'A dream moment', said the country's sports fraternity in unison as it celebrated the resurgence of Indian hockey at the Olympics after the women's team advanced to its first ever semifinal at the Games in Tokyo on Monday.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Players of India celebrate after winning their match. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Mariah Williams of Australia reacts after they lost their match. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Players of India celebrate after winning their match. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Renee Taylor of Australia reacts after losing their match. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Grace Stewart of Australia reacts after they lost their match. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Players of India celebrate after winning their match. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Neha Goyal of India and Navneet Kaur of India celebrate after winning their match. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Players of India wave to their supporters in the stands after winning their match. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Players of India celebrate after winning their match. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Neha Goyal of India celebrates after winning their match. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Hockey - Women - Quarterfinal - Australia v India - Oi Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - August 2, 2021. Neha Goyal of India and Navneet Kaur of India celebrate after winning their match. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
Players of India (light blue) and Australia greet each other before their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
India's Lalremsiami (L) and Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam run after greeting the players of Australia before their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Amy Rose Lawton of Team Australia passes the ball against Chanu Pukhrambam Sushila of Team India during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Madison Mae Fitzpatrick of Team Australia and Rani of Team India battle for a loose ball during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Australia's Brooke Peris reacts after missing a shot during the women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition against India, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - India's Sharmila Devi (L) and Australia's Mariah Williams vie for the ball during their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Australia's Grace Stewart (L) is challenged by India's Nikki Pradhan during their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Rachael Anne Lynch (L), Karri Somerville, Edwina Bone and Ambrosia Malone of Team Australia defend the goal against Navjot Kaur and Udita of Team India during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Players of Australia plan a penalty corner during their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition against India, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Players of Team Australia look on during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
India's Gurjit Kaur (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Australia during their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Gurjit Kaur of Team India celebrates scoring the first goal with teammates while Karri Somerville and Edwina Bone of Team Australia walk away during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
India's Gurjit Kaur (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Australia during their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Gurjit Kaur of Team India celebrates scoring the first goal with Nikki Pradhan during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Gurjit Kaur of Team India scores the first goal during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Monika, Navjot Kaur, Rani and Neha Neha of Team India celebrate the second goal scored while Jane-Anne Claxton of Team Australia walks away during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Monika, Navjot Kaur, Rani, Navneet Kaur and Neha Neha of Team India celebrate the second goal scored while Jane-Anne Claxton of Team Australia walks away during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Neha Neha of Team India moves the ball past Mariah Williams and Savannah Fitzpatrick of Team Australia during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Savita and Chanu Pukhrambam Sushila of Team India defend against Stephanie Anna Kershaw of Team Australia during the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
India's Neha (L) and Navneet Kaur celebrate after defeating Australia 1-0 in their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Players of India celebrate after defeating Australia 1-0 in their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Nisha and Salima Tete of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Players of India celebrate after defeating Australia 1-0 in their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Navneet Kaur and Navjot Kaur (C) of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win with teammates after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Australia's Edwina Bone (L) and Brooke Peris embrace after losing 1-0 to India in their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Players of India celebrate after defeating Australia 1-0 in their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Navneet Kaur and Navjot Kaur (C) of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win with teammates after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Australia's Kaitlin Nobbs (R) and Stephanie Anna Kershaw (back) react after losing 1-0 to India as India's Neha (L) and Navneet Kaur celebrate at the end of their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Navneet Kaur, Neha Neha and Lalremsiami of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win with teammates while Karri Somerville reacts after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Players of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Australia's Stephanie Anna Kershaw (R) and Kaitlin Nobbs react after losing 1-0 to India in their women's quarter-final match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo, on August 2, 2021. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Sharmila Devi and Salima Tete of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win while Stephanie Anna Kershaw of Team Australia reacts after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Alternative crop of image #1331883627) Gurjit Kaur and Nisha of Team India react after their 1-0 win after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Alternative crop of image #1331882456) Navneet Kaur, Neha Neha and Lalremsiami of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win with teammates while Karri Somerville reacts after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Alternative crop of image #1331882463) Players of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Navneet Kaur and Navjot Kaur (R) of Team India celebrate their 1-0 win with teammates after the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - AUGUST 02: Players of Team India react after winning 1-0 a the Women's Quarterfinal match between Australia and India on day ten of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Oi Hockey Stadium on August 02, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
A day after the Indian men's team entered the Olympic semifinals following a 49-year gap, the world no. 9 women's side also produced a phenomenally gritty performance against the world no 2 Australia in an intense quarterfinals here.
It triggered an outpouring of emotions as people from all walks of life, including former and current sportspersons and politicians, congratulated the team.
Describing it as 'a dream moment', former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha said: 'Impressed with the way the Indians defended post the goal. They didn't just defend the lead, they almost attacked the lead. They were not afraid to go up and press the Australians.
'The men's game made us much more uncomfortable yesterday than the Australian women. Credit to the Indian women's team.
'One biggest improvement in the team is the sheer physical presence, the fitness, endurance levels. In today's modern format unless the fitness level isn't at the highest level it is hard to survive.' Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur rose to the occasion and converted India's lone penalty corner in the 22nd minute to surprise the Australians.
'To score a goal against one of the best teams in hockey is amazing. She hasn't been in best form, it took a bit of luck, as it took two deflection but who cares, what matters it was a goal for India,' Rasquinha said.
India will next take on Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday.
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