Olympics 2021: Indian women's team go down fighting against Great Britain in the bronze medal match

The Indian Women's Hockey team may be coming home without a medal, but they are coming back with a lot of confidence, with many new lessons learnt, with a lot more experience, with a lot more variety, and most importantly, with a hunger and hope to progress even further next time out! Do not criticize them for coming back without the bronze, but support them, cheer for them, for they are an inspiration to millions and billions of girls worldwide, and along with the men's team they too are keeping the hope of Hockey alive in India! On that note, we bid you a goodbye from a successful Hockey campaign in Tokyo Olympics 2020! We still have our athletes competing in various other disciplines, so do not forget to log in and check them out. Do take care and stay safe! Goodbye!

Let's keep the applause going!

Jo kabhi na ho paya ho, wo karke dikhaya hai,
Namumkin ko mumkin karna, is Team ne sikhaya hai!

The journey has been nothing short of inspirational. 💙#HaiTayyar #IndiaKaGame #Tokyo2020 #TeamIndia #TokyoTogether #StrongerTogether #HockeyInvites #WeAreTeamIndia #Hockey pic.twitter.com/HYOWoz1Asn
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 6, 2021

Congratulate Indian Women's Hockey Team for putting up a brave fight against Great Britain at #Tokyo2020. Keep your fighting spirit up and keep inspiring. Wish you all the very best for future. #Cheer4India #womenhockeyindia
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) August 6, 2021

Heartbreak!!! But all reasons to hold our heads high. Well played Indian Women’s Hockey Team. You all inspired everyone in India. That itself is a victory.
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 6, 2021

You gave it your all. Proud of how you played. Won a billion hearts. Created history and inspired the next gen #IndiaAtTokyo2020 #womenhockeyindia
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 6, 2021

Brilliant Effort girls. You must hold your heads up high for the magnificent effort and the spirit with which you fought. You have been instrumental in making the nation ho crazy for Hockey again @TheHockeyIndia . #IndvsGBR pic.twitter.com/b6RSXbp9rN
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 6, 2021

The performance of the Indian women’s hockey team has been one of the best stories of the Tokyo #Olympics They played as a team and gave it their all. Cannot ask for any more. Thank you for giving us fans so many wonderful memories 🙏🇮🇳🏑
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) August 6, 2021

WE HAVE YOUR BACK, our Tigresses! 🏑🐯💪

India 🇮🇳 lose to Great Britain 🇬🇧 4-3 in their Bronze Medal match at #Tokyo2020 #INDvsGBR #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/N7vqhk6ryI
— DD News (@DDNewslive) August 6, 2021

Social media is flooding with messages of support for the Indian side, who look distraught at the loss. But they can hold their heads high as it is through their efforts that Indians women's hockey has found its way onto the world map. And we at Sportskeeda, commend them for everything that they have done not just these few weeks, but over the last 4-5 years!

#Tokyo2020 #Hockey

Captain Rani and keeper Savita Punia in tears! 💔😭#IND #TeamIndia #Olympics
— Sportskeeda India (@Sportskeeda) August 6, 2021

We go down fighting against Great Britain in our Bronze Medal match.
You girls are great..we proud of you..!
Great fight..great game..

And you all are great players..!#GBRvIND #HaiTayyar #IndiaKaGame #Tokyo2020 #TeamIndia #TokyoTogether #HockeyInvites #WeAreTeamIndia #Hockey pic.twitter.com/ZuIh6IV7Ka
— Er. Hemang Patel (@Hempatel8) August 6, 2021

It wasn't anything if not valiant from the Indian women's team as they took the game to the defending champions and nearly pulled it off. The historic run should still mark the start of a new era for women's hockey in India. Right now, it is time to celebrate the titanic efforts of every single one of Sjoerd Marine's charges!

FT🇬🇧4-3🇮🇳

FULL TIME! A valiant effort from India, but Great Britain hold on for the bronze medal! Congratulations to GB, who have won medals at three successive Olympics: 2012 (Bronze), 2016 (Gold), 2020 (bronze)

Match info: https://t.co/oDF2l0o1XV #Tokyo2020 #hockey #GBRvIND
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) August 6, 2021

#Tokyo2020 #Hockey

So close yet so far for the Indian Women's Hockey Team.

