 "India hockey defender Amit Rohidas thanked his teammates for supporting him during his one-match suspension at the Paris Olympcs. AP")
Amit Rohidas has endured a couple of sleepless nights following his red card during India’s hockey quarter-final against Great Britain at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the defender is thankful that his teammates did not single him out. India were down to 10 men for more than 40 minutes against Great Britain in the aftermath of Rohidas’ red card, and he missed the team’s crucial semi-final against Germany, which India lost 2-3.
”I really missed the semi-final because of the one-match suspension. It was such a crucial match,” Rohidas told news agency PTI during the Indian hockey team’s felicitation at the India House on Saturday.
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”Pura country aur mere teammates mere saath the… Kabhi team se emotionally bahar hone nahin diya. Mera focus bas aagli match pe thaa (I knew the whole country and my teammates. Emotionally they never ever let me feel that I’m an outsider or sidelined. I was fully focused on our next match," he added.
In the 17th minute of the quarter-final against Great Britain, Rohidas was penalised for “dangerous play” after his hockey stick inadvertently hit the face of Great Britain forward Will Calnan. The on-field referee did not initially declare as a serious offense, but after a video referral, the verdict turned into a Rohidas red card. ”
Paris Olympics | Why Amit Rohidas was given red card during hockey quarters between India and Great Britain
“I don’t know what people are saying outside, but I know as a player what I’ve gone through. It wasn’t intentional, and the referee’s decision is part of the game,” Rohidas said, reflecting on the incident. PR Sreejesh led a gritty fight in the Indian defence to take the game against Great Britain to penalties, where India won 4-2.
”It gave me immense pride to win over our opponents in the shoot-out despite being reduced to 10 players. We showed our countrymen how we can fight despite the numerical disadvantage. It was not just once but twice we made records — beating Australia after 52 years, and winning with 10 players,” recalled the 31 year-old.
Rohidas was also thankful India were not returning empty-handed. ”Maybe the colour of the medal would have changed but it’s all destined you cannot change anything. Luckily we are not returning empty-handed. This is country’s medal," he added.
India began their campaign with a 3-2 win over New Zealand in their first group stage match. A 3-2 win over Australia was arguably their biggest win of this Games, but goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made contributions when it mattered in every game.
”Sreejesh bhai may not be there on the pitch after the retirement, but he will always be there with us as a guide and mentor. I’m sure whoever takes his position under the bar, we will work together as a unit as we have been doing all this while. We will follow the same process,” he said.
Rohidas also spoke on the importance of collective leadership within the team. ”There is no one leader in a team, 16 or 18 everyone contributes in the leadership role. We do it together. Our team does not have one leader.
”Yes, there is a designated captain, but it’s a team game. We all give our inputs, plan, and execute accordingly,” he added.
Mike Horn’s Boot Camp : It was one hell of an experience
Ahead of the Olympics, the Indian hockey team took part in a three-day boot camp in Switzerland that was led by adventurer Mike Horn. Horn has been associated with the Indian cricket team before the 2011 Cricket World Cup and Germany in 2014 when they won the FIFA World Cup. Rohidas recalled fond memories from the camp.
”Accha bhi lag raha tha, aur upar se phaat bhi raha tha. Sab precautions thaa but agar kuchh ulta pulta ho jaata toh wahan chance nahin hai. (We had all the safety precautions but we also freaked out. It was like balancing between life and death).
”A magnificent and incredible three-day camping. It may look easy from outside, but only we knew what we went through while climbing on the cliffs and then the descent—up and down — and how to maintain balance. It really made our minds tougher, stronger,” he recalled.