Paris Olympics 2024 Hockey: India beat Australia at Olympics for first time in 52 years
India, the bronze medallists at Tokyo 2020, will now feature in the Paris Olympics 2024 hockey quarter-finals next on August 5.
Paris Olympics 2024 Hockey, India vs Australia: Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored two goals for the Indian men’s hockey team as Men in Blue beat Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Australia 3-2 at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Friday.
This was a historic win as India marked its first victory against Australia in hockey at the Olympics since Munich 1972 games – 52 years ago.
For India, skipper Harmanpreet Singh (13’, 32’) and Abhishek (12’) scored the goals while Thomas Craig (25’) and Blake Glovers (55’) hit goals for the Australian team.
Abhishek opened the scorecard for India from a counterattack after Lalit Upadhyay made a great run into the inner circle before Abhishek finished the move. Soon after that, skipper Harmanpreet Singh doubled India’s lead from a penalty corner.
In the second quarter, Indian wall goal-keeper PR Sreejesh made a couple of terrific saves, but Australia finally found a way through after Skipper Aaron Zalewski’s shot from the left flank went wide and Thomas Craig steered it home from close range.
After the break, India was given a penalty stroke in the early minutes and Harmanpreet Singh took advantage of it to restore the two-goal cushion.
On the other hand, Blake Glovers scored from the spot after a stroke was awarded to Australia with five minutes left, but the Indian defense saw out the remaining minutes to pick up three points.
India, the bronze medallists at Tokyo 2020, will now feature in the Paris Olympics 2024 hockey quarter-finals next on August 5.
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