Heroic Victory: India Ends 52-Year Olympic Drought Against Australia

Hockey legend Ajit Pal Singh hailed India's sensational 3-2 victory over Australia in the Tokyo Olympics, breaking a 52-year winless streak. Singh praised the effort of the team, especially skipper Harmanpreet Singh, and expressed hope and confidence for the upcoming matches.

Hockey legend Ajit Pal Singh on Friday commended the Indian men's team for their extraordinary performance against Tokyo Games silver medallist and longstanding rival, Australia, whom India defeated after 52 years in the Olympics. India's historic 3-2 victory marked their first win over Australia in the Olympic Games since the 1972 Munich Games.

In the 1972 Munich Games, astro-turf hockey was introduced. Singh remarked, "Australia has always dominated us. But today, our team played exceptionally well, dominating three out of four quarters. It's heartening to see our progression." Singh further added, "The Indian team outmaneuvered the Australians and proved they can defeat any team now. Congratulations to all hockey lovers in India."

The 1975 World Cup-winning captain praised skipper Harmanpreet Singh, calling him the heart and soul of the team. Highlighting individual performances, he noted, "Harmanpreet was outstanding, and players like Jarmanpreet Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet, and Hardik showed great potential. Sreejesh, as always, provided confidence to the team." Ajit Pal also acknowledged India's strong showing against Belgium, expressing optimism for the remaining matches, and added, "Today, India proved we are here to fight and win a medal."

(With inputs from agencies.)