The Indian Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams made a triumphant return to India after a successful campaign at the 19th Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou. Upon their arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport late on Monday night, they were greeted with enthusiastic applause from dedicated hockey fans.
In Hangzhou, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team secured the Gold Medal, while the Indian Women’s Hockey Team earned the Bronze Medal. The passionate hockey supporters in the national capital flocked to the airport to extend a warm welcome to the heroes who had made the nation proud with their outstanding performances in the year’s premier tournament.
The emotional hockey fans surrounded the hockey stars as representatives from Hockey India presented the teams with sweets, garlands, and other tokens of appreciation. To celebrate the occasion and demonstrate their unwavering support, fans played music and danced at the airport.
“This journey has been amazing. We went to Hangzhou with the mindset of becoming Asia’s best team, and we played accordingly. Our continuous improvement match by match boosted our confidence, and we returned with the result we aimed for,” stated Indian Men’s Hockey Team Captain Harmanpreet Singh.
“Seeing the gathering of fans here further motivates us to focus on preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympics. We have time to work on areas where improvement is needed, and we will strive to convert the Olympic Bronze into Gold,” he added.
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Family members of the hockey players were also present at the airport, sharing in the joyous atmosphere. The hockey players themselves reveled in the warm reception and expressed their delight at witnessing the resurgence of support for the sport in the country.
The Indian Men’s Hockey Team ended a nine-year wait for the Asian Games Gold Medal. Under the leadership of Captain Harmanpreet Singh, India secured the Gold by defeating Japan 5-1 in the Final, earning a spot in the 2024 Tokyo Olympics. This marked India’s fourth Gold Medal in Men’s Field Hockey at the Asian Games, following previous victories in 1966, 1998, and 2014.
India maintained an unbeaten record throughout the tournament, commencing their campaign with a dominant 16-0 victory over Uzbekistan and following it up with a 16-1 win against Singapore. In the Pool stage, India defeated Japan 4-2 and secured a historic 10-2 victory over Pakistan, marking their largest-ever margin of victory against their neighbors.
India continued their impressive run with a 12-0 win against Bangladesh, ensuring their place in the Semi-Finals, where they overcame Korea 5-3 to reach the Final. India’s journey culminated with a resounding 5-1 victory over Japan in the Gold Medal match.
Meanwhile, the Indian Women’s Hockey Team achieved a Bronze Medal and a podium finish in Hangzhou, marking their seventh medal in the Asian Continental tournament. Delighted by the presence of fans upon their arrival, the team expressed gratitude and voiced their determination to perform even better in the coming year.
“It is always a moment of pride for parents when they see us return home with medals in major competitions. It is great to see all the support here, and I thank the fans as they motivate us to continue to do even better. I also feel happy for young players as they are witnessing this moment for the first time in their careers, and it will be a memorable experience for them,” said Savita.
“While our target was to win Asian Games Gold, we are content with our performance in Hangzhou. We are eager to secure a spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with our goal being a podium finish in Paris. We will begin preparations for the Qualifiers soon, focusing on areas where we could have performed better. The ongoing support for women’s hockey in the country is fantastic, and we aim to keep making the nation proud,” Savita concluded.
India demonstrated their dominance in the Group Stage with a remarkable 13-0 win against Singapore and a convincing 6-0 victory over Malaysia. A hard-fought 1-1 draw against Korea showcased their resilience, and they topped Pool A with a resounding 13-0 win over Hong Kong China. Although India fell to China 0-4 and missed the Final, they defeated Japan 2-1 in the Bronze Medal match to secure a place on the podium.
The Indian Women’s Hockey Team is now gearing up for the FIH Olympics Qualifiers, where they will seek qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
