Indian men’s hockey team secured its 13th Olympic medal

India defeated Spain 2-1 to win its second consecutive bronze medal

Captain Harmanpreet Singh was instrumental in India’s success

In a thrilling match at the Paris Olympics, the Indian men’s hockey team secured its 13th Olympic medal by defeating Spain 2-1 to win the bronze medal. This victory marks India’s second consecutive bronze medal in hockey, replicating their performance from the Tokyo Olympics.

Also read: 2024 Paris Olympics: India’s hockey team triumphs over Great Britain to reach semi-finals

Captain Harmanpreet Singh was instrumental in India’s success, scoring both goals for the team. The match began with a rocky start for India, as they struggled in the first quarter and faced injuries to key players Manpreet Singh and Gurjant Singh after a collision near the goalpost. Spain capitalized on the situation, with Spanish captain Marc Miralles scoring from a penalty corner in the 18th minute to give his team the lead.

Despite the setback, India rallied in the second quarter, creating multiple opportunities. The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner into a goal, leveling the score. The third quarter saw India assert their dominance as Harmanpreet Singh scored again, this time threading the ball through Spanish defenders to give India a 2-1 lead.

The final quarter was a tense affair, with India’s defense holding strong despite a green card for Sukhjeet and the removal of Hardik from the field. India’s resilience secured their place on the podium, marking a historic achievement with back-to-back Olympic medals in hockey for the first time in 50 years.