PR Sreejesh in action. (X)
Paris Olympics 2024: In an exhilarating quarter-final match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Indian men's hockey team clinched a place in the semi-finals by defeating Great Britain 4-2 in a dramatic shootout. The match, held at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium, remained tied 1-1 at the end of regular play, leading to the decisive shootout where India's goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh, emerged as the hero with two crucial saves. With this victory, India advances to face the winner of the Netherlands vs Germany match in the semi-finals. The win is especially significant as India played with only ten players for 43 minutes due to a red card issued to Amit Rohidas.
Reflecting on the victory, a visibly emotional PR Sreejesh expressed, "I told myself that this could be my last match. Or if I save [the goal], then I will get to play two more matches. I am very happy to win this match." This Olympic journey holds special meaning for Sreejesh, who has announced his retirement after Paris, marking this as his final Olympic appearance.
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
The quarter-final clash between India and Great Britain was fiercely contested from the start. In the first quarter, Great Britain secured a penalty corner in the fourth minute but failed to capitalize. A series of penalty corners followed, with India's Amit Rohidas and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh delivering outstanding defensive performances to keep Britain at bay. India also had opportunities with three consecutive penalty corners, but captain Harmanpreet Singh was unable to convert.
The second quarter was marred by controversy when Amit Rohidas received a red card in the 17th minute after his stick struck Will Kallan's face. The German video umpire deemed the act intentional, leading to Rohidas's ejection from the game. Indian players contended the decision, believing a yellow card would have been more appropriate. Despite the setback, India demonstrated remarkable resilience. Harmanpreet Singh put India ahead in the 22nd minute with a skillful goal, but Great Britain quickly equalized with a goal by Lee Morton in the 27th minute.
As the match proceeded without further goals, it headed to a shootout where Sreejesh's exceptional saves secured India's victory. This win adds to India's impressive performance in the tournament, having defeated Australia 3-2 in a landmark victory, their first against the Kookaburras in the Olympics since 1972.
India, which ended a 41-year Olympic medal drought with a bronze in Tokyo, was placed in Pool B in Paris. They started with a 3-2 victory over New Zealand, followed by a 1-1 draw with Argentina, and a 2-0 win over Ireland. Despite a 1-2 loss to Belgium, India bounced back with a historic win against Australia, securing second place in Pool B.
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