Hockey at Paris 2024

1. Netherlands - 2 Medals (2 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)

2. People's Republic of China - 1 Medal (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)

3. Germany - 1 Medal (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)

4. India - 1 Medal (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze)

5. Argentina - 1 Medal (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze)

Harmanpreet and Sreejesh are letting the tears flow as they hug it out. The emotions out there are visceral and delirious. Heartbreaking at the same time too as the Spanish players lie on the field distraught, unable to keep the cries at bay.

What a fitting penultimate match of hockey at the Paris Games. There was little to choose between the two sides. But experience prevailed eventually and the most successful hockey team in the Olympics have just scripted more history.

The crowd assembles the players in a cricle around him. He commends them for the humility. And asks for the celebrations to continue as the team give a lovely tribute to Sreejesh!!!

INDIA TAKE THE BRONZE IN HOCKEY AT PARIS 2024!!!

SREEJESH SINKS TO HIS KNEES!!! WHAT A WAY FOR THE INDIAN LEGEND TO SIGN OFF!!! TWO BRONZE MEDALS FOR HIM TO SHOW NOW FOR HIS 329 CAPS!!!

THE ENTIRE TEAM ARE HUDDLED IN A HEAP OVER THE VETERAN!!! SUCH ICONIC SCENES!!!

THEY SCUFF UP GLORIOUSLY!!!

INDIA CAPITALIZE AS LALIT RUNS WITH THE BALL THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE PITCH ON THE RIGHT FLANK!!!

SPAIN TRY ONE DESPERATE LONG BALL FORWARD BUT THE HOOTER BLOWS!!!

SPAIN TRY THE VARIATION!!!

GET ANOTHER PENALTY CORNER!!!

An umpire review underway.

A card looks inevitable for Harmanpreet, it is all about the colour.

But more importantly, it could result in a penalty stroke.

A PENALTY CORNER IS THE DECISION!!!

JUST A MINUTE BETWEEN INDIA AND BRONZE!!!

They play it forward quickly and are happy to give back possession. 

Spain come down their right.

A ROUGH TACKLE BY HARMANPREET AT THE EDGE OF THE D!!!

ANOTHER SAVE BY SREEJESH TO KEEP INDIA ALIVE!!!

THE INDIAN GOES DOWN WELL TO PALM THE BALL AWAY CONFIDENTLY!!!

Spain take a desperate review. Not sure what it is for. All looks good.

As expected, nothing doing. 

SPAIN TAKE TOO LONG TO GET THE SHOT AWAY!!!

BUT IT DEFLECTS OFF AMIT'S FOOT FOR ANOTHER PC!!!

SPAIN HAVE A PC!!!

India with the ball. Hardik stands over it on the right wing.

Two minutes to go. The clock is ticking.

India lose possession cheaply again, Spain counter again, 

India fall back well this time to prevent the surge.

Spain still have the ball though near the long corner line.

Lovely ball forward into the D.

Joaquin decides against the shot and tries to knock the ball forward that hits an Indian foot!!!

Three minutes to go.

Spain down the right.

Back to the middle and onto the left.

The cross comes in but is off the backstick!!!

Spain take their keeper off now for an extra outfield player.

This is kitchen sink time. Now or never.

Squeaky bum time for India. And boy do they thrive at it.

Four minutes to go.

Spain have a cgance to counter.

Gerard across goal.

Crosses it from the right.

INDIA CLEAR THEIR LINES!!!

Spain rob possession again by the corner.

But cheers from the Indian fans as Gerard runs it out of play!!!

Spain down their right again.

Win af ree hit on the dotted line.

They come again.

The ball is chipped forward into the D now and India intercept.

Six minutes now.

Spain strip India of possession.

But Sanjay rushes back to take the ball.

He is surrounded by three men by the corner flag.

And ultimately concedes possession.

Spain with the ball near the long corner line.

Now to the right.

Abhishek intercepts a pass and proceeds to win a free hit.

Spain trying to capitalize.

Only seven minutes remaining to find a way to equalize.

They have the ball deep on their left.

Manpreet's tackle means they have to go again.

This time a mazing down the right allows a cross in but India put it behind safely.

Good news for India as Hardik is about to come on.

