Just before this crucial game, India’s star goalkeeper PR Sreejesh announced his retirement from international hockey. In a perfect send-off, India secured the Bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, defeating Spain 2-1 in a well-deserved victory. This win marks India’s second consecutive Bronze, following their triumph in Tokyo 2021.

India’s journey in the tournament was filled with ups and downs. At one stage, they had a strong chance of reaching their first Olympic final in 44 years, but those hopes were dashed by a close defeat to Germany in the semifinals. Despite the setback, India’s achievement in securing the Bronze is historic. It’s their fourth Bronze medal in Olympic hockey and their 13th medal overall. Additionally, this is the first time since the Munich Olympics in 1972 that India have won back-to-back medals in hockey.

The Bronze medal match against Spain started with Spain taking an early 1-0 lead through a penalty. However, Harmanpreet Singh had different plans. He brought India back into the game with a well-taken goal and followed it up with another from a penalty corner, putting India ahead. From that point on, India held their lead and never let go. Although Spain dominated possession throughout the match, India’s defense, led by Sreejesh, stood firm. Sreejesh’s exceptional goalkeeping in his final international appearance was crucial in securing the win.

India’s campaign began with a thrilling 3-2 victory over New Zealand in the group stage. They then drew against Argentina before securing a 2-0 win over Ireland. A 1-2 loss to Belgium put some pressure on the team, but they bounced back with a 3-2 win against Australia in their final group match. In the quarterfinals, they faced Great Britain in a nail-biting match that went to penalties, where India emerged victorious with a 4-2 win. In the semifinals, they fought hard but were narrowly defeated 2-3 by Germany, setting up the Bronze medal match against Spain.

Throughout the tournament, Harmanpreet Singh was India’s standout player, finishing as the top scorer with 10 goals. PR Sreejesh, with his outstanding goalkeeping, played a key role in India’s success, ensuring that he ended his career on a high note with an Olympic medal.