Belief was the cornerstone of the Indian women hockey team’s victory over formidable Australia in the Tokyo Games on Monday, which earned the side its first ever Olympics semi-final berth.

“I’m super proud of my team. Each one of them really worked so hard throughout the game. And we just said one thing to each other, ‘Just believe in ourselves, we can do this well,” an elated captain Rani Rampal said after the win.

India will play Argentina on Wednesday for a place in their first-ever Olympic final.

The skipper said a sense of belief and determination to succeed helped them achieve the historic feat. “I think the belief that we can work really hard throughout the game... And this is only 60 minutes, just focus on the 60 minutes. Don’t think what will happen, just focus on 60 minutes, and give everything that you have got. And I think everyone did that, so yeah, I am super proud,” Rani said.

She feels the victory over three-time Olympic champions Australia is “big” for the women’s game in India and will inspire a generation to take up the sport in future. “This will be a very big, big thing in India. We have a team motto that means we want to inspire the young girls in India.”

The India captain said their focus shifts to the remaining two games.

“We made history by just reaching the semi-finals and now we are looking forward to the semi-finals, because we don’t want to just finish here.

“There’re two more games left for winning medals,” she said.

Family members of the players are elated.

Rani’s father Rampal said at their home in Shahabad, Haryana, that “we are immensely happy at the team’s performance”. He recalled that right from her childhood, Rani was determined to play hockey and has proved that her decision was right.

“We are happy with the way the entire team played at the Olympics. We are on the threshold of winning gold and I am confident we will,” said Rampal, who used to work as a cart-puller.

Goalkeeper Savita Punia’s father Mahender Punia told reporters in Sirsa, also in Haryana, that “the entire country is proud at the performance of the team”.

Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur, whose solitary goal in the 22nd minute gave India victory, hails from Amritsar and her family said they have been celebrating continuously. “It is all god’s blessings, I am very proud of her. She has worked very hard,” said her father Satnam Singh.