Paris Olympics 2024: India Secures Bronze In Hockey, Achieves Back-To-Back Olympic Medals For The First Time Since 1972

India bid a perfect farewell to PR Sreejesh, defeating Spain 2-1 to secure the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This victory marked India’s first back-to-back Olympic hockey medals since 1972 and extended their record to a 13th Olympic hockey medal. Harmanpreet Singh was the hero of the match, scoring twice after India initially fell behind, turning the game around and ensuring the win.

Indian Hockey Team wins Bronze

Spain took an early lead in the 18th minute, putting India on the back foot. However, Harmanpreet’s brilliance shone through as he equalized and then scored again within a span of three minutes. The Indian defense, led by Sreejesh, held firm, thwarting Spain’s attempts to get back into the match.

The game started cautiously, with both teams testing each other in the first five minutes. India had their first significant opportunity when Sukhjeet, following a fine run from Hardik, had a shot that went wide. As the quarter progressed, India increased their circle penetrations, though without result. Spain threatened in the 10th minute when Jose Maria Basterra forced Sreejesh into a crucial save. The first quarter ended with neither side earning a penalty corner.

Spain broke the deadlock in the 18th minute after earning a penalty stroke, which Marc Miralles converted. They continued to press, winning successive penalty corners, but India’s defense held firm. India responded with a counter-attack, winning their first penalty corner in the 29th minute, but Amit Rohidas’s effort was saved. India, however, managed to level the score just before halftime, with Harmanpreet converting a penalty corner after Manpreet Singh delivered a dangerous ball into the circle.

The third quarter saw Spain applying pressure, but India weathered the storm. In the 33rd minute, a smart referral earned India another penalty corner, and Harmanpreet struck again to give India the lead. Spain immediately responded with a penalty corner of their own, but the Indian defense stood tall.

India continued to push, winning multiple penalty corners in the third quarter, though Spain’s goalkeeper Calzado made crucial saves to keep the scoreline tight. The third quarter ended with India maintaining their narrow lead.

The final quarter was tense, with Spain coming close to equalizing several times. Sukhjeet had a chance to extend India’s lead, but his shot went wide. Spain, desperate for a goal, earned multiple penalty corners in the dying minutes, but Sreejesh’s heroics ensured India’s lead remained intact.

As the final whistle blew, India celebrated a hard-fought victory, securing the bronze medal and giving Sreejesh a fitting and emotional farewell.