Tokyo Olympics 2020 Day 9 Highlights: PV Sindhu wins bronze medal; India beat Great Britain 3-1, into semi-finals

PV Sindhu claimed a second consecutive Olympic medal, bagging the bronze with a straight games (21-13, 21-15) win over China’s He Bingjiao on Sunday, becoming only the second Indian after wrestler Sushil Kumar to win more than one individual Olympic medal.

Read Sindhu’s road to bronze medal.

Hockey!

India men road to semis:

Beat New Zealand 3-2 in Pool match 1

Lost to Australia 1-7 in Pool match 2

Beat Spain 3-0 in Pool match 3

Beat Argentina 3-1 in Pool match 4

Beat Japan 5-3 in Pool match 5

Beat Great Britain 3-1 in quarter-final. 

‘PV Sindhu is possibly the greatest Women’s athlete from India’

Sindhu’s bronze medal win has sent Indian fans into celebratory mode. She could not win the gold or silver but an Olympics medal is a medal is a medal.

Here’s how Twitter reacted on her bronze win.

‘Greatest moment for Indian Hockey since the 1980’

India men’s hockey team have created history on Tokyo and have reignited the hope in India hockey fans that the team can go on and win a medal. 

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the men’s team’s brilliant win in quarter-finals.

Here is that MOMENT for PV Sindhu and all of India. 

The India flag goes up!

Hockey

Gurjant Singh, one of the goal-scorers for India in QF:

We took early lead but we were defensive, GBR played good hockey. We will watch videos and look to get better. Hopefully we give our best in the semis and get into finals.

Badminton

Chen Yu Fei has clinched gold in women’s singles.

She is China’s fifth women’s singles gold medal winner. 

She beat Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying in final. Tai Tzu Ying wins the silver medal.

India’s PV Sindhu won her bronze medal match earlier today. 

So true. Wrestling begins soon for India. Two huge mendal contenders there. And remember, Lovlina has not finished yet.

Hockey!

Could have been a terrible day for Gurjant, especially after that unsuccessful referral he took at the start of the match. Was taken in haste and could have cost India an important game but he showed his nerves and scored a goal. India without any referral were brilliant to maintain the lead throughout the match.

Bronze for Sindhu in badminton.

India men’s hockey team sealing SF berth at an Olympics after 41 years. 

The last two hours can decide how India do at next two Olympics or more.

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India play Belgium in the semi-finals. Won’t be easy but as Viren puts it the fire and hunger is what takes you to glory in Olympics, skills aside.

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India WIN, book berth in semi-finals

IND 3 | GBR 1  – FT

Goals from Dilpreet, Gurjant and Hardik take India into semis.

Harmanpreet Singh is in tears. This means a lot for the Indian team. Great game this one. India dominated the proceedings with two goals in the first and second quarter. Brits came back strongly in last two quarters and it seemed Indian defence will give in to back to back PCs but Sreejesh stood there like a wall. 

How PV Sindhu clinched the bronze medal match

Chief coach Pullela Gopichand on Sindhu’s bronze medal

“Congrats to our awesome Sindhu on her 2nd successive Olympics medal. While it is all due to the hard work by her and the team of coaches and support staff, I also want to express my gratitude to the support of Sports Minsitry, Indian Government, SAI and BAI,. Also thank govt of Telangana for alloying the stadium for the players and great to see badminton win medals in 3 successive games.”

GOALLLL!

IND 3 | GBR 1 – Q4

India make it 3-1, Hardik scores against the run of play. Another field goal. Great run by Dilpreet and then he passed it to Hardik who entered D like gun speed, first attempt failed, on second attempt, found the gap and India lead 3-1. Brits dominated the quarter before this moment. What a goal for India.

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IND 2 | GBR 1  – Q4

Some Indians looking a little tired against Brits who are running hard. Just under four minutes left in the game. India needs to buck up and finish it on a high here.

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IND 2 | GBR 1  – Q4

Sreejesh with another save, to his right and he manages to block it. Lost the number of counts of his saves now.

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IND 2 | GBR 1  – Q4

Yellow for India captain Manpreet Singh. PC for GBR.

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IND 2 | GBR 1  – Q4

Top class block fro Manpreet as Sam Ward entered the D and was very close to finding the gap between defenders. Earlier, great run by Mandeep and Harmanpreet towards the opponent’s D before being blocked.

