Gurjit Kaur struck twice as the Indian women's hockey team beat title holders South Korea 4-1 to register its third consecutive win and also book a place in the semi-finals of the Asian Games, in Jakarta, on Saturday.
But India clawed back into the game in the second quarter. While the team's defence held strong in the following minutes, the Indian attackers worked on creating scoring opportunities.
Overwhelmed by emotion after leading India to its first Olympics hockey medal in 41 years, skipper Manpreet Singh dedicated the historic triumph to the country's doctors and health-care workers who have worked tirelessly to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Uncertainty hovered over Indian team's halfback SV Sunil's participation in the quarterfinals after he sustained an injury during its last men's hockey Pool B game against Canada at the Rio Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday. India were dealt a big blow when Sunil was stretchered off the pitch after he suffered an injury by crashing against the sign boards while pressing for an attack during the match against Canada.
Australian Terry Walsh, who resigned as Indian men's hockey team chief coach because of a "pay dispute", hinted that he was ready to reconsider his decision if he was given a new contract on his terms and conditions by the Sports Authority of India.
In an encouraging development for the Indian women's hockey team, all the squad members are set to be included in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) when the review committee will identify a core group for the government-funded programme, next month.
Asian Champions Trophy in Dhaka is the men's hockey team's first assignment post Tokyo Olympics.
Following his retirement, Hockey India appointed Sreejesh as the head coach of the junior men's team and he vowed to make India a 'powerhouse in hockey'.
Manpreet (30th minute, 44th) was the star for sixth- ranked India, while Varun Kumar (17th) and Harjeet Singh (49th) also sounded the board.
- 'I hope our training on creating early pressure will be evident when we go into the competition'
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
Six medals from a 117-strong contingent is not ideal but India had its moments of joy, hope, frustration, and heartache.
Badminton is not as popular as cricket in India and therefore comparatively does not attract as many sponsors.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Tuesday
However, with the Asian Games now postponed to next year owing to the COVID-19 situation in China, HI decided to pick a strong team for the prestigious event, scheduled to begin from July 28.
Impressed with the hockey team's showing at the recently-concluded Asian Games, Sports Minister Sarbanada Sonowal said the gold medal triumph could act as a "trigger" for more good things to come.
P V Sindhu, will have to punch above its weight to salvage any hopes of a medal after being handed a tough draw in the badminton event at the 18th Asian Games.
India's men's hockey team slumped to its second defeat in the FIH Pro League, beaten 3-5 by Spain in the second match of their two-legged tie, at the Kalinga stadium, in Bhubaneswar, on Sunday.
Tokyo's grand opening on Friday will have none of that splendour or grandiosity.
Led by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, India will seek to showcase its ascendency as a sporting power at the Asian Games, which opens formally on Saturday after an unprecedented one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Right from the hooter it was India forcing the pace and putting Great Britain on the back foot. They were forcing the attacks, creating more circle penetrations but their finishing was letting them down.
India continued their goal-scoring spree and predictably walloped minnows Italy 8-1 in a one-sided match of the men's hockey Olympic Qualification tournament, in New Delhi, on Sunday.
Penalty corners have been the Indian women's hockey team's Achilles heel for a while but it could well turn a corner in the upcoming FIH Olympic Qualifiers
India's tryst with fourth-place Olympic heartbreaks
Following is India's schedule at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, on Friday, October 7.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
India gave away a goal in the eighth minute before bouncing back strongly after half time to lead 2-1. But Belgium struck four minutes from the hooter to snatch a 2-2 draw in an evenly-contested match.
Seventy years after Independent India won its first Olympic gold in hockey in London defeating Britain, living legend Balbir Singh Sr. went down the memory lanes and said he was overwhelmed by a sense of patriotism after the triumph.
Dr Vece Paes briefed them on how to remain fit and fresh for the entire duration of the game.
India ensured they stayed in the lead and didn't allow New Zealand to break through their defense throughout the match.
Eight-time champions India have been clubbed alongside title holders Germany and World No 2 Netherlands in Pool B at the men's hockey competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
After venturing into football, Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni felicitated Asian Games gold-winning hockey team vice-captain P R Sreejesh on behalf of the Kerala Cricket Association.
A golden dream unfulfilled for over 30 years remained just that in women's hockey but India equalled its best ever medal haul as sailors joined the assorted contributors to the country's tally at the 18th Asian Games, on Friday.
Indian men's hockey team witnessed a disappointing start to its final preparatory campaign ahead of the Rio Olympics after it went down 1-4 to Spain in the first of the two practice games in Madrid. For eight-time champions India, the loss against Spain couldn't have come at the right time as they give final touches to their preparation before flying directly to Rio from here in search of an Olympic medal that eluded the country for 36 years. India's last of the eight Olympic gold medals came way back in 1980.
Both the Indian men's and women's teams will play against Spain on February 26 and 27 in a two-legged tie, followed by matches (both men's and women's) against Germany on March 12 and 13.
Balbir Sr was taken to the private hospital from his residence in Sector 36 in Chandigarh, where he lives with his daughter Sushbir and maternal grandson Kabir.
India will aim for their first podium finish in 48 years in the men's Hockey World Cup as they begin their campaign with a tricky match against Spain in Rourkela on Friday.
India would look to address their attacking woes against a plucky New Zealand for a place in the last-eight stage of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar on Sunday.
Check out how India's athletes fared on Day 11, Tuesday, August 6, 2024:
India eye Paris revenge against Germany in Test series as international hockey returns to Delhi
