Easier for Indian hockey team to reach the top 2 or be on top next time: Salman Butt

August 5, 2021, will be forever etched in the history of Indian sports. A lot of Indians have grown up listening to the stories about the glory days of the Indian national hockey team. It is almost like the West Indies, who once ruled over international cricket but slowly lost relevance with time and couldn’t keep up. Between 1928 and 1980, India won 11 medals at the Summer Olympics. 

However, since their gold medal win in 1980, the Indian national hockey team had not won a single medal at the Olympics. However, the 41-year jinx broke on August 5, 2021, as India defeated Germany in the Bronze medal match at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Former Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt has expressed that the Indian team has the ability to win a silver or a gold medal in the upcoming Olympics. 

“Looking at how India performed in hockey in this Olympics, I think they will come back stronger in the next editions, and I think the avenues will be easier for them to reach the top 2 or be the top team,” Salman Butt said and was quoted by Sportskeeda. This was India’s 12th medal in Hockey in the Summer Olympics and they remained the most successful team in the history of the sport at the mega-event. 

After a long, long time, we have seen such an impactful performance: Salman Butt

Pakistan is one of the more successful teams in hockey at the Olympics. They have won three golds, three silvers, and two bronze. India, on the other hand, has 8 gold medals, one silver and this was their third occasion to have the bronze medal. Salman Butt went on to congratulate the Indian team for their impactful performance.  

“I would like to congratulate the Indian men’s hockey team. After a long, long time, we have seen such an impactful performance. They are on the Olympics podium. It is the fruit of the hard work put in by all the officials, coaches, and players. Credit goes to all the Indian players and authorities,” Salman Butt added.

Pakistan’s last medal in hockey had come in 1992 in Barcelona, which was a bronze. Their last gold medal was achieved in the year 1984 in Los Angeles. Unfortunately for them, with a great history of the sport in the country, the Pakistan national hockey team has failed to qualify for the Olympics twice in a row now.