Tokyo Olympics | Men's hockey: India beats Germany 5-4 to clinch bronze medal, ends a four-decade wait

Match highlight: Indian men's hockey team wins bronze medal

In Pictures | Indian men's hockey team wins bronze; ending 41-year wait

India is the most successful team in men's field hockey competition at the Summer Olympic Games with record eight gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980), one silver medal (1960) and now three bronze medals (1968, 1972 and 2021).

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India once dominated men's field hockey, winning eight Olympic golds between 1928 and 1980, but have since failed to win a single medal of any colour.

India are still Asia's top team but are now ranked fourth in the world behind Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Hockey greats Dhyan Chand and KD Singh Babu were the stars as India won six straight Olympic tournaments between 1928 and 1956. Five of their eight triumphs came after India's independence from British rule in 1947.

Hockey remains India's national game but has slipped in the popularity stakes behind cricket, which can boast glamour and riches.
The Indian team crashed out in the quarter-finals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"Excellent display of Hockey skills by the Indian team at the #Olympics today. Congratulations to Team India for winning the Bronze Medal in Hockey. This wonderful victory will inspire our youth to play and excel in this amazing sport," Union Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted shortly after the win.

The Australian men's team will take on Belgium in the gold medal later on August 5.

The Indian women's hockey team will play their bronze medal match against Great Britain on August 6.

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(With inputs from agencies)