India missed defender Amit Rohidas, who had to miss the semi-final after being red-carded during the quarters against Great Britain. That meant, the Indian rushers battery and the defence was left depleted, and that is where Germany struck hard.

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