India qualified to the men’s hockey semifinals in the Paris Olympics by defeating Great Britain (4-2) in a thrilling shoot-out on Sunday at the Yves du Manoir Stadium. Following a 1-1 deadlock in regular time, the quarterfinal match’s result was decided by a penalty shootout.
Amit Rohidas received a red card in the 16th minute for raising his stick against a Great Britain player, leaving India with only 10 men early in the match. The decision forced the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalists to defend valiantly against an attacking Great Britain side for the remainder of the match. Despite these challenges, the Indian team showcased their resilience and determination.
Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh displayed his extraordinary skills in his final international tournament by making a number of critical saves. With a penalty corner goal in the 22nd minute from Harmanpreet Singh, India took a lead by 1-0. However, in the 27th minute, Lee Morton scored a field goal to tie the score for Great Britain.
A famous victory!!!!
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 4, 2024
What a game. What a Shootout.
Raj Kumar Pal with the winning penalty shot.
We are in the Semis.
India India 🇮🇳 1 – 1 🇬🇧 Great Britain
SO: 4-2
Harmanpreet Singh 22' (PC)
Lee Morton 27' #Hockey #HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HockeyLayegaGold… pic.twitter.com/S01hjYbzGr
In the shootout, Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Rajkumar Pal scored for India. For Great Britain, Connor Williamson fired his shot wide, while Sreejesh saved Phillip Roper’s attempt.
The match, which ended 1-1 after regulation time, saw India prevail in the shootout. This achievement marks the first time since the 1972 Munich Olympics that India has reached the semifinals in back-to-back Games, following their bronze medal win in Tokyo.
In the Paris 2024 Olympics hockey semi-finals, India will play the winner of the quarter-finals between Germany and Argentina on 6 August (Tuesday).
Get the latest news updates and stay informed with FELA NEWS!
Source: The Economic Times
