Just like the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Indian men’s hockey team secured the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics after beating Spain by 2-1. In the last 52 years, it was the first time when the Indian men’s hockey team successfully claimed Olympic medals in consecutive editions.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh's brace secured the bronze medal for India
In the bronze medal match, Spain claimed a 1-0 lead in 18 minutes with skipper Marc Miralles Portillo’s successful conversion from the penalty stroke.
However, just before halftime, the Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh leveled the scoreline (1-1) from a penalty corner. In the third minute of the third quarter, the Indian skipper scored the decisive goal from another penalty corner.
The scoreline remained 2-1 at the full time, as India secured the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It was the last international match for the star goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh, who was outstanding in this entire Summer Olympics.
The Indian men’s hockey team last time secured back-to-back Olympic medals during their bronze medal victories in Mexico 1968 and Munich 1972.
India performed strongly at the Paris 2024 Olympics
In the Paris 2024 Olympics, India finished in the second position in Group B with ten points after five matches. Apart from a 1-1 draw against the Rio 2016 Olympics champions Argentina and a 2-1 defeat against the defending champions Belgium, India won all three other group matches (beating New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia), including beating Australia in the Olympics for the first time in the last 52 years.
After beating Great Britain in the penalty shootout [1(4)–1(2)] during the quarterfinal, India suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against Germany in the semifinal. Although India couldn’t fight for the gold medal, they successfully performed against Spain to secure the Olympic bronze medal for the second consecutive time.
Indian men’s hockey team’s results at the Paris 2024 Olympics
(Group Stage: Group B)
vs New Zealand: won by 3-2
vs Argentina: drew by 1-1
vs Ireland: won by 2-0
vs Belgium: lost by 2-1
vs Australia: won by 3-2
(Quarterfinal)
vs Great Britain: won by 1(4)-1(2)
(Semifinal)
vs Germany: lost by 3-2
(Bronze medal match)
vs Spain: won by 2-1
