H S BEDI / Sports Desk
Indian men’s hockey team led by Manpreet Singh today beat Great Britain 3-1 in the quarterfinals. Great achievement after 1972.
Indian team lost just a single match in group stage. India last won an Olympic medal in hockey in 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. India, will now face Belgium in the last four.
Danny Kerry’s side went a goal down on seven minutes when some sloppy defence let Dilpreet Singh in.
India added a second early in the second quarter through Gurjant Singh.
Sam Ward pulled one back with seconds left in the third quarter and although GB pressed, Hardik Singh scored three minutes from time to make the game safe for India.
India, who will face Belgium in the last four, are historically the most successful team in Olympic hockey history, but the last of their eight golds came back in 1980.
Australia will take on Germany in the other semi-final.
Earlier Barring the disappointment against Australia (1-7) in their second game in the Pool A matches, India did well to finish second in their pool with substantial wins against New Zealand (3-2), Spain (3-0), Argentina (3-1) and Japan (5-3).
