A GOALKEEPER who was the hero for the Team GB women's hockey team spoke of her joy as they reached the semi-finals.

Great Britain women's hockey team faced Spain in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games quarter-finals, with a win putting them within touching distance of a medal.

Hannah Martin gave Great Britain the lead in the second quarter before Belen Iglesias Marcos levelled for Spain.

Grace Baldson restored GB's lead before Spain's Berta Bonastre Peremateu equalised again, and the game finished 2-2 at the end of normal time.

The match was then decided by a penalty shootout and Maddie Hinch, whose family live in West Chiltington near Horsham, saved all four of the Spanish penalties.

Martin and Sarah Jones scored for Team GB during the shootout earning a vital victory.

After the game, Hinch said: "As a keeper, I think you should not fear a penalty shootout as it is a chance for you to do your part.

"I did not fear it today, I felt ready and that I had done my homework. I could have let all five or saved all five, that is just how it goes, but it certainly helps when we are putting them in the back of the net.

"I am quietly confident in my ability to do it, but it does not always go like that. You have got to take it one shootout at a time, celebrate each save and get the hype going.

"All that plays into the Spanish heads, and I am glad we did not have anymore as I was getting a little tired.

"There's a lot of homework that goes into it. I had a bit of an idea of what they might do.

"We actually lost to them as England in a shootout not too long ago, and I knew what I did wrong there.

"It was really nice to get the win today. I'm really proud of the group."

They now face the Netherland team in the semi-final, which will be played tomorrow at 2.30 pm.

The winners of that match will play Argentina or India in the gold medal match.

The women's Team GB hockey team are currently the reigning champions after beating the Dutch to claim gold in the Rio De Janeiro 2016 final, in a game that saw Hinch save four penalties.

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