India vs Germany, Tokyo Olympics 2020: The Indian men's hockey team created history on Thursday after winning their first Olympic medal in 41 years after defeating the Germans 5-4 at the Oi Hockey Stadium North Pitch in Tokyo.

This is for the first time the Indian side made it to the final four in over four decades. The last time they did so, they ended up winning the whole tournament and ended their campaign with a gritty gold.

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However, this time around, despite their promising journey in Japan, their semi-final clash against world-ranking 2 Belgium proved to be too much to handle and India lost that contest 2-5. Nonetheless, the win against Germany, yet another top-5 team in the world, brought them redemption and the third bronze (and fourth overall) medal was finally secured.

While the fans of the Indian hockey side celebrated the victory and wished the team for their accomplishment, all the hard work and the incredible road to the podium they had, there was one noticeable name who got flaked for doing the same, albeit in an improper manner.

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Former opening batsman for the Indian cricket team and current BJP member, Gautam Gambhir chose to congratulate the hockey team by asking his followers to “forget” three of the World Cups that our cricketers had won between 1983 and 2011.

Gambhir then went on to say that this bronze medal was “bigger than any World Cup”.

Forget 1983, 2007 or 2011, this medal in Hockey is bigger than any World Cup! #IndianHockeyMyPride pic.twitter.com/UZjfPwFHJJ

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 5, 2021

Comparing the two achievements did not sit well with many of Gambhir’s online critics who called him out demeaning other athletes’ work and for quickly politicising the matter:

Sir, this looks more like a politician's tweet than a sportsperson's tweet. No need to demean other's achievement.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) August 5, 2021

You really don’t have to compare. https://t.co/mHoTIPHB4E

— Kaushal S Inamdar| कौशल इनामदार (@ksinamdar) August 5, 2021

Checked with your master @narendramodi before saying #IndianHockeyMyPride ? https://t.co/tscgpjVeev

— K Balamurugan (@Ka_Balamurugan) August 5, 2021

Downplay yourself not others you dumbass politician https://t.co/xoxHASRztO

— fernweh (@justacrazyass) August 5, 2021

Congrats to Hockey Team but Is it necessary to criticize Cricket whenever India wins in any other Sports ? We can celebrate both but @GautamGambhir what's on your mind sir? Why so much of hate for cricket even when you're himself an Ex Cricketer. #Olympics #hockeyindia #Cricket https://t.co/RB9exInTVN

— ＡＬʘ͜Ｋ (@AlokTerminator) August 5, 2021

To be fair towards the former cricketer, he was an integral part of the Indian cricket roster that went on to win the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the 2011 World Cup at home, respectively and in prioritising the hockey medal over two of his greatest awards deserves recognition as well.

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