Coach Craig Fulton expressed his delight at the Indian hockey team’s performance against Great Britain in the Paris Olympics quarterfinals. Despite playing with 10 men for nearly three quarters following a red card to Amit Rohidas, the team executed Fulton’s game plan and secured a hard-fought victory, booking their spot in the semifinals.
The team’s resilience and teamwork were evident throughout the match, with Fulton particularly praising the team’s defensive effort and the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Sreejesh. “We’ve been talking about defense for (the last) 14 months and we dug deep and (goalkeeper) Sree(jesh) was immense,” Fulton stated after the match. “When you talk about defense, it’s also about showing your love for your teammate by covering him and helping him. And Sree did that for us and we did that for him.”
The coach highlighted the team’s ability to adapt to the situation after Rohidas’ red card, which occurred in the 17th minute. “We needed to score. And we did. We needed something to defend. So, that had to come and it would help our tactics. Then we needed to push it as long as possible. If they did score, we got to shoot out. And that’s what it was,” Fulton explained.
Despite the challenges, the team held their nerve and ultimately triumphed in a penalty shootout. Fulton emphasized the significance of the victory, highlighting the team’s ability to overcome adversity. “Everything was at stake…and everything went the other way than we thought it would go. So, what an amazing day! It’s a statement (to ourselves)…A statement of when our backs are against the wall. We’re all in this together,” he said.
Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian captain, acknowledged the team’s defensive focus following Rohidas’ red card. “We had no option but to keep the score tied till the end. We focussed on defense, we played to a structure and today communication between the players was pretty good. It was a team effort,” he shared. He also praised Sreejesh’s performance, stating, “Sreejesh is a legend, he is one of the best we have. He is saving us from day one. But when you ask him, he will say it was a team effort, so team first, then individuals.”
Sreejesh, who made a crucial save during the penalty shootout, emphasized the importance of teamwork in their defensive success. “You need support from your players. They adapted to the pressure (today). And they raised their level and played a good game,” he said. “I don’t know how many kilometers they might have covered today. But from the centre forward to the deep defence, everyone was running around. They were working really hard to cover their forwards. Defend to win, that’s our mantra.”
The team’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity have proven their mettle, setting the stage for a potential medal-winning performance in the semifinals.
