India Secures Second Consecutive Olympic Bronze In Men’s Hockey With Thrilling 2-1 Victory Over Spain

In a riveting encounter at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team captured its second consecutive Olympic bronze medal by defeating Spain 2-1.

The victory, fueled by captain Harmanpreet Singh’s stellar performance, further cements India’s resurgence on the world stage, following their historic Tokyo 2020 bronze.

India’s win brought their total medal count at Paris 2024 to four, all bronze, underscoring their consistent presence on the Olympic podium across multiple sports.

The hockey bronze holds particular significance as it continues the revival of a sport where India once dominated, having won eight gold medals in the past.

The match began with India launching an aggressive offensive, pushing deep into Spanish territory within the first few minutes.

However, Spain’s defense remained resolute, keeping the game goalless at the end of the first quarter. The deadlock was broken in the second quarter when Spain’s captain, Marc Miralles, converted a penalty corner following a foul by India’s Amit Rohidas, putting Spain ahead 1-0.

India responded to the setback with heightened urgency. Despite Spain briefly controlling the momentum, India regained their composure, and in the final seconds of the second quarter, Harmanpreet Singh equalized with a powerful penalty corner strike, leaving the teams tied 1-1 at halftime.

Entering the third quarter with renewed determination, India quickly capitalized on another penalty corner opportunity just three minutes into the period. Once again, Harmanpreet Singh delivered, firing India into a 2-1 lead. The goal marked his second of the match, showcasing his critical role in India’s offensive strategy.

For the remainder of the third quarter, India dominated possession, dictating the pace and keeping Spain largely on the defensive. Spain did manage to win a penalty corner and appeared to have equalized, but the goal was disallowed upon review, maintaining India’s slim advantage.

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The final quarter saw Spain ramp up their efforts, launching a series of intense attacks in an attempt to level the score.

Despite earning multiple penalty corners in the closing minutes, Spain was unable to break through India’s resilient defense, with veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh playing a crucial role in denying Spain any further goals. The final whistle confirmed India’s 2-1 victory, securing them the bronze medal.

With back-to-back Olympic medals, India’s men’s hockey team has reasserted itself as a formidable force in international hockey, reigniting hopes for a return to their former glory in future competitions.

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