New Delhi: India beat Spain 2-1 in an exciting contest at the Paris Olympics on Thursday to clinch their second successive bronze medal in men’s hockey.
Three years ago in Tokyo, India pipped Germany 5-4 to end a 41-year wait for a medal in Olympic hockey.
Goalkeeeper extraordinaire P R Sreejesh thus bowed out on a high, effecting his customary multiple saves, but it was India’s talismanic skipper Harmanpreet Singh who played the stellar role once again.
Stung by a penalty stroke goal by Spanish captain Marc Miralles in the 18th minute after Manpreet Singh tackled Clapes inside the striking D, Harmanpreet got into the act with his expert penalty corner drag flicks.
The equaliser came seconds before half-time, while Harmanpreet sealed the bronze with another strike three minutes into the third quarter.
Harmanpreet thus finished the competition with a staggering 10 goals – the most by any player.
It was India’s fourth medal at the Paris Olympics — all bronze – following a hat-trick in shooting last week.
Overall, India have won 13 men’s hockey medals in Olympic hockey — 8 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze.
LIST OF INDIA’S HOCKEY MEDALS IN OLYMPICS
* Gold — 1928 Amsterdam Games
* Gold — 1932 Los Angeles Games
* Gold — 1936 Berlin Games
* Gold — 1948 London Games
* Gold — 1952 Helsinki Games
* Gold — 1956 Melbourne Games
* Silver — 1960 Rome Games
* Gold — 1964 Tokyo Games
* Bronze — 1968 Mexico City Games
* Bronze — 1972 Munich Games
* Gold — 1980 Moscow Games
* Bronze — 2020 Tokyo Games (held in 2021)
* Bronze — 2024 Paris Games.
