Paris, August 8 (Udaipur Kiran): India clinched the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics for the second consecutive time, defeating Spain 2-1 on Friday at the Yves du Manoir Stadium. Captain Harmanpreet Singh’s two goals and PR Sreejesh’s outstanding saves were key to the victory.
In an electrifying atmosphere, India made a remarkable comeback after trailing 0-1 following the first quarter, securing their fourth medal at the Paris Olympics.
Sreejesh, playing his final game for India, was filled with emotion as he took the field, joined by his teammates to celebrate this significant moment in India’s hockey history. India achieved back-to-back bronze medals in hockey for the first time in 52 years, the last time being at the 1972 Munich Games.
Under coach Craig Fulton, India made history with consecutive Olympic bronze medals. Harmanpreet Singh (30′, 33′) was the hero for India, scoring both goals to secure the win. For Spain, Mark Miralles (18′) was the lone goal scorer.
India’s head-to-head record against Spain in the Olympics was in their favor, having defeated the Spanish side seven times in ten encounters.
Spain started the match strongly. The game picked up pace in the second quarter when Manpreet collided with Gerard Claps inside the D, resulting in a penalty stroke for Spain. Spanish captain Mark Miralles converted the opportunity into a goal, giving Spain a 1-0 lead.
With a 1-0 advantage, Spain dominated India with possession play in the second quarter. Basterra had a chance to double Spain’s lead but failed to capitalize on two penalty corners.
In the 30th minute, captain Harmanpreet Singh equalized for India with his trademark drag flick, converting a penalty corner into a goal.
In the third quarter, India earned another penalty corner, which Harmanpreet converted to give India a 2-1 lead, which proved to be the decisive score, securing India’s consecutive bronze medal.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