BAD NEWS: GREEN CARD - SUKHJEET

A miscontrol from Viscaino but Spain still have the ball.

India finally win it off the cross into the centre.

They play a massive diagonal across to Vivek on the right.

It goes behind for a long corner but a referral is in place.

There was a collision between Vizcaino and Sukhjeet in the centre.

It is deemed to be nothing.

Spain come down their left.

Skipper Marc loses possesion.

India play it forward quickly and the ball is back with Spain now.

This time they come down the right to win a long corner.

India with the free hit on the right flank.

They play it across to the left.

Lalit has the ball down the corner.

A raging ball across goal finds no takers.

The Indian looks to be in severe pain after the collision.

Oh, this does not lok good.

The number eight's right hand is limp and being held by the physio as they walk the Indian off.

Spain win possession again.

They play it forward quickly.

The skipper's run foprward gets him into the D.

India win the ball off an attempted pass forward and are now countering in numbers.

BUT HARDIK IS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND AND THE ATTACK FIZZLES OUT!!!

Spain with the ball in India's half still.

A screaming long ball from the halfway line again and the deflection off Jarman's stick is only just kicked behind by Sreejesh!!

Spain come forward down the right now.

A miscontrol costs them possession.

India can't hold the ball for long either.

A series of quick passes and Spain open up an opportunoty direct the ball into goal but it is deflected behind safely!!!

India with the ball now.

Try to chip it to Haridk in the center by the long corner line.

It earns them a free hit.

Hardik plaus it into the D.

It is picked up by Gurjant. He plays it across the goal.

Lalit has it in front of a near open net.

He miscontrols and has to spin for the shot across that goes wide!!!

RECASENS' DRAG FLICK GOES WIDE OF THE GOAL!!!

SPAIN WIN A PENALTY CORNER!!!

Spain with the ball in defence.

India win it off the attempted forward ball.

But Manpreet is robbed of possession deep into India's half.

Spain flay it forward quickly into the D and Manpreet's sparing doive costs him.

Spain get us underway in the final quarter.

15 minutes separate India from the Bronze medal.

The Asian giants would be hoping the quarter is as uneventful as they come.

Spain would not shy from creating chaos.

Two goals on either side of half time have put India ahead heading into the last 15 minutes of non-stop action.

Spain are struggling to penetrate now that India are content to sit back and absorb the pressure.

The Europeans have had a coupleof big chances thoguh but conversion has been a problem.

They will certainly get at least a couple more chances in the final quarter. The question is whether India can create some of their own too or contend with the waves of attack and keep the Europeans from drawing level.

India have the ball in Spain's third.

The referee intervenes to ask lalit and Rodriguez from tussling after the Indian fell to the ground.

Harmanpreet with the ball on the right attacking corner.

He is trying to run the time out with just 30 seconds to go.

Spain eventually win it back with 10 seconds remaining, paly a screaming aerial ball forward in hopes of one last attack but India deal with it easily.

The hooter blows.

ANOTHER GREEAT SAVE TO DENY HARMANPREET THE HATTRICK!!!

THE SHOT WAS VICIOUS AND LOW TO THE LEFT CORNER!!!

BIG SAVE FROM THE SPANISH KEEPER!!!

PENALTY CORNER FOR INDIA!!!

ABHISHEK'S SAVE CAME FROM CLOSE AND LALIT WAS FOULED IN THE FOLLOW UP!!!

The Europeans with the possession still.

Two minutes to go in the quarter.

They try to weave into the D.

The ball is loose in front of Sreejesh!!!

BUT INDIA SURVIVE!!!

Ball is on India's long corner line.

Now back along the midway mark.

Spain find thir way to the left.

A wonderful crossfield aerial to the right now.

But the Spanish attacker takkes too long to bring it under control.

Sumit with the ball on the left.

Now Hardik.

He launches it aerially into the D, Spain bring it down.

Now they rush forward for a counter.

Win a free hit on the dotted line.

Spain try playing it forward on the left.

This time Abhishek intercepts, plays it ot Mandeep who cannot control the ball.

But Spain immediately spurn the chance with a switch to the other flank.

India with the ball in defence.

Abhishek fails to control the ball on the left and concedes a free hit.

Spain with possession.

Five minutes to ogo.

