The Indian hockey team has achieved a historic first in 52 years by defeating Australia 3-2 in their final men’s hockey Pool B match of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday. This is the first time since the 1972 Olympics that India have defeated Australia in hockey in the quadrennial extravaganza. For India, Abhishek and Harmanpreet Singh (2) scored while Thomas Craig and Blake Govers struck for Australia. The win now sees India (10 points, 5 matches) rise up to the second spot in the Pool B. Belgium lead the Pool while Australia are third. India started the campaign with a win against New Zealand, drew against Argentina and then beat Ireland.
Indian fans at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium had all the reasons to be apprehensive on Friday afternoon. However, the Indian team stepped onto Pitch 2 with a clean slate and unwavering determination, eventually battling till the final whistle to secure a thrilling 3-2 win.
In this tough match, India’s exceptional defence stood out, especially during Australia’s counter-attacks and penalty corners. The team displayed brilliant off-the-ball running, closing channels in midfield – a task done with precision by the experienced Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh. Whether the Australian team attacked from the flanks or tried to penetrate through the centre, the entire team, from defenders to strikers, worked together to thwart their advances.
“We knew they could be very dangerous on counter-attacks. Our plan was to win one-on-ones, concede penalty corners when needed, but not allow them a free pass on our goal. We have a strong penalty corner defence, and we kept changing our strategy depending on the situation. Whether it was man-to-man marking or zonal marking, communication was key and it worked,” Manpreet Singh said after the match.
The defence was providential and provided the Indian strikers with the base to capitalise on their opportunities. India’s first goal came from open play in the 12th minute when Lalit Upadhyay attacked from the left and Abhishek scored on the rebound off goalkeeper Andrew Charter’s pads.
Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, playing possibly his last Olympics, displayed his experience and resilience, making two brilliant saves early.
When the Kookaburras attempted to counter-attack, India struck again. In the very next minute (13th minute), Australia’s attempt to clear a long ball in their circle resulted in a penalty corner. Captain Harmanpreet Singh, who had already scored four goals in the tournament, added a fifth goal to his score with a powerful, flat strike that found the back of the net.
Australia managed to pull a goal back in the second quarter through Craig Thomas’ penalty corner conversion, which included a series of five passes that bypassed the Indian defence. With the score at 2-1, India knew they needed another goal to secure their position.
The decisive goal came just a few minutes into the third quarter when India earned a penalty corner. Although the initial shot was saved, video referral showed that there was a foul, and India were awarded a penalty stroke. Harmanpreet Singh stepped up and calmly slotted it into the goal, giving India a 3-1 lead.
In the final quarter, India extended their lead to 4-1 when Abhishek scored in a goal-line scramble. However, a video referral from Australia overturned the goal due to a foul by Mandeep Singh.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Australia piled on the pressure and earned a penalty stroke for a foul inside the Indian circle. Blake Govers scored to make the score 3-2. But despite the late lead, Sreejesh made a crucial save in the final seconds to preserve India’s lead.
Reflecting on the match, Sreejesh acknowledged the team’s strategy and execution. “We also played well against Belgium on Thursday, but failed to convert our chances. Today, our forwards made the most of their chances and our defence stood strong.”
When asked about the “Jeet for Sreejesh” campaign, he humbly replied, “It feels good. I am trying my best not to disappoint the fans at home. I got a few injuries towards the end; my ribs are swollen, but I am happy with the win.”
The win has not only broken the long-running Olympic blues but also rekindled hope and pride in Indian hockey as the team looks set to move ahead in the competition.
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