rctim_c48nvg
The two-5 loss to Belgium within the Olympic semifinals on Tuesday is disappointing however Indian males’s hockey workforce captain Manpreet Singh and star custodian P R Sreejesh stated the aspect has no time to dwell on the heartbreak because it has to refocus for the bronze medal play-off on Thursday.
Additionally learn: ‘India is happy with its gamers’, ‘by no means ever quit’, encouraging phrases flood Twitter to cheer hockey workforce
The eight-time winners of Olympic gold, the final of which got here manner again in 1980, fell quick towards world champions Belgium, shedding 2-5 within the semifinals right here on Tuesday.
“It’s actually arduous for me proper now as a result of we got here with a profitable mindset, however sadly we did not win the match. Now we have to concentrate on our subsequent bronze-medal match and we have to work and we have to get the medal,” Manpreet stated after the loss.
“It is an incredible honour for us reaching the semifinal after a very long time, however now I feel we have to focus as a result of the subsequent match goes to be actually essential for us. Not less than we must always win a bronze medal for the nation,” he added.
The skipper stated having toiled arduous for the final 5 years to succeed in this stage, India deserved a greater consequence on Tuesday.
“It is all the time been arduous work and togetherness. This workforce has been collectively for the final 4 or 5 years. We now have labored actually arduous to be reaching this stage. We deserve higher, and sadly we could not get it at present.”
Sreejesh agreed together with his skipper and stated the loss towards Belgium is a factor of the previous now and the workforce must concentrate on returning dwelling with a medal from right here.
“Dissatisfied, however you do not have time to fret about that. You should neglect about that and take into consideration the long run. Now we nonetheless have an opportunity to win a medal and that is extra essential for us than crying presently,” he stated.
“It is extra essential for us to consider the long run, watch the match, take into consideration the place we misplaced, the place we dedicated the errors, rectify that, and transfer on,” added.
Senior India defender Rupinder Pal Singh too feels that every one shouldn’t be misplaced within the ongoing Video games for them.
“After all it is heartbreaking for us, reaching the semifinal after 41 years and we have been right here to win a gold medal. That was our goal, however we misplaced at present. The good factor is we have now an opportunity to complete third within the subsequent recreation so we’ll concentrate on that,” he stated.
Rupinder believes a medal from Tokyo shall be huge for the game again within the nation.
“If we win that, it may be for us solely. After all there are lots of people behind this and supporting us. However we’re going to win for us first after which (everybody else). That is an incredible motivation, too,” the tall drag-flicker stated.
Rupinder credited workforce’s self perception for its success in Tokyo.
“That is the arduous work behind it and the assumption. That is crucial factor behind (us) reaching right here. I really feel just like the youthful guys are working actually arduous for us and we’re changing good possibilities.
“We have to work arduous for the subsequent recreation.”
Manpreet and Sreejesh, in the meantime, have been additionally in awe of the ladies workforce’s feat within the ongoing Video games and wished the aspect luck for the maiden semifinal look towards Argentina on Wednesday.
“They performed a tremendous recreation towards Australia. We want them the most effective of luck for his or her semifinal (towards) Argentina. I hope they win,” Manpreet stated.
Sreejesh added: “That is an incredible wake-up. The primary three matches they misplaced, however the women fought very well and received the final three matches, which was so essential for them.
“Yesterday’s match, upsetting Australia, that was a tricky name and I feel the ladies are powerful sufficient to win a medal on this event.”
Sreejesh praised Belgium’s Alexander Hendrickx, who made all of the distinction by scoring a hat-trick to take the Pink Lions into the Olympic semifinals for the second consecutive time.
“He (Hendrickx) all the time scores on the proper time. That offers the workforce extra confidence. I feel the second purpose was a bit my mistake, however nonetheless, the best way he flicks the ball it’s all the time a bit powerful for a goalkeeper,” he stated.
India will face the shedding workforce from the opposite semifinal, between Australia and Germany, within the bronze medal play-off match on Thursday. PTI