SPAIN HAVE EQUALIZED!!!

BUT THE GOAL IS DISALLOWED!!!

An umpire referral is underway.

THe drag flick was saved brilliantly by Sreejesh to his left.

It lobbed up off his body and was eventually hit into an empty net but not before coming off a Spanish player's body.

The decision stands, India still lead!!!

SPAIN WIN A PENALTY CORNER!!!

Spain with the ball once again.

They play it grounded through the cnetre.

Rotate it to the right flank now.

It is played back and Jarman fouls on top of the D.

Raj Kumar Pal down the right now.

Fails to find an opening, rotates it back to defence.

We are now halfway through the quarter.

Hardik tries to maze his way around his man again near the halfway line and wins a free hit.

Spain continue  to press high.

Sanjay flicks it long to Jarman on the right from the byline.

The diagonal is too long and goes behind.

India are awarded only a free hit from the offical referral. The ball was just outside the five metre playing zone.

India lise it quickly and win the ball again to stop a counter.

Harmanpreet's shot rifles into Jordi!!!

The Spaniard is in terrible pain and wriggling around on the turf.

Takes his knee guard off in a hurry and clutches his leg while wincing.

That was a severe blow to his knee just above the guard. I can feel the pain from the other side of the screen.

ANOTHER PC AWARDED TO INDIA!!!

Spain with the ball again down the middle.

A cross is slammed in from the right but deflects behind off an Indian stick.

Spain come down the same flank again.

Another closs that is bloccked by Manpreeet and India  counter.

Manpreet with the ball again on the left flank.

Flicks it to Mandeep into the D, the ball hits a Spanish foot!!!

Spain tyry to take advantage by putting men in attack.

India sit back and win the ball back.

They are being hounded down the flank though deep in their own half.

But the Men in Blue do well to eventually win a free hit and relieve all pressure.

GREEN CARD -- ABHISHEK

The Indian tries to stop the potentially dangerous Spain counter attack and has to sit out for two minutes as a consequence.

HARMANPREET'S FLICK IS SAVED DOWN THE CENTRE!!!

INDIA WIN ANOTHER PENALTY CORNER!!!

India with the ball in defence.

A long grounded ball forward on the left.

Lalit turns well to find Abhishek.

The Indian finds Vivek who plays it into the D.

It hits a Spanish foot!!!

The drag flick os blokced before it can make it's way to goal!!!

THE REBOUND SHOT GOES OVER, INDIA SURVIVE!!!

NOW A PENALTY CORNER FOR SPAIN!!!

Spain counterquickly.

They are already on top of the D.

A silly tackle from behind on Pepe and the referee blows the whistle immediately!!!

A BRACE FOR HARMANPREET!!! INDIA TAKE THE LEAD!!!

ANOTHER BRILLIANT DRAG FLICK FROM THE CAPTAIN, THIS TIME LOW TO THE KEEPEER'S RIGHT!!!

IT GOES UNDER THE LEG WHILE SHAMSHER IS LURKING TO NET HARMANPREET ANOTHER PC SUCCESS!!!

INDIA WIN A PENALTY CORNER!!

Sanjay let the ball loose off the dribble.

Rodriguez is deemed to sweep the Indian's stick from under him in the process.

Harmanpreet is surrounded by two men right at the corner of the field.

Some wonderful wizadry from the skipper earns him a free hit.

Now India come down their right.

Mandeep wins a free hit.

He plays it into the D and the attack breaks down.

India review for a potential penalty corner.

Spain get us underway in the second half at 1-1.

Marc tries to dribble into the D from the left. 

Wins a long corner.

Spain rotate to the right now.

Abhishek nearly wins possession but eventually concedes a free hit.

Ball back to the centre of the park.

Now down the right again for Spain.

Their ball into the D is intercepted.

TEAM STATISTICS

Possession: IND 52% - 48% ESP

Shots: IND 5 - 6 ESP

Attacking circle penetrations: IND 15 - 7

Penalty Corners: IND 1/2 - 0/3 ESP

WHAT A RIVETING END TO FIRST HALF'S ACTION!!!

India equallized with the last attack of the second quarter and it was skipper Harmanpreet again with the goods. His drag flick wa barely spottable in slow motion, such was the ferocity and the pace behind the shot. The Men in Blue will want to do more though with their attacks. They seem to be out of ideas and have barely created any danger, even from highly pormising positions.

