• Indian men’s hockey team rewrote history as it claimed an Olympic medal after 41 years, defeating Germany 5-4 to win the bronze in a play-off match at Tokyo on August 5.

• The Indians made one of the most memorable comebacks in the history of the game, fighting back from a two-goal deficit (1-3) to turn the match in their favour.

• Simranjeet Singh (17th, 34th minute) scored a brace, while Hardik Singh (27th), Harmanpreet Singh (29th) and Rupinder Pal Singh (31st) were the other goal-getters for India.

• Germany’s goals were scored by Timur Oruz (2nd), Niklas Wellen (24th), Benedikt Furk (25th) and Lukas Windfeder (48th).

• Indian goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh emerged as one of the stars of the match by saving a penalty corner in the dying moments of the game.

• This was India’s first podium finish at the Olympics since the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

• The Indian team was led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid.

• It is India’s third hockey bronze medal in the history of the Olympics.

India’s previous Olympic medals in hockey:

• India is the most successful country in Olympics hockey with eight gold medals, all of which were won by the men’s team between 1928 and 1980.

• India won gold in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980.

• In the 1960 Rome Olympics, the 0-1 loss to Pakistan in the final ended India’s six straight Olympic gold-winning run. The Indian men’s hockey team won silver.

• India won bronze in 1968 and 1972.

• In all, the country now has 12 Olympic medals in hockey.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store