India won bronze in the men’s hockey event to win back-to-back Olympic medals in the sport for the first time in 52 years.
As the clock at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium wound down to the final two minutes of the match, Spain lay siege to the Indian goal. Having taken the lead in the 18th minute, which they lost to two Harmanpreet Singh penalty corners either side of the half-time break, Spain were at the last chance saloon.
They needed to score quickly to have any chance of forcing a penalty shootout in the men’s hockey bronze medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They did most things right as they searched for the equaliser.
The forwards did their job by winning four penalty corners in the final 90 seconds. They even forced India captain Harmanpreet Singh into making a rash challenge which he was fortunate enough to escape without getting booked.
The Spanish penalty corner batteries had four tries at the Indian goal and all four times they were denied. After being one of the best teams in Paris over the last week, India were not planning on going back home empty handed. Like at Tokyo 2020, they went on to take the bronze yet again.
As the hooter went off to signal the end of the match, the Indian bench cleared out as they piled on PR Sreejesh, who had just played his final match for India, to celebrate a much deserved victory.
“With the Olympics, we have to wait for these stages,” Harmanpreet Singh said after the win to the official broadcaster. “As a hockey player it’s not easy, not even for the viewers. But our mentality is that every time we come to the ground, we come to win. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, but it was our destiny to win something.”
For anyone who had not watched any of India’s previous matches in Paris, today was the perfect representation of what they have been all about.
They never lost their heads, denied Spain clear goal scoring chances from open play and had peak Harmanpreet Singh on drag flicking duty.
Also read: ‘Courage etched in every stride’ – Reactions as India win bronze in Paris
The bronze medal was the perfect response to the doubters who feared India would not be able to repeat their heroics from Tokyo 2020.
