NEW DELHI: Any hardcore sports fan in India can relate to hockey's big day today. Every Olympic medal is important, but if the romantics are allowed to prepare a wishlist, hockey will definitely top the order. The bronze medal in Tokyo will be right up there for India's most successful Olympic sport.
Along with historic elation has also come the realisation that after years of waxing-and-waning support from the Indian fans, the hockey fan-base of old may well be restored. Now that the team has proved itself on the biggest stage, it's time for the fans to redeem themselves.
India and Germany played a thrill-a-minute match at the Oi Hockey Stadium on Thursday. At the end of that 5-4 win, emotion overpowered the Men in Blue. Just then, veteran defender Rupinder Pal Singh made a very valid point while being interviewed on live broadcast on SONY TEN.
"It's been a long time. People were forgetting hockey in India. They loved hockey, but they had stopped hoping that we could win (an Olympic medal). But we won today," said the lanky full-back.
"They (fans) can expect more from us in the future. Keep believing in us. This team has the potential to do more."
Rupinder said that the team left for Tokyo with nothing but gold in mind. World champions Belgium destroyed that dream with a 5-2 win over India in the semifinals.
"Today is the best feeling I have ever had. We came here for gold, but we won a bronze. That's great too in a big tournament like this. It's a great moment for us and back home. People are really excited. They were waiting for this, and we won today," said Rupinder, nicknamed Bob by his team-mates.
"I hope hockey will become very popular."
