As the final hooter went off during the second women’s hockey quarterfinal, the scene at the Oi hockey stadium in Tokyo on Monday was poignant. At the centre of the blue pitch was the Indian women’s hockey team, crying, hugging doing a celebratory jig. At the other end, the Australians had slumped to the ground, shocked and dejected. These post-match scenes were expected but not many would have imagined it in this reverse order! August 2 will go down in the history of Indian hockey as a day when 18 resolute girls sent out a landmark message: Dare to dream, and live it.
India went into the quarterfinal match as the dark horses, only to emerge giant killers. They showed nerves of steel and admirable determination to stun world No. 2 Australia by a solitary goal, scored by Gurjit Kaur (22nd minute), and book their semifinal berth against Argentina.
In the 60 minutes on the pitch, Rani Rampal and Co. put up an inspiring exhibition of fearless and near-flawless hockey complemented by remarkable fitness - both mental and physical. This against a team which came into the fixture with the confidence of being three-time champions, and on a five-match winning streak in the league phase.
The Indian team also showed a lot of character. Each player on the field had something to offer to the team’s success. If Savita Punia came up with nine game-changing saves, Gurjit, who had looked off-colour and misfired with the drag-flick, scored her first goal of the competition when it mattered the most. With Australia going hard from the start, striker Sharmila Devi tumbled and injured her back while defender Deep Grace Ekka took a blow on her head but nothing could halt the blue brigade’s victory march.
A confident Australia opened the attack with Ambrosia Malone taking the first shot at the goal in the second minute. The Hockeyroos repeatedly tested the Indian defence and midfield, operating on the flanks, but were shocked to find an opposition unruffled and effective.
The goal, which turned out to be the winner, disturbed Australia’s concentration and plan. They suddenly grew quiet as a team. India, on the other hand, were aware that a one-goal advantage was never enough. So, they went about putting everything they had in maintaining the lead.
The final quarter was a nerve-racking affair, In the 50th minute, Savita, who came up with two stunning saves with the stick, put out Madison Fitzpatick’s close-range shot at the goal. A flurry of activity followed in the Indian circle, with Australia earning a set of back-to-back penalty corners in a span of six minutes. In the intervening time, India were also down by a player after Nikki Pradhan was penalised with a green card (54th minute). But a jaded Australian attack was no match for a sturdy Indian defence.
For a squad comprising eight first-time Olympians, this unique installation lends itself as anchor to forge a closely-knit unit. It was the strangest run-up to the Games. Vandana Katariya, hattrick heroine against South Africa, lost her father as recently as May 30 this year. Seven players had to take a Covid-19-induced break, they have lived in near isolation at Bengaluru’s SAI centre and conformed to new norms of training – smaller groups and limited interaction. Most of the team building exercises were virtual.
Against Australia, the team was all aggressive intent, holding nothing back in both the attack and defence. Australia dominated ball possession but the Sjoerd Marjine coached team took control of the proceedings. While each one played a part, it came down to goalkeeper Savita Punia to put up the performance of her career and the 29-year-old gave it her all. Covering every inch of her goal with quick reflexes and finesse in stickwork, she swatted away nine goal-bound balls to ensure this was not to end just a pipe dream.
