NEW DELHI: After a long almost jinxed wait of four decades, 41 years to be precise, India registered a historic win by bagging the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo after they defeated Germany 5-4 in a nail-biting finish between the two teams till the last few seconds. 

Germany took a very early lead in the game with a goal within two minutes of the match by a swift move of midfielder Timur Oruz hitting the ball in the nets after a scramble. 

This led to the pressure on the Indian side and the defence was kept under pressure by the Germans in the first quarter by gaining maximum possession of the ball within the circle and forcing four penalty-corners in the first quarter. 

However, thanks to some outstanding save by India goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh within seconds to go in the first quarter although the germans appealed for a penalty corner as the ball struck an Indian defender’s leg they could not convert it.

Although in the second quarter, a brilliant pass by Nilakanta Sharma to Simranjeet Singh was converted into a goal with a powerful strike, however, in the ensuing few minutes, Germany scored two goals in a span of two minutes with Niklas Wellen's superb backhand strike taking Germany up by 3 to 1.

Pretty stunned by the three goals, the Indian forward went in a hyper mode and earning a penalty corner which was converted by Harkik Singh as Stadler missed the save taking the score to 3-2. Three minutes later, the scores were even 3-3 as with Hardik again converting another penalty corner for India as the teams entered the third quarter.

India continued its remarkable performance in the second half Rupinder Pal Singh scored from a penalty corner taking India from 3-1 down to now lead of 4-3 within minutes of the game four minutes later Simranjeet scores again talking a two-goal lead against Germany at 5-3.

Finally, it all boiled down to the last 15 minutes of the game, German Lukas Windfeder gets back to score another off a penalty and Sreejesh missing the ball which slides between his legs and the score is now 3-5 in favour of India and the frustration on the Germans was clearly visible as they scrambled for the possession. 

With barely four minutes to go Germany tried a last attempt by bringing off their keeper replacing Stadler with an outfield player however even as they won another penalty corner with less than 10 seconds left and this time Sreejesh got the ball and India had won the match.

Eight times champion, India had years of dominance in the sport in the 60's and 70's which started declining after the last win of gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and they last won bronze, they had last won bronze at the 1972 Summer Olympics. But with the win at Tokyo Indian hockey is back in the reckoning.