Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace of goals as the Indian men’s hockey team fought back from a goal down to prevail 2-1 over Spain and bagged a second successive bronze medal, giving seasoned goalkeeper PR Sreejesh a memorable farewell in his last match.
Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medallist India were trailing by a goal scored by Marc Miralles scored off a penalty stroke in the 18th minute before India scored through Harmanpreet scored twice in the 30th minute and 33rd minute off penalty corners as India fought back brilliantly to win their second successive bronze medal in the Olympics in 52 years. India had last won successive bronze medals in the 1968 and 1972 Games before this.
This medal takes India’s tally in hockey to 13 in the Olympic Games with eight gold, one silver and four bronze medals adding to the country’s stature as the most successful country in field hockey at the Olympics. This is India’s fourth medal in the Paris Olympic Games, all bronze medals, adding to the three won in shooting.
While Harmanpreet Singh struck the two goals, it was goalkeeper Sreejesh, who had already announced his retirement from the game, made it possible as he stood like the Rock of Gibraltar and thwarted attempt after attempt from the Spaniards as they went in search of the equaliser.
There were a lot of anxious moments for India as Spain earned nine penalty corners in all but could not convert any. India on the other hand earned six penalty corners and converted two of them, India defended bravely in the last 5-6 minutes putting their bodies on the line at times to thwart the Spanish.
