• durgesh dubey
• 09 Aug, 2024

hockey

The Indian men's hockey team clinched its 13th Olympic medal with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Spain, securing the bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This win marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time in over five decades that India has achieved back-to-back Olympic podium finishes in men’s hockey, a feat last accomplished in 1972.

India’s journey to this bronze medal is particularly historic, coming three years after their memorable comeback in Tokyo, where they overcame a 1-3 deficit to win 5-4 and also claim bronze. This consecutive success at the Olympics echoes the achievements of the 1968 and 1972 Games, where India also secured consecutive bronze medals, first by defeating West Germany and then overcoming the Netherlands.

In the tightly contested match against Spain, the first quarter ended in a 1-1 draw, with Spain taking the lead through captain Marc Miralles' penalty stroke in the 18th minute. However, India quickly responded, leveling the score just before halftime when captain Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner. Immediately after the break, Harmanpreet struck again, putting India ahead with another expertly executed penalty corner, a lead they maintained until the final whistle.

This victory at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium not only gave India a record-extending 13th Olympic hockey medal but also provided a fitting farewell to veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who played his final international match. Heading into Paris 2024, India was already the most successful hockey team in Olympic history, with eight gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. The team's win in Tokyo 2020 had ended a 41-year-long medal drought, and their bronze in Paris continues to build on that legacy.

Facing world No. 8 Spain, who had earlier upset defending champions Belgium in the quarter-finals, India, ranked fifth, started cautiously but gradually took control of the game. Despite Spain’s initial lead, India’s perseverance and strategic play led to a memorable victory, solidifying their place in Olympic history.

Indian Men's Hockey Team captain Harmanpreet Singh says, "This is a very big thing...We won back-to-back bronze, and we tried for gold but this is the journey and we will learn from this in the future...Sreejesh is a fantastic player...".