India has ended their 41-year wait for a hockey medal at the Tokyo Olympics. They beat four-time champions Germany 5-4 in a nail-biter of a bronze medal match on Thursday to win their first Games medal since the 1980 Moscow Olympics. This is India’s fourth bronze medal at the Olympics. They last won a bronze in the 1972 Munich Olympics. India is the most successful team at the Olympics in men’s hockey with eight gold medals.
Simranjeet Singh scored two field goals in the 17th and 34th minutes, while LPU’s MBA student Harmanpreet Singh and Hardik Singh scored from penalty corners in the 27th and 29th minutes. LPU’s MBA student Rupinderpal Singh converted a penalty stroke in 31st minutes, thereby ensuring glory to the nation.
India was looking down and out when they went 3-1 down in the 24th minute but determined to clinch a medal; the Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the game’s history, 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 LPU’s MBA Student and captain of Indian Men’s Hockey Team Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid, savoured the historic moment.
LPU’s MBA student Manpreet Singh, India’s skipper, dedicated the historic hockey bronze to Covid warriors and frontline workers. “This medal is for all the Covid-19 warriors and the frontline workers of our country,” said Manpreet after the match. LPU has announced cash rewards for its students who win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
LPU provides a 100% scholarship to its promising athletes, including a full fee waiver, free lodging and boarding, financial assistance for buying sports equipment, participating in various tournaments, and coaching and infrastructure. The university has one of the finest academic and sports infrastructure with Olympic size all-weather indoor swimming pool, a diving pool and warming up pool, 16 badminton courts, multiple squash courts, basketball courts, shooting range, and more.
