North News
Chandigarh, August 9
The Indian men’s hockey team staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Spain 2-1, clinching the bronze medal at the Olympics, and giving a fitting farewell to veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who played his last international match on Thursday, the news portal Olympics.com reported. This victory marked India’s first back-to-back Olympic medals in hockey since the 1972 Munich Games, 52 years ago.
Spain initially took the lead through captain Marc Miralles in the 18th minute, but India quickly responded with two goals from skipper Harmanpreet Singh in the 30th and 33rd minutes. The win at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium secured India’s record-extending 13th Olympic medal in hockey and their second consecutive bronze, according to the news portal.
“I feel great,” said India hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh. “We made history again with back-to-back bronze medals. It’s a big day for India and a big day for hockey. Today’s game was very good. We played as a team. Everyone delivered, especially our legend Sreejesh. It was his last game. It’s a memorable moment for him and a big achievement for the team,” he added.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday congratulated the Indian Hockey team for creating history by bagging the Bronze Medal in Paris Olympics games. Showering heaps of praise on the team, he said the team has once again upheld the glorious legacy of the great Hockey players produced from the country adding that 10 players from state, who displayed finest hockey during these Olympics, will be rewarded with cash prizes worth Rs 1 crore each as per policy of state government.
In a congratulatory message, the Chief Minister said that the Indian players have made the entire country proud by exhibiting the best game and trouncing Spain by 2-1. He said that the Indian Hockey players displayed one of the finest games in this prestigious match and steered their team to victory.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that India has won two consecutive medals in Tokyo and Paris after a gap of 52 years. Prior to this, the Indian Hockey squad had won two consecutive medals in 1968 at Mexico and 1972 at Munich.
The Chief Minister reiterated that this historic win will pave way for restoring the pristine glory of national game in the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the entire team has made the entire country feel proud by this spectacular victory against Spain adding that this victory will go down in golden words in the annals of sports history.
