Hockey at Paris 2024: India Claims Bronze with Victory Over Spain

By Utathya Nag

Published on August 8, 2024

Location: Paris, France – Day 13

Match Overview: The Indian men’s hockey team secured a
thrilling 2-1 victory over Spain to win the bronze medal at the Paris 2024
Olympics. The match was held at the Yves-du-Manoir Hockey Stadium, marking a
historic moment as India clinched back-to-back Olympic bronze medals for the
first time since 1972.

Match Highlights:

• First Half:
  • Spain took the lead through captain Marc Miralles, who converted a
    penalty stroke in the 18th minute.
  • India equalized just before halftime, with captain Harmanpreet Singh
    scoring from a penalty corner in the 30th minute.
• Second Half:
  • Harmanpreet Singh struck again in the 33rd minute, giving India a
    2-1 lead with his tenth goal of the tournament.
  • Despite intense pressure from Spain in the final quarter, India’s
    defense, led by goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, held firm. Sreejesh made several
    crucial saves, including two in the final minutes of his international
    career.

Significance:

• Historical Achievement: This victory marks India’s 13th
  Olympic medal in hockey, adding to their rich legacy with eight golds, one
  silver, and now four bronze medals.
• PR Sreejesh’s Farewell: The match served as a fitting
  farewell for veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who retired after an
  illustrious 18-year international career. Sreejesh’s exceptional performance
  was instrumental in securing the win.
• Back-to-Back Medals: India’s consecutive bronze medals
  in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 are the first since their back-to-back bronzes
  in 1968 and 1972.

Post-Match Reactions:

• Harmanpreet Singh: "We create history again,
  back-to-back (bronze medals). It’s a big day for India and a big day for
  hockey. Everyone delivered, especially our legend Sreejesh. It was his last
  game. It’s a memorable game for him, and a big achievement as a team."
• PR Sreejesh: His emotional farewell was marked by his
  teammates’ celebrations and tributes, acknowledging his contribution to
  Indian hockey.

Further Information: For more detailed statistics and
information about the match, visit the official
Olympics website.

Sources:

• NDTV
  Sports
• The
  Hindu