💔😭#IND #TeamIndia #Olympics
— Sportskeeda India (@Sportskeeda) August 6, 2021

#TOKYO2020 #STRONGERTOGETHER #HOCKEYINVITES @_GBHockey v @TheHockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/SzXkccJaev
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) August 6, 2021

The Indian eves gave it their everything and they will finish 4th at the 2021 Olympics. Fall short by just the one goal, but this has been a trailblazing run nonetheless and we can all be extremely proud of the performance!

Full match analysis.

India were put on the back foot straight away from the start, with Great Britain dictating terms, making plays, making gaps, and creating chances. India failed to adapt quick, and took a while to find their feet. GBR meanwhile did not take long to set things in motion, and enjoyed possession. They failed to score, but there were many attacks, and the game flow indicated, a goal will be coming in soon.

Early in the second quarter, Britain continued from there they left off, and snuck in an early goal to take the lead. India were still toyed with, and were dictated. Britain continues to move the ball around quite well, and did not feel threatened yet. They managed to double the lead late in the second quarter, but this was the fuel India needed to light the fire.

India struck back immediately, won penalty cornes, created chances and within the final 5 minutes of the first half, not only did the manage to score, they scored, equalized, and took the lead. The game had turned and India were looking better than before. Hope glimmered around the entire nation, but there was still time to go.

India started the second half in command as well, and continued to create chances, but Great Britain eventually took back the momentum they had, and they managed to score early with half a chance. This goal brought back the horrors of the first half, and India were caught on the back foot yet again. Britain started to enjoy more of the possession, but India kept fighting, and kept creating chances.

One final quarter stood between India, and a medal! But GBR, the 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist, were not going home without a medal. They sneaked in a winner in the early minutes of the last quarter, and with India, a player short, were all over the place. GBR were exploiting the gaps, and were making attack look very easy.

India gave them a fight till the last minute, but India just could not get that fourth goal. They did create chances, they did come close, they did everything we can expect from them, but they came up just short. Ranked 9th in the world, India had no business fighting for the bronze medal two weeks ago, but they made it, defied all odds, and have created history!

Nothing to take away from the Women's team. They have done their nation proud, and they should come back with their chins held high, for the future is bright for this team. This performance in Tokyo 2020 should be a benchmark for this team, and they will surely get better and better with time.

Final scoresheet:
4.PNG 56.67 KB

Full time. India 3-4 Great Britain.

And India is DENIED a medal! Heartbreak for the women in blue as the players fall to the ground in despair.

Salima Tete creates a chance through the left, but India trying to create something let it go! Great Britain keep it together for the final seconds, and India will have to wait a little longer to take that final leap in history!

60' - Great Britain come away with the ball and this may end in heartbreak!

60' - India hanging by the thread as Neha wins the ball for a final attack!!

ONE LAST MINUTE!

India under pressure and are looking fragile, very fragile!

No good says the video referral, and India still looking for that penetration that can bring in the equalizer!

India lose the ball as this is slipping out of hand!

90 seconds to go!

58' - India lose their referral! Still Indian ball!

This is a crucial crucial decision for the video umpire!

58' - India looking for dangerous ball in the circle. This is BIG!!

India giving their everything, but GBR not budging! They know what's at stake, and they are not willing to let loose.

Final 2 minutes! Where will the goal come from and we need some inspiration to come from one of the players.

57' - It is going down to the wire as Salima Tete comes up with another strong run.

Navjot gets in a threatening cross into the danger zone, but no one able to get at the end of it. India need to push for the final 3 MINUTES!

56' - A good cross at goal by Navjot, but India fail to get the final tap. Will that be a costly miss??!

Great Britain are enjoying possession once again, and controlling the flow of the game! Position needs to be taken back by the Indians!

Final 5 minutes!

55' - India comes clear as Sarah Jones fails to capitalize on a good run.

54' - India on the backfoot as it is a free hit just outside the circle for Great Britain.

53' - Rani and Navneet doing good work in the midfield, but still need to come forward with purpose.

India back to full strength as they go searching for that equaliser! They scored 3 goals in a span of 5 minutes, but can they score one more here?

Q4🇬🇧4-3🇮🇳

The intensity of the heat means a one minute drinks break in this quarter. The action resumes with just under 7mins left to play.

Match info: https://t.co/oDF2l0o1XV #Tokyo2020 #hockey #GBRvIND
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) August 6, 2021