India end drought with bronze

BELGIUM WIN FIELD HOCKEY TITLE

TOKYO, Aug 5, (AP): The celebrations started simultaneously in Tokyo and across India for a bronze medal that’s taken 41 years to forge. For the most successful nation in Olympic field hockey competition, India’s 5-4 victory over Germany in the bronze-medal match at the Tokyo Games was celebrated like a gold.

It was India’s 12th Olympic medal in the sport, but its first since 1980. India rallied from 3-1 down and then fended off a German penalty corner in the last few seconds. Meanwhile, Belgium defeated Australia in a shootout to win gold in men’s field hockey. The score was tied 1-all at the end of regulation before Belgium won the shootout 3-2. Alexander Hendrickx scored the penalty stroke that put Belgium ahead in the shootout and Vincent Vanasch got the clinching save. Belgium were the 2016 Olympic runners-up.