New Delhi: The Indian men’s hockey team booked a spot in the semifinal stage of the men’s hockey event in the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 on Sunday. The Men in Blue defeated Great Britain in the penalty shootout 4-2 after both teams were locked at 1-1 in the regular time at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Paris.
India will face the winner of Argentina and Germany in the fourth quarterfinal match of the day. India drew with Argentina 1-1 in their Pool B meeting in this edition.
Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Rajkumar Pal were on the scoresheet for India in the penalty shootout. James Albery and Zachary Wallace netted for Great Britain but chances missed by Conor Williamson and Phil Roper stopped their march in this Summer Games.
10-men India marches in semis
India were reduced to 10-men after defender Amit Rohidas was shown red card in the second quarter for a deliberate challenge on William Calnan as per the referee’s marching orders. The Men in Blue were undetered by the sanction as skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored through a penalty corner, his seventh goal in the tournament, to put India in the lead.
However, Lee Morton cancelled India’s lead with an equaliser just before the end of the second quarter. Morton chipped in the goalpost after Sreejesh blocked with his boot but the British forward pounced on the second opportunity to level the scores.
Indian players backdropped to their own D to guard the post after Sumit received a green guard at the dying moments of the third quarter. Great Britain was on attacking spree, though lacking in penetration. Veteran Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who made numerous saves in the last two quarters, saved Phil Roper’s penalty shot in the fourth attempt of the shootout as India will play in the semis for successive Olympics.
India has the opportunity to better their bronze medal achievement at Tokyo three years ago and add a record ninth Olympics gold in their cabinet.
The Indian men’s hockey team booked a spot in the semifinal stage of the men’s hockey event in the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 on Sunday. The Men in Blue defeated Great Britain in the penalty shootout 4-2 after both teams were locked at 1-1 in the regular time at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Paris. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
