Paris: Following a gripping victory over Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Paris Olympics men's hockey competition, Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh showered praise on goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, hailing him as a true legend of the game.
India secured a thrilling win over Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics men's hockey competition, advancing to the semifinals after a nail-biting shootout victory on Sunday. With the score tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time, India emerged victorious in the shootout, scoring 4-2.
Speaking to Olympics.com, Harmanpreet Singh remarked, "He is a legend, man, no doubt. This is his last tournament and he is playing like this. So we are looking forward to it and we still have two matches to go. We will give our best."
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Sreejesh had announced that this would be his final international appearance for India. The 36-year-old's decision to retire after Paris has spurred the Indian National Team, who have launched a "Win it for Sreejesh" campaign, rallying global hockey fans to support their quest for another podium finish.
Harmanpreet expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, highlighting the players' immense dedication. "Each and every player gave 200 per cent for the team. It is very hard to play a man down for most of the match, but the belief was there, the effort was there, and that's why I think we made it," he added.
In the second quarter of the quarterfinal match, India took a 1-0 lead when Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner. India earned four penalty corner opportunities in the second quarter, while Great Britain had five.
However, India faced a setback as Amit Rohidas received a red card in the second quarter for an incident involving William Calnan. Despite playing with one man down, India managed to hold their ground.
Great Britain equalised just before halftime, with Lee Morton finding the back of the net. In the second half, Great Britain had multiple chances but failed to capitalise.
In the subsequent shootout, India converted all four of their attempts, with PR Sreejesh making a crucial save to secure India's spot in the semifinals.
Earlier in their Pool B match, India defeated Australia 3-2 in a thrilling contest. Abhishek (12') and Harmanpreet Singh (13') scored within two minutes in the first quarter, putting India in the lead. Thomas Craig (25') pulled one back for Australia with a penalty corner goal.
Harmanpreet extended India's lead with his second goal in the 32nd minute of the third quarter. A late penalty conversion by Blake Govers (55') ensured a tense finish, but India held on to claim victory.
As of now, the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics has secured three bronze medals, all in shooting events. ANI
Published: 05 Aug 2024, 01:59 pm IST
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