Narrowly missed medal but women's hockey team reflects spirit of new India: PM

The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as it lost 3-4 to Great Britain

August 06, 2021 10:02 am | Updated 10:02 am IST - New Delhi:

India's Deep Grace Ekka (3) reaches for the ball against Britain's Lily Owsley, left, during the women's field hockey bronze medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Britain won 4-3.

India's Deep Grace Ekka (3) reaches for the ball against Britain's Lily Owsley, left, during the women's field hockey bronze medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Britain won 4-3.

Hailing the Indian women's hockey team's performance at the Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 6 said it narrowly missed a medal but it reflects the spirit of new India, "where we give our best and scale new frontiers".

The history-making Indian women's hockey team's dream of securing its maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled as it lost 3-4 to Great Britain in a hard-fought bronze play-off match at the ongoing Games in Tokyo on August 6.

"We narrowly missed a medal in Women's Hockey but this team reflects the spirit of New India —where we give our best and scale new frontiers," Mr. Modi tweeted after the match.

"More importantly, their success at #Tokyo2020 will motivate young daughters of India to take up Hockey and excel in it. Proud of this team," he said.

Also read: Indian hockey ends 41-year wait for Olympic medal

Mr. Modi said people will always remember the great performance of our women's hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics.

"They gave their best throughout. Each and every member of the team is blessed with remarkable courage, skill and resilience. India is proud of this outstanding team," the Prime Minister said.

The team had already created history and surpassed all expectations by entering the semifinals of the Games for the first time.

But the maiden Olympic medal remained out of bounds as world no. 4 Great Britain, who were gold-winners in the 2016 Rio Games, came out on top in the pulsating encounter.

The heartbreak came a day after the Indian men's team ended a 41-year-old medal drought by clinching a bronze with a 5-4 win over Germany.

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