The Indian males’s hockey staff clinched a second successive bronze medal on the Olympic Games for the primary time in 52 years with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Spain, giving veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh a becoming farewell on Thursday. It was tense previous few minutes for the Indians as they confronted two quick corners throughout the final minute however the defence stood tall and soaked within the stress. India, who claimed the bronze in Tokyo Games after a hiatus of 41 years, lived as much as the expectations regardless of not having an ideal build-up to the Games. The final time India gained back-to-back Olympic medals was in 1968 (bronze) and 1972 editions (bronze).
The bronze medal was additionally a determined anticipate the Indian contingent In Paris, which has endured six fourth-place finishes up to now, other than heartbreaking disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
Spain went forward with skipper Marc Miralles (18th) changing a penalty stroke whereas India captain Harmanpreet Singh (thirtieth, thirty third) stole the limelight with a brace.
INDIA WIN THE BRONZE MEDAL IN HOCKEY AT #Paris2024!
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Shrugging off their heart-wrenching 2-3 defeat towards Germany within the semifinal, India got here out all weapons blazing to dominate the possession within the first quarter.
It was an offensive begin from India as they penetrated Spain’s defence frequently within the first quarter-hour and created the primary scoring likelihood of the match within the sixth minute.
Vice-captain Hardik Singh created a high quality transfer from the appropriate and handed the ball into the D to Sukhjeet Singh, whose shot went simply huge of the left facet Spanish purpose because the Europeans survived.
The Spanish got here with extra goal and depth within the second quarter and pressed arduous on the Indian purpose. They took the lead within the 18th minute by a penalty stroke conversion by Miralles after Manpreet Singh conceded an pointless foul contained in the D.
Spain saved up the tempo and secured back-to-back penalty corners within the twentieth minute however the Indians defended stoutly. In the twenty eighth minute, Spain secured one other penalty nook after Borja Lacalle hit the submit but it surely went in useless.
Still trailing, India pressed arduous on the Spain defence and secured their first penalty nook within the twenty ninth minute however couldn’t convert.
Just 21 seconds from half-time, Manpreet compensated for his fault by incomes India one other penalty nook and this time Harmanpreet was bang on course.
India received one other penalty nook within the thirty fifth minute however Harmanpreet’s fierce stroke was blocked by Spain goalkeeper Luis Calzado.
Mandeep Singh’s terrific run from the left flank resulted in one other quick nook however Spanish on-ruhser Jordi Bonastre took a blow on his left knee to disclaim India.
Sreejesh then foiled an try from Spain as India saved its 2-1 lead until the top of third quarter.
Hardik needed to be taken off the sphere 5 minutes after the fourth quarter after he collided with a rival participant to undergo a hand harm.
This was after India but once more made a brief nook save. It was Manpreet, who mistakenly landed the ball on Hardik’s foot.
However, Marc Recasens hit huge, a lot to the reduction of the Indian camp.
Three minutes from the ultimate hooter, Spain took off goalkeeper Calzado in a determined try to seek out equaliser however India made no mistake within the dying moments.
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