Paris: Following their narrow 2-3 loss to Germany in the Olympic semi-final on Tuesday, Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh expressed their disappointment over missing the chance to secure a gold medal. Despite the setback, both players are determined to secure the bronze, aiming to end their campaign on a positive note.

The defeat means India will face Spain in the bronze medal match, while Germany advances to the final against the Netherlands. This marks a missed opportunity for India to reach the hockey final for the first time in 44 years.

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Harmanpreet Singh's Reflections

In a post-match interview with Jio Cinema, Harmanpreet Singh shared his dismay over the outcome. “This is extremely disappointing as we came here to win a gold medal. But, having said that, it's better to go home with bronze than nothing,” he said. Harmanpreet, who scored India’s opening goal in the 7th minute, admitted the semi-final loss was tough to accept. “When you lose in the semifinal, it’s not easy to take. Reaching the final is a dream for any athlete,” he added.

Sreejesh's Heartfelt Response

For PR Sreejesh, who is playing in his final international tournament, the loss was particularly poignant. “It’s a heartbreaking loss for us. We had the chance to win gold, but now we have to forget this semi-final and focus on the bronze medal match,” he said. Sreejesh, who has been a stalwart for the Indian team, emphasized the need to move forward and concentrate on the upcoming game.

Coach Craig Fulton’s Comments

India’s coach Craig Fulton also expressed his disappointment. “We’re disappointed we could not get over the line. We played a great match and pushed very hard till the end,” he said. Both Harmanpreet and Sreejesh acknowledged that the team made critical mistakes that contributed to their defeat. Harmanpreet noted, “We made a few errors in defense and missed several chances.” Sreejesh added, “We can’t afford such mistakes during a match. We failed to make an impact in the opponent’s half.”

Looking Forward

Despite the setback, Sreejesh chose to downplay the focus on his final appearance, highlighting the importance of the team’s performance. “Rather than focusing on my situation, the team is more important. We need to forget this and prepare to play better in the next game,” he said.

Both players extended their best wishes to wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who is set to compete in the 50kg freestyle category on Thursday. They expressed hope that she would secure a gold medal and bring pride to the country.

In their semi-final match, India started strongly with early dominance, with Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet Singh scoring. However, Germany’s goals from Gonzalo Peillat, Christopher Ruhr, and Marco Miltkau ultimately secured their victory. PTI