eam India outclassed Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal match of men’s hockey at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Thursday. India captain Harmanpreet Singh netted the equaliser seconds before the half-time hooter. Spain skipper Marc Miralles opened the scoring with 11 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter. Leading India from the front, Harmanpreet doubled his tally with a sensational brace in the third quarter. In his final international outing, veteran PR Sreejesh made a stunning save in the final quarter to seal India’s 2-1 win over Spain.
After a narrow 3-2 loss to Germany in the semifinals, Team India’s focus had shifted to securing a second consecutive bronze medal following their podium finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The team, led by Harmanpreet Singh, rebounded quickly from the disappointment of missing out on the gold medal match by winning the bronze medal at the Paris Games.
India’s record against Spain
Historically, India has maintained a strong track record against Spain in Olympic hockey, securing victories in seven out of their ten encounters. In recent games, Team India has also demonstrated their dominance, winning four of the last five matches against Spain, which boosted their confidence heading into the crucial match. The return of key player Amit Rohidas, after serving a suspension, further strengthened the squad, particularly in defence. His presence not only fortified the Indian defence but also increased their opportunities for penalty corners, making him India’s second-best option for set pieces after captain Harmanpreet.
An Unexpected Challenge for India
Spain, however, posed an unpredictable challenge. The Spanish team had an inconsistent performance at the Paris Olympics, securing impressive victories against top teams like Germany and Belgium, while also suffering heavy defeats, including a 4-0 loss to Great Britain. Despite this, Team India handled the pressure of being the favourites, especially in the wake of their emotional semifinal loss.
Key players
Key players to watch included Hardik Singh, who played a crucial role in India’s midfield, despite having a mixed performance in the semifinal. For Spain, Marc Reyne and Jose Basterra, the team’s top scorers in the tournament, presented a significant challenge to India’s defence.
Who finished as the top scorer?
With Harmanpreet Singh as the tournament’s top scorer and a strong head-to-head record against Spain, India approached the match with renewed determination. Despite the disappointment of missing the finals and the multiple fourth-place finishes by the Indian contingent at this year’s Olympics, the team was motivated to finish the tournament on a high note, especially as it was goalkeeper PR Sreejesh’s retirement game.
India sealed its 13th Olympic hockey medal
The victory secured India’s 13th Olympic hockey medal and their fourth bronze, further cementing their legacy as one of the sport’s most successful nations. Despite the challenges, including the semifinal loss, the team drew on their experience from Tokyo 2020, where they had similarly rebounded from a semifinal defeat to claim bronze against Germany.
The Wall: PR Sreejesh bids farewell
Meanwhile, PR Sreejesh played his final international hockey match, bidding farewell with a medal. Throughout this Olympics, Sreejesh has been a formidable presence for India in goal, delivering remarkable performances to save the team on multiple occasions in Paris.
In the quarterfinals against Great Britain, Sreejesh’s performance was exceptional. Despite Great Britain taking 21 shots and earning 10 penalty corners, they couldn’t surpass the ‘Great Wall of India.’ Similarly, in Tokyo, Sreejesh was instrumental in India’s first medal in 41 years, making crucial saves in the bronze medal match against Germany, which India won 5-4.
India vs Spain Live, Bronze Medal: Ex-Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has congratulated Indian Hockey team for winning the bronze medal in Paris Olympics 2024.
He took to X and wrote, “Indeed a historic and very very special moment for India. Congratulate #IndianHockey Team on winning consecutive bronze medals in #Olympics after so many decades. Indian team’s historic medal at #ParisOlympics2024 has swelled every Indian’s heart in pride. It is also a deeply emotional moment for me personally. May this bring back the halcyon days for hockey, bringing more and more laurels for the country. Best wishes
Here’s all you need to know about India’s bronze medal match against Spain:
India defended its 1-goal lead in the final quarter to seal a historic bronze.
-India remained 2-1 ahead of Spain at the end of 3rd quarter.
-India captain Harmanpreet Singh doubled his goal tally in 3rd quarter.
-The India captain scored the equaliser seconds before the half-time hooter.
-Spain captain Marc Miralles scored the opener with 11 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.
-India got the second quarter underway against Spain.
-Harmanpreet and Co. ended the first quarter goalless against Spain in Paris.
-India’s Gurjant copped a nasty blow in the 1st quarter.
-PR Sreejesh made his first save in the opening quarter.