Paris Olympics Hockey India Beat Great Britain in Penalty Shootout:
India beat Great Britain in the first semifinal of the men’s hockey competition on Sunday (August 4) to book a place in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics 2024.
Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made multiple saves for India in regulation time and then kept two opposition players at bay in the shoot-out to seal a famous win and also a place in the last four for India.
Both teams managed to score a goal each in regulation time, after which the result of the match was decided via penalty shootout, where India scored four goals and Great Britain could only make the first two opportunities count.
In an exciting encounter at the Paris Olympics, the Indian men’s hockey team secured a place in the semi-finals with a stunning victory over Great Britain in a tight skilled penalty shootout match at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir , the determination and steely muscle on display, which kept the fans on the edge of their seats until the end
10 played with 10 men:
India were reduced to 10 men in the match during the second quarter after Amit Rohidas was shown a red card for raising his stick against a Great Britain player.
Down by a man, it was India who took the lead through Harmanpreet Singh in the 22nd minute from a penalty corner before Great Britain drew level through Lee Morton from a field effort in the 27th minute.
Once Rohidas, a key defender and India’s first rusher, was given the controversial marching order, Great Britain attacked in numbers, constantly trying to take advantage of the one-man lead.
‘Today was our day’:
Talking to the broadcasters after sealing India’s famous victory, Srijesh said, “(It’s) a footballer’s daily job. There are days of extraordinary effort (but) today is our day.
Even in the shooting, the men who fired did not give up.”
“They scored and that gave me enough confidence,” the Indian goalkeeper said.
“When I stepped on this field today, there was two options for me. This can be my last match, or I got an opportunity for two more matches and I think, yeah, I got two more matches now,” he said.
Sreejesh said Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist India will focus on their game in the semifinals.
Both teams started the game with impressive defensive schemes and strategic discipline. In the first quarter, there were few clear-cut opportunities, as both sides were intent on not scoring early.
Accompanied by their experienced bowler, the Indian defense stood firm against Great Britain’s probing attack.
“See, whoever comes in the semis, we (will) just play our game. That’s it, that’s important, because now it’s a different game, because we are one man down and we need to focus on that now,” he said.
Sreejesh said India will wait for the FIH’s (International Hockey Federation) decision on the red card shown to Amit Rohidas with more than 40 minutes left in the game.
“I don’t know how it’s going to be. They must take a decision on that. We are just waiting for that, but still, we need to play our best game in the semifinals,” he said.
The Indian bowler made important saves, denying Great Britain several times. But India’s shooters confidently converted their penalties and displayed impressive accuracy. The shootout ended in India’s favour, leaving the players and fans to celebrate.
This win is a milestone for Indian hockey and reaffirms that it is a formidable force in the international arena. Moving on to the semi-finals, the team will aim to continue their impressive run and bring pride to their country.
The victory over Great Britain is a testament to their hard work, resilience and unwavering support from the fans.