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IND 2 | GBR 1  – Q4

PC for GBR. Pressure on Sam Ward. And he fails, Sreejesh saves again. He has been standing there like a wall today.

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IND 2 | GBR 1  – Q4

Great Britain with more possession at the start of Q4 and they are running hard with it, good passing. India need to be alert here.

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IND 2 | GBR 1  – End of Q4

Another PC for GBR right at the start of the fourth and decisive quarter. But Sreejesh dives forward, rushes off and blocks it. PC not converted by GBR.

PV Sindhu post-win

On her Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medal:

“It makes me feel really happy because I’ve worked hard for so many years. I had a lot of emotions going through me – should I be happy that I won bronze or sad that I lost the opportunity to play in the final? But overall, I had to close off my emotions for this one match and give it my best, my all and think about the emotions. I’m really happy and I think I’ve done really well. It’s a proud moment getting a medal for my country.”

On celebrating:

“I’m on cloud nine. I’m going to enjoy this moment. My family have worked hard for me and put in a lot of effort so I’m very thankful. And my sponsors have given me their best so I’d like to thank them and enjoy the moment.”

To her fans:

“A lot of Indian fans showed me their love and support and I’m very thankful to each and everyone of them. Definitely lots of love and support and kisses.”

On leading in the first match:

“I was a fresh game altogether, we both had losses yesterday and came back. For us, it was very important in getting a medal for the country and at the Olympics. It’s not easy. It’s a big thing. There were really long rallies but I had to be patient and calm. Even though I was leading, I did not relax.”

On the Paris 2024 Olympic Games:

“Definitely yes, Definitely.”

(Courtesy: BWF)

Hockey

IND 2 | GBR 1  – End of Q3

GBR looked to attack but India defence with a top notch display however it was breached in the last minute of this quarter. What an exciting finish to the third quarter. Just one PC till the last minute of Q3 and then three back to back PCs for GBR, the last one Sam Ward converts into goal to make it 2-1. GBR are back in this.

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IND 2 | GBR 1  – Q3

GOAL!

Sam Ward does it, in the PC, third back to back PC for GBR in the last minute and GBR finished third quarter with a goal.

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IND 2 | GBR 0  – Q3

GBR pressing in the last seconds of third quarter, another PC for them in the last minute. .

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IND 2 | GBR 0  – Q3

Sreejesh, you beauty! He denies another goal for GBR via Penalty, deflected it with stretch of arms.

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IND 2 | GBR 0  – Q3

Penalty Corner for GBR, their time to make it 2-1 going into third quarter.

Athletics

Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy has won the Men’s 100m gold medal. He posts a personal best of 9.80 seconds. USA’s Fred Kerley gets the silver medal with a time of 9.84 seconds. Canada’s Andre Grasse is the bronze medal winner by crossing the finish line at 9.89 seconds

Hockey

IND 2 | GBR 0  – Q3

Sreejesh denies another goal for GBR, a good save, the shot came from corner and he was alert to kick it away. Top stuff from India veteran.

PV Sindhu writing history

Hockey

IND 2 | GBR 0  – Q3

GBR is on the attack. India trying to block at all channels. Good deep defending from Mandeep Singh.

Badminton and women driving India’s success recently

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IND 2 | GBR 0  – Q3

Green card for Rupinder just at the start of third quarter. He is off two minutes. Second player to get a green card after Dilpreet.

Badminton and women driving India’s success recently

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IND 2 | GBR 0  – Q3

The third quarter begins after a long break. The focus sometimes is off at the start for teams and important for India to keep maintaining the pressure. GBR will look to equalise if not take a lead in this quarter. Important to win this quarter.

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IND 2 | GBR 0  – HT

World class hockey from India. Got successful two turnovers for India and they gave nothing away. Crucial two double saves from Sreejesh. 

Second half to begin in some time. GBR under pressure.

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IND 2 | GBR 0  – HT

India on top at half time. Dilpreet and Gurjant with the field goals. What a finish by India at the end of second quarter. Great Britain was near the D with few seconds to go in the quarter. But brilliant work from Manpreet and Dilpreet near the India corner, had the control over the ball ans Brits pressed for a goal. 

PV Sindhu wins bronze

Huge moment for India and for PV Sindhu