India’s bronze was its first Olympic hockey medal since winning gold at the 1980 Moscow Games
Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmeet Sodhi announced a cash award of Rs 1 crore each for the players from the state in the Indian men’s hockey team.
India won the bronze medal after a thrilling 5-4 victory over Germany at the Tokyo Games on Thursday, giving the country its first Olympic hockey medal in more than forty years.
Germany took an early lead in the goal-rich match through a second-minute goal by Timur Oruz, and posed a threat to eight-time Olympic hockey champions India in the first quarter.
After Simranjeet Singh equalised with a backhand shot for India, Germany kept their cool, scoring two goals to take a 3-1 lead in the second quarter.
But India pulled level late in that quarter thanks to goals by Hardik Singh and Harmanpreet Singh, making it 3-3 at the halftime break.
India then took a 5-3 lead after Rupinder Pal Singh notched in a penalty stroke and Simranjeet Singh scored his second of the match not long into the second half.
Germany came back a goal but was unable to force the equaliser, even after taking out its goalie to bring in an extra field player late in the game.
