India's Olympic bronze medal win in hockey : Paris 2024

India's Olympic bronze medal win in hockey leads to outpouring of emotion

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Skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace in a space of three minutes to finish as the leading goal-scorer (10) in the competition after Marc Miralles put the Spaniards in the lead by scoring off a penalty stroke three minutes into the second quarter.

India had collected a bronze in Tokyo 2020 — their first Olympic medal in the sport since winning gold at Moscow 1980.

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The Harmanpreet Singh-led side would have hoped to upgrade their Tokyo bronze to a gold or silver in Paris, the dreams of which were dashed by a 2-3 defeat at the hands of Germany in the second semi-final.

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Team India, though, ensured they got their act right in their final match of the campaign and bowed out with a medal around their necks, winning back-to-back Olympic medals for the first time since India had won a bronze each in Mexico City 1968 and Munich 1972.

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The bronze, India’s fourth in the Paris Olympics and the first one not coming from the shooting team, naturally got a billion-plus Indians — whether in Paris or back home or across the world — into a celebratory frenzy, the mood of which was evident on micoblogging platform X.

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India captain Harmanpreet Singh, who ends the campaign with 11 goals including two in the final, said that the team wanted to win the gold for the country. He said that while they came close to going all the way, winning gold was not in their fate. He also apologised to the nation for not winning the gold this time, but pointed that Indian hockey is on the rise.

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Former India captain Manpreet Singh said that the team wanted to dedicate the medal to PR Sreejesh. Manpreet, 32, said that he has played with Sreejesh, 36, for 13 years and have seen a lot over that period.

India head coach told his players after the game to stay humble. A big shout out to the South African who took over the team at a precarious time and led them to a bronze in Paris. The tactical work he put on when Amit Rohidas was sent off against Great Britain was just simply remarkable.