The Indian men’s hockey team cannot afford
to contemplate their 2-5 loss against Belgium in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final on
Tuesday and has to focus on the upcoming bronze medal match on Thursday, skipper
Manpreet Singh and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh said.

The eight-time Olympic champions played
their first semi-final in 41 years earlier today and led the Belgians 2-1 in
the first quarter before the reigning world champions rallied back to snuff out
hopes of an unprecedented ninth Olympic gold for India.

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“It is really hard for me right now because
we came with a winning mindset, but unfortunately we didn’t win the match. Now
we need to focus on our next bronze-medal match and we need to work and we need
to get the medal,” PTI quoted Manpreet saying after the match.

The 29-year-old emphasised on the “great
honour” that was to reach the semis, but stressed on the importance of the next
match as the team aims to at least “win a bronze medal for the nation”.

But he said that the work the team had put
in during the five years since the disappointing last-place finish at the 2016
Rio Olympics deserved a better outcome.

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“It’s always been hard work and togetherness.
This team has been together for the last four or five years. We have worked
really hard to be reaching this level. We deserve better, and unfortunately we
couldn’t get it today.”

Meanwhile, 35-year-old former captain Sreejesh
agreed with his skipper and said the team’s focus should be on the next match,
against either Australia – against whom India lost 7-1 in the group stage – or Germany.

“Disappointed, but you don’t have time to
worry about that. You need to forget about that and think about the future. Now
we still have a chance to win a medal and that’s more important for us than
crying at this time,” he said.

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“It’s more important for us to think about
the future, watch the match, think about where we lost, where we committed the
mistakes, rectify that, and move on.”

Giving credit where its due, Sreejesh
praised Belgium’s hattrick hero Alexander Hendrickx, the top-scorer of the
tournament so far. “He (Hendrickx) always scores at the right time. That gives
the team more confidence. I think the second goal was a bit my mistake, but
still, the way he flicks the ball it is always a bit tough for a goalkeeper.”

Defender Rupinder Pal Singh echoed similar
thoughts, saying there is still a lot to play for at the Tokyo Olympics, saying
a bronze medal will still be a big thing for the sport in India.

“Of course, it’s heartbreaking for us,
reaching the semifinal after 41 years and we were here to win a gold medal.
That was our aim, but we lost today. The great thing is we have a chance to
finish third in the next game so we will focus on that,” hje said.

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The 30-year-old said that the team’s hard work
and self-belief got India this far in the tournament, and that the team needs
to work hard for the next game.

Meanwhile, Manpreet and Sreejesh are also rooting
for the women’s team, which has reached the semi-final for the first time in
its history.

“They played an amazing game against
Australia. We wish them the best of luck for their semifinal (against)
Argentina. I hope they win,” Manpreet said.

“Yesterday’s match, upsetting Australia,
that was a tough call and I think the girls are tough enough to win a medal in
this tournament,” said Sreejesh.