Amit Rohidas on red-card incident: I am indebted to teammates for not once letting me feel ostracized

Amit Rohidas overcomes red card setback to help Indian men's hockey team secure 13th Olympic medal.

He endured a couple of sleepless nights while dealing with the trauma of missing out on a crucial Olympics semifinal but Amit Rohidas is indebted to his teammates for not once letting him feel ostracized after his red card led to Indian team playing with 10 men for 42 minutes during its hockey quarterfinal against Great Britain.

The Indian men's hockey team secured a record-extending successive bronze medal here, their 13th Olympic hockey medal, despite the setback of Rohidas' red card in the quarterfinal against Great Britain, which led to his suspension for the semifinal.

"I really missed the semifinal because of the one-match suspension. It was such a crucial match," the 31-year-old India's defensive mainstay told PTI in an exclusive interview during the team's felicitation at the India House in Paris on Saturday (August 10, 2024).

"Pura country aur mere teammates mere saath the... Kabhi team se emotionally bahar hone nahin diya. Mera focus bas aagli match pe thaa (I knew the whole country and my teammates Emotionally they never ever let me feel that I’m an outsider or sidelined. I was fully focused on our next match."

The Indian first-rusher was penalised in the 17th minute of the quarterfinals for a swinging stick that inadvertently struck British forward Will Calnan in the face.

Although the on-field referee initially did not deem it a serious offense, the decision was upgraded to a red card after a video referral.

This led to a one-match suspension for Rohidas, sidelining him for the semifinal against Germany, which India narrowly lost.