NEW DELHI: Whenever the Indian hockey team would return with the Olympic gold medals it won between 1928 and 1980, more so in the post-Independence era, the country would roll out the red carpet for them.
After a gap of 41 years, during which time India went to the edge of an Olympic semifinal qualification a few times, the men's team not only entered the semis in Tokyo, but also clinched a bronze medal at the Games.
The team led by Manpreet Singh and coached by Australian Graham Reid came back from 1-3 down to beat Germany 5-4 in a thrilling finish on Thursday.
The moment broke boundaries and former Pakistan captain Waseem Ahmed stepped up to congratulate India.
INDIA'S RESULTS IN HOCKEY SINCE 1928 OLYMPICS
"It's a huge achievement," said Ahmed, talking to TimesofIndia.com from Melbourne, where he has been settled since 2015.
"Congratulations to the team and the country. It's huge that the Indian team has made a comeback to the Olympics (podium). It's their hard work and dedication that they could win a medal. It's not a small thing, doing it after a gap of 41 years," he added.
1/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>India won the bronze medal in hockey after a thrilling 5-4 victory over Germany at the Tokyo Games on Thursday, giving the country its first Olympic medal in the sport in more than forty years. (PTI Photo)</p>
2/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>India forward Simranjeet Singh stood out from the other players by scoring two goals for India, including the winning goal of the match. (PTI Photo)</p>
3/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>Eight-time Olympic champions, Germany took an early lead through a second-minute goal by Timur Oruz (2R), and posed a threat to India in the first quarter. (Reuters Photo)</p>
4/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>After Simranjeet equalised with a backhand shot for India, Germany kept their cool, scoring two goals to take a 3-1 lead in the second quarter. (Reuters Photo)</p>
5/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>India pulled level late in that quarter thanks to goals by Hardik Singh and Harmanpreet Singh, making it 3-3 at the halftime break. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
6/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>India then took a 4-3 lead after Rupinder Pal Singh notched in a penalty stroke. (AP Photo)</p>
7/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>Simranjeet scored the winning goal of the match not long into the second half. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)</p>
8/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>Germany came back a goal and tried to force the equaliser, even taking out its goalkeeper to bring in an extra field player late in the game. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)</p>
9/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>India goalie Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, who was a star of the match with nine saves. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
10/10:Tokyo Olympics 2020: India win bronze after dramatic victory over Germany
<p>Indian hockey players and coach Graham Reid celebrate after winning bronze medal against Germany at Tokyo Olympics. (PTI Photo)<br /></p>Ahmed, the player with the most international caps (410) for Pakistan, hoped in earnest that hockey in India reclaims the cherished status it once enjoyed as eight-time Olympic gold medallists.
"I hope the players and the game gets appreciated in the same way as all other sports, and I hope hockey returns to the status that it once enjoyed.
"It's a proud moment for Indian hockey and Asian hockey," he concluded.
