Paris Olympics 2024: India loses to Germany in semis; Set to fight for bronze vs Spain

New Delhi: In a gripping semifinal at the Paris Olympics 2024, India lost to Germany. team will now face Spain for Bronze medal further. In the match, Sukjeet scored a pivotal goal in the third quarter to level the scoreline, pulling India back into the game. Despite India's dominant start with an early goal by Harmanpreet Singh, Germany rebounded in the second quarter, scoring twice to secure a 2-1 lead by halftime.

India's Strong Campaign

Harmanpreet Singh and his team have displayed exceptional hockey throughout the Olympics, overcoming formidable teams like Australia and Great Britain to reach the semifinals. India's rich Olympic history includes eight gold medals, but the last was claimed in 1980 at the Moscow Games. The team is now poised to end this 40-year gold medal drought in Paris, given their impressive form.

Historic Rivalry

India and Germany share a storied rivalry in hockey. The two teams last met in a high-stakes bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics, where India triumphed 5-4, thanks to a last-second save by PR Sreejesh. In this tournament, Germany advanced to the semifinals by defeating Argentina 3-2, while India secured their spot with a spirited performance against Great Britain.

Sreejesh's Heroics

In the quarterfinal against Great Britain, Sreejesh was instrumental in India's victory. Playing his last international tournament, Sreejesh made ten spectacular saves from field shots and kept out ten penalty corners. His performance in the shootout, where India won 4-2, was crucial. Reflecting on the match, Sreejesh remarked, "When I stepped on this field today, there were 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."