India Clinch Bronze At The World League Final, Upsets Germany

File Picture Courtesy : NewsX

The Indian men’s hockey team produced sterling show to  claim the Bronze medal at the Hockey World League Final being held in Bhubaneswar.

India beat a gallant Germany 2-1 in the 3rd/4th classification match to claim their second successive Bronze in the tournament. SV Sunil (20′) put India in the lead in the first half but a poor defending saw Mark Appel (36′) equalise in the second half. Harmanpreet Singh (54′) then converted a penalty corner six minutes before the final hooter to seal the match in India’s favour.

India held onto their slim lead before the capacity crowd at Kalinga Stadium made a collective roar after their team had sealed a second straight bronze at the HWL Final. India had finished third in the last edition of the tournament in Raipur in 2015.

Meanwhile , the Odisha government has announced a Rs 10 lakh cash prize for each Indian hockey player and the coach who were part of the team that won the Bronze medal by beating Germany in the Hockey World League final at Kalinga Stadium. The support staff would get Rs 5 lakh each for the effort. This reward was announced on Twitter by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan too tweeted his congratulations to the Team India for their fine showing