The women’s hockey team creates history

India had to wait 41 years to see a hockey team enter the last four of the Olympics. It took less than 24 hours to see another make the semifinals. If the men’s team reaching the semis on Sunday was a momentous occasion in the country’s sporting history, the women’s team entering the last four is nothing short of a miracle. To understand the sense of accomplishment for chief coach Sjoerd Marijne’s team, go back to history. Ever since women’s hockey was introduced at the Games, India has qualified for the quadrennial showpiece thrice, beginning with Moscow 1980 where India made the cut after a host of nations boycotted the event. The country had to wait another 36 years before the women’s team finally qualified for the 2016 Games. But Rio was a massive disappointment. India failed to win even a single match to finish 12th and last.

But the unit has come a long way since. Sponsors, investment, top quality coaches, analytical experts, scientific advisers, physiotherapists, video analysts — the team has got what every top-level team in the world has. And the efforts are bearing fruit. From losing three opening group matches and being on the cusp of being evicted, Rani Rampal’s team has made an unheralded entry into the semi-finals.

If making the quarters wasn’t progress enough, the team has marched into the last four with a 1-0 win over Group B toppers and three-time Olympic champions Australia with Gurjit Kaur’s drag-flick in the 22nd minute proving the difference between the two sides. Next up is Argentina on Wednesday —never champions but four-time medallists at the Games. The Australia game proves dreams do come true. So dream, pray, and cheer on the formidable women who have made India proud in Tokyo.