Several celebrities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India Test skipper Virat Kohli, former India cricket stars VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag and hockey captain Sardar Singh lead nation in congratulating the Indian hockey team for winning a historic silver medal at the Champions Trophy
Social media platforms were abuzz with congratulatory messages on Saturday after the Indian hockey team managed to win a historic silver medal at the FIH men's Champions Trophy final against Australia in London.
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India fought hard, but were ultimately pipped by reigning world champions Australia 1-3 via penalty shoot-out and had to settle for the silver medal.
The gutsy Indians held Australia goalless in 60 minutes of regulation period and forced th game into a penalty shootout to decide the eventual winners.
The India team walks round the pitch after lodging a protest concerning the penalty shoot out during the 1st and 2nd place match between Australia and India at the FIH Men's Champions Trophy at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, on Friday. Pic/AP/PTI
Several celebrities including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India Test skipper Virat Kohli led the nation in congratulating the team for achieving that unique feat.
"Congrats to our hockey team for a spirited performance in Champions Trophy finals. Their effort has been brilliant.
We're proud of the team," Modi tweeted.
Indian hockey team regular skipper Sardar Singh, who was rested from the squad, said, "Great effort by our team in
the finals of Champions Trophy and congrats for silver medal. We will continue to work hard to make our country
proud."
Former Indian hockey captain Viren Rasquinha said, "The Indian team can stand tall with their heads held high. Proud of the boys. You played your hearts out. Woke up feeling very proud of our hockey team. Well done."
India Test team captain Virat Kohli tweeted his wishes for the Indian hockey team. he posted, "Proud of Indian hockey team. Congratulations on the silver medal in Champions Trophy. It was a brilliant game. All the best for Rio 2016."
Former India cricketers V.V.S. Laxman and Virender Sehwag also joined in the chorus to congratulate the team.
"Congratulations to Indian hockey team on a well fought finals and a fantastic Champions Trophy!! All the best for the future matches," Laxman tweeted.
"Great effort by Indian hockey team, went right down to the wire. Lost a great final in Penalty Shootout but won our
hearts," Sehwag posted.
Star shuttler Parupalli Kashyap also tweeted, "Hard luck guys! Super show!"
It was India's best performance in the history of the tournament. India's previous best performance in the Champions Trophy was a bronze medal in 1982.
Here are some of the congratulatory tweets
Proud of @TheHockeyIndia team. Congratulations on the silver medal in Champions Trophy. It was a brilliant game. All the best for #Rio2016
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) June 18, 2016
Congratulations team @TheHockeyIndia for winning the Silver medal at FIH #ChampionsTrophy2016. pic.twitter.com/9Qi0y6cMM7
— YAS Ministry (@YASMinistry) June 18, 2016
Congratulations to @TheHockeyIndia team for the Silver medal & a well played #HCT2016. Lost the final match but won our hearts. Best wishes
— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) June 18, 2016
A stellar performance by the Indian hockey team in the Champions trophy. Congratulations on the silver medal. @TheHockeyIndia
— Praful Patel (@praful_patel) June 18, 2016
Congratulations to Men's Hockey team on silver medal at Champions Trophy.
— Ram Vilas Paswan (@irvpaswan) June 18, 2016
Great effort by our team in the finals of #HCT2016 and congrats for Silver medal. We will continue to work hard to make our country proud.
— Sardar Singh (@imsardarsingh8) June 18, 2016
We lost the match ..But .. We won millions of heart ..Be proud boys #silver #HCT2016 #BestOfTheBest @TheHockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/EF2hccI28t
— sreejesh p r (@16Sreejesh) June 18, 2016
Great effort by @TheHockeyIndia ,went right down to the wire.Lost a great final in Penalty Shootout but won our hearts.
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 17, 2016
#HCT2016 #IndvsAus
Congrats to our Hockey Team for a spirited performance in Champions Trophy finals. Their effort has been brilliant. We're proud of the team.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 18, 2016
Congratulations 2 Indian Hockey team on a well fought finals & a fantastic #HCT2016 ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0091u00c2u008f All the best for the future matchesðu00c2u009fu00c2u0091u00c2u008d @TheHockeyIndia
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) June 18, 2016
Congratulations @TheHockeyIndia for winning silver medal #HCT2016. Good, consistent performance throughout the tournament. More laurels...
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) June 18, 2016
Congratulations @TheHockeyIndia on reaching their first ever final of the Men's Hero Hockey #ChampionsTrophy. Best of luckðu00c2u009fu00c2u0091u00c2u008d
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) June 17, 2016
We were so close of becoming Champion of Champions. Well played @TheHockeyIndia in #IndvsAus finals. Best performance in #ChampionsTrophy
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) June 17, 2016
Hard luck guys! Super show! @TheHockeyIndia @raghuhock @16Sreejesh #RoadToRio #HCT2016 #silvermedal
— Parupalli Kashyap (@parupallik) June 17, 2016
Framed! What a team.#Silver#HistoryInTheMaking#championstrophy#London @TheHockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/zsySNKR1rA
— Uthappa SK (@Uthappask) June 18, 2016
Woke up feeling very proud of our hockey team. Well done @TheHockeyIndia @16Sreejesh @raghuhock @manpreetpawar07 @SVSunil24 @OltmansOltmans
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) June 18, 2016
Congratulations @TheHockeyIndia winning the silver medal brilliant performance in the final of HCT2016ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0087®ðu00c2u009fu00c2u0087³ðu00c2u009fu00c2u008fu00c2u0091
— Parvinder Singh (@pindilahoria13) June 18, 2016
Congratulations #IndianHockey team for Silver & solid performance against fancied Australia in #HCT2016 - Wish you all the best for Rio.
— BS Bassi (@BhimBassi) June 18, 2016