The Indian men’s hockey team clinched its second successive bronze medal in the Olympic Games after beating Spain 2-1 in the third position playoff match here on August 8.
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh (30th, 33rd minute) scored a brace for India, while Spain’s only goal was scored by captain Marc Miralles in the 18th minute from a penalty stroke.
India thus secured back-to-back medals at the Olympics, having also won bronze in Tokyo three years back, for the first time in 52 years.
The last time India won back-to-back hockey medals at Olympics was in 1968 and 1972. Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who was playing his final match for India, made some extra-ordinary saves to deny Spanish captain Marc Miralles from the penalty corners. The Indian players mobbed Sreejesh after the full-time whistle, capping off a brilliant farewell for the 36-year-old.
PM Modi also congratulated the Hockey team on the historic win. “A feat that will be cherished for generations to come! The Indian Hockey team shines bright at the Olympics, bringing home the Bronze Medal! This is even more special because it is their second consecutive Medal at the Olympics. Their success is a triumph of skill, perseverance and team spirit. They showed immense grit and resilience. Congratulations to the players. Every Indian has an emotional connect with Hockey and this accomplishment will make the sport even more popular among the youth of our nation”, he said on X.
A feat that will be cherished for generations to come!
The Indian Hockey team shines bright at the Olympics, bringing home the Bronze Medal! This is even more special because it is their second consecutive Medal at the Olympics.
Their success is a triumph of skill,…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024
After a narrow 3-2 loss to Germany in the semifinals, Indian team had shifted its goal to secure a second consecutive bronze medal following their podium finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Former India captain Manpreet Singh said that the team wanted to dedicate the medal to PR Sreejesh. “I have played with Sreejesh for 13 years and have seen a lot over that period” he said.
India is the most successful hockey nation in Olympic history, having won 13 medals: eight gold, one silver, and four bronze.
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