Paris Olympics 2024: Harmanpreet Singh’s stellar performance helps Indian hockey team win bronze with thrilling 2-1 win over Spain
After ending the decades-long wait for an Olympic medal in Tokyo, the Indian hockey team once again found Olympic success by winning the bronze medal with a thumping 2-1 win over Spain at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
Spain captain Marc Miralles’ goal opened the scoring, followed by Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring two goals later to give India another bronze medal.
With this win, India’s medal tally at the Paris Olympics has gone up to 4, all 4 of which are bronze medals.
India started the match aggressively, pressing uphill across the halfway line and making dangerous runs to put pressure on the Spanish defence.
The strategy proved to be effective and India reached Spain’s final third within the first five minutes as Sukhjeet Singh scored India’s first attempt on goal in the sixth minute of the first quarter.
India attacked relentlessly, but Spain kept their cool, defending with composure and patience, almost in a way that they were goading the Indians into playing their best shots.
But, nothing happened in the first quarter and both teams settled for a scoreless draw.
The confidence Spain were oozing with continued in the second quarter as well, as a sharp attack from Gerard Claps eventually led to a foul from the returning Amit Rohidas, giving Spain a penalty.
On a goal from PR Sreejesh, playing his last international match for India, Spain captain Marc Miralles easily slotted the ball into the top left corner to put his team ahead 1-0.
India then created a nervous situation as the momentum shifted towards the Spaniards, who started playing their game without much retaliation from the Indians.