Spain, meanwhile, have had to struggle to break through India's defences too but have certainly found more success. 30 more minutes of hockey await on the other side to determine who takes home the Bronze.

HARMANPREET CONVERTS GLORIOUSLY!!!

AN UNSTOPPABLE LOW MISSILE DRAGGED TO THE KEEPER'S RIGHT!!!

IT GOES BETWEEN THE LEGS OF THE MAN ON THE LINE!!!

A break in play as Rodriguez takes the floor following a knock.

India will resume with a free hit right on top of the D with 45 seconds on the clock.

Hardik stands over the ball.

Leaves it alone for Harmanpreet.

The Indian skipper plays  it to the left with a chip.

The ball finds its way to the right through the centre.

MANPREET FIRES IN A CROSS ACROSS THE MIDDLE AND PEPE'S LEGS AWARD INDIA ANOTHER PENALTY CORNER!!!

India keep the ball.

Hardik comes down the right twisting and turning.

A BRILLIANT DRIBBLE AND HE IS INTO THE D!!!

But Spain finally tackle the ball behind for a long corner.

Less than a minute remaining in the half.

HARMANPREET'S DRAG FLICK IS CLEARED BY THE MAN ON THE GOAL LINE!!!

Sukhjeet is running down the centre.

HE HAS THREE OPTIONS ACROSS THE TWO SIDES.

HE CANNOT MAKE HIS MIND AND PLAYS IT FORWARD AIMLESSLY!!!

BUT THE ATTEMPTED INTERCEPTION LEADS TO A PENALTY CORNER!!!

THE DRAG FLICKS DEFLECTES AND WOBBLES ITS WAY TO SREEJESH WHO CLEARS IT AWAY!!!

AND SUDDENLY INDIA HAS A FOUR ON ONE COUNTER!!!

Gerard has the ball on the edge of the D.

He flicks it forward to Borja.

The Spanish gets a shot away on the turn.

IT HITS THE POST!!!

SPAIN WIN A PC IN THE ENSUING SCRAMBLE!!!

Spain with the ball in defence.

Three and a half minutes remaining in the first half.

A ball forward down the middle finds a Spanish stick on the edge of the D.

But the ball is rotated back into the middle.

Another pass forward earns Spain a free hit at the edge of the D.

India take it down the right again.

Lalit plays it to Sukhjeet.

A mesmerizing piece of dribbling to skip past his man into the D but there is enough backup to avoid the danger.

Amit down the right flank now.

Plays a pointless ball across the long corner line to hand Spain back possession.

The Europeans try another screaming through ball forward from defence but this time it is too long for the attacker to catch up.

Spain chip an aerial ball forward down the left wing.

Gerard knocks it past his man.

Has Borja waiting in the centre.

THE SPANISH CAN'T GET HIS STICK IN FOR THE TAP IN!!!

Another long aerial chip to Harman on the right.

He crosses it in.

A MISCOMMUNICATION IN SPAIN'S DEFENCE ALMOST ALLOWS INDIA TWO FREE SHOTS BUT THEY SOMEHOW SURVIVE!!!

India's press has now forced the Europeans back into their half.

Half of the quarter behind us.

India win the ball in defence.

Hardik plays it forward down the centre.

The ball finds its way to the right and Jarman earns a long corner off  a free hit.

Spain have the ball in defence.

Rafael dribbles on the right looking for a path forward.

He makes his way towards the centrebut ultimately decides to rotate it back.

Spain with the ball still in India's half.

Pepe coming down the right. Plays it to Gerard who fires in the cross.

India win the ball in the ensuing scramble.

Immediately try to counter with a huge long aerial ball.

It is intercepted and nearly breaks for Hardik for a one on one but Spain retain control.

THE SHOT IS JUST DEFLECTED WIDE BY AMIT!!!

Jose Maria's shot rifles into an Indian foot.

Another penalty corner.

FIRST PENALTY CORNER OF THE GAME AND IT IS FOR SPAIN!!!

The Europeans are rotating it in defence.

Marc finally breaks the lines with a dribble and runs forwrad. Plays it into Vizcaino inside