The Indian hockey team, fresh off their bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics, returned to a hero's welcome at Delhi Airport on Saturday. The atmosphere was electric as fans gathered from the early morning hours, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their victorious team.
Celebrations Outside Delhi Airport
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— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023
As the players stepped out of the airport, they were met with the rhythmic beats of drums and traditional music, setting the stage for an impromptu celebration. The team danced and celebrated their hard-earned victory with the fans who had come to show their support.
Successful Defense of the Bronze Medal
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— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023
The Indian men's hockey team successfully defended their bronze medal, a feat they first achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, ending a 41-year medal drought. Under the leadership of Manpreet Singh, India secured their place on the podium once again in Paris. In the bronze medal match, India defeated Spain 2-1. Unfortunately, they had earlier faced a narrow defeat against Germany in the semifinals, losing 3-2. Despite the victory, India still has not won a gold medal in hockey since the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Back-to-Back Olympic Medals After 52 Years
Hockey has been India's most successful sport at the Olympics, with the country winning a total of 13 medals in the sport, including eight gold, one silver, and four bronze medals. Remarkably, this is the first time in 52 years that the Indian men's hockey team has won medals in back-to-back Olympics. The last time this happened was in 1968 and 1972.
The team's success has rekindled national pride and hope for future achievements in the sport that once dominated the world stage.