Telling pictures of Savita Punia and Sreejesh after the match are worth more than one thousand words

Tribune Web Desk

Chandigarh, August 6

It was heartbreaking on Friday to see Indian women hockey team cry as Britain earned the bronze medal after a hard fight at the Olympics.

Especially watching Indian defender and goalkeeper Savita Punia, the star of this Olympics, breaking down as the game ended for India, was heart aching. And it all came a day after men’s hockey team goalkeeper Sreejesh sat on top of a goalpost to celebrate Olympic win as the boys hugged and cried with each other in elation.

Punia, who had made nine crucial saves against Australia to storm into semis, today too, with her remarkable performance she stood out, denying Great Britain on at least three occasions in the first quarter.

She first made a fine save from Britain’s first penalty corner in the second minute and then pulled off a double save in the 12th minute to keep India in the hunt.

Savita stood like a wall in front of the Indian goal and pulled off some brilliant saves to deny Great Britain till the end.

The heartbreak came a day after the Indian men’s team ended a 41-year-old medal drought by clinching bronze with a 5-4 win over Germany.