Tokyo Olympics: India beat Germany 5-4 to win bronze medal

India defeated Germany in the bronze medal playoff at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday to win their first hockey medal in 41 years. 

In the semifinal, world no. 3 India played into the hands of world champions Belgium with their defence succumbing under relentless pressure from the Red Lions to concede a bulk of penalty corners throughout the match and lose 2-5 in the semifinals.

India vs Germany, bronze medal playoff: Updates

8.48am: OVER!!! India have won the match and claimed the bronze medal.

8.46pm: Germany have received their 13th penalty corner in the dying seconds of the game. 

8.40am: Germany are going all out and have taken their goalkeeper off the field. Can their extra outfield player make a difference in these last4 minutes?

8.36am: Sumit has gone down in the German circle, but no foul there and play goes on.

8.30am: German captain Tobias Hauke gets a yellow card and will be off the field for 5 minutes. Can India make use of this opportunity?

8.27am: Germany have made India pay for their defensive errors. India is still a goal ahead though.

8.26am: Germany have received their 7th penalty corner with 12 minutes left in the game.

8.23am: The final quarter is underway. Can India hold on to their lead and claim their first hockey medal at the Olympics after 41 years?

8.20am: At the end of the 3rd quarter: India – 5, Germany – 3.

8.13am: The referee has changed the yellow card to green. Which means Germany will be a man short for only 2 minutes.

8.12am: Germany are a man down for the next 5 minutes after the referee awarded a yellow card. Can India make the opportunity count?

8.05am: India are on the attack here. Trying to put Germany under pressure and build on their lead.

8.01am: GOAL!!! and another one… India have scored two goals in under a minute to go 5-3 up in the game. While the first goal came off a penalty, the second one was a field goal scored by Simranjeet Singh.

7.56am: The second half is underway. Which of the two sides will go ahead first?

7.44am: India – 3, Germany – 3, a minute before the halftime.

7.42am: Quite a goal fest. India have pulled one back with Rupinder Pal Singh’s drag-flick landing in the German goal.

7.38am: GOAL!! Germany are back in the game and how. The German forwards are now toying with the Indian defence. Germany – 3, India – 1

7.35am: Germany have gone 2-1 up in the game.

7.32am: After thwarting the German onslaught in the first quarters, Team India is now dominating the possession. 

7.29am: GOAL!!! India have scored the equaliser. India have increased the pace of play in the second quarter. Simranjeet Singh scored the goal, his first of the tournament.

7.26am: 

7.22am: Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has made some amazing saves to ensure that Germany cannot build on their lead. At the end of the first quarter: Germany – 1, India – 0.

7.20am: Indian defence is under the pump here. Third consecutive corner for Germany after the hooter for the first quarter went off.

7.17am: Germany get a penalty corner in the dying seconds of the first quarter.

7.13am: Germany is troubling India with their long passes and counterattack.

7.08am: India have been on the counterattack, with skipper Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet managing to win a penalty corner each. But India are still a goal behind Germany.

7.02am: GOAL!! Just two minutes into the game, Germany has sent the ball past the Indian defence to go 1-0 up.

7am: The action has begun. Will India be able to overcome the German challenge and claim the bronze medal?