Rohan Chowdhury in Paris
India’s men’s hockey team achieved a historic 3-2 victory against Australia in their final Pool B match at the Paris Olympics 2024. This win was India’s first Olympic triumph over Australia since the 1972 Games.
Despite being a group match, the victory significantly impacted India’s ranking in Pool B. As the second-placed team in Pool B behind Belgium, they will now face the third-placed team from Pool A in the next round. That will either be Great Britain or Germany, who play later on Friday.
The final moments of the match were reminiscent of the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal game, with PR Sreejesh making a crucial save in the dying seconds. In Paris, Sreejesh denied back-to-back attempts by Jake Harvie and Ky Willott, securing India’s lead with just three seconds left.
India dominated from the start, with both teams creating chances in the opponent’s circle. Abhishek scored India’s first goal in the 13th minute after a failed Australian penalty corner led to a powerful strike from Lalit Kumar Upadhyay. Abhishek netted the rebound.
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Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh shine as @TheHockeyIndia secures a 3-2 victory over Australia, first after 52 years at the #Olympics @pranmaz reports live from the venue#Paris2024 #BlueRev @Limca_Official pic.twitter.com/HYQxhUAMIi
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) August 2, 2024
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh had an exceptional game, scoring twice and excelling in the defensive midfield while initiating attacks with long balls on the flanks. Just a minute after Abhishek’s goal, Harmanpreet doubled the lead with a clinical strike from a penalty corner, marking his fifth goal of the tournament.
His second goal came from a penalty stroke at the start of the second half. A penalty corner was blocked by an Australian player’s foot, led to the referral which resulted in the stroke. Harmanpreet calmly sent the ball past the goalkeeper. His presence of mind was on point in not wasting any time in taking the referral.
The Indian defence performed admirably, preventing Australia from scoring in open play. Australia’s goals came from a Craig Thomas penalty corner and a Blake Govers penalty stroke.
“Really happy with the way the defence played,” said Manpreet Singh. “We had plans for man-to-man marking to prevent easy chances, and we executed it well.”
After Sreejesh’s heroics in the final seconds, Australia’s players appealed for a penalty stroke, but it was denied. “I was ready to appeal if it was given a stroke,” said Sreejesh. “It was a clear case of blocking the goalkeeper.”
Reactions
Sreejesh: “I didn’t know about the history, but it feels good to be a part of it. All victories give you confidence, but remember, this was a group match. Knockouts will be different.”
Harmanpreet: “Our strategy was to get an insurance goal, and we achieved that. It’s crucial to maintain a good lead against tough opponents like Australia. I’m happy that all departments performed well.”
Dilip Tirkey: “The team played exceptionally well, especially Harmanpreet and Sreejesh. We know that Sreejesh has announced his retirement post-Olympics. The federation will plan something big for his farewell, but for now, let’s hope the boys progress and win another medal.”
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