India lose thrilling semifinal to Germany but chance remains of winning back-to-back medals

New Delhi: India produced a phenomenal show and kept fighting till the end but missed a golden chance to reach the hockey final of the Olympics for the first time in 44 years as they went down to Germany in a thrilling semifinal clash at the Paris Olympics.

One of the most exciting battles ended on a disappointing note for the Men in Blue as they lost 2-3 against the fierce Germans, who took the revenge for their loss against India in Tokyo. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side started the match on a bright note and dominated the initial proceedings before Germany regrouped themselves and bounced back flawlessly.

Germany dash Indian hopes

It was a great opportunity for India to enter their first final of the Olympics since the 1980 Moscow Games but Germany dashed their hopes with a decisive goal in the fourth and final quarter. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh (7th) and Sukhjeet Singh (36th) struck for India, while Gonzalo Peillat (18th), Christopher Ruhr (27th) and Marco Miltkau (54th) were the scorers for Germany.

India were on the front foot in the first quarter scoring early through Harmmanpreet but the Germans, who are known for their nerves of steel came back strongly in the next quarter to haunt India. They equalised from a penalty corner through Peillat, before talking the lead through a penalty stroke conversion by Ruhr.

The Indians secured both their goals through penalty corners as in the 36th minute, Sukhjeet nicely deflected in a variation from Harmanpreet’s flick. The Germans attacked with intensity in the fourth and final quarter and just six minutes from the final hooter, they scored the winner when Miltkau deflected in a cross to break Indian hearts.

The Indians had their chances in the match as they earned as many as 11 penalty corners but converted just one. Germany, on the other hand, secured only four penalty corners. India will now take on Spain in the bronze medal match, while Germany will be up against Netherlands in the final.

(With PTI inputs)

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 Germany dashed India’s hopes of getting a gold medal with a decisive goal in the fourth and final quarter to emerge victorious in the thrilling clash.  Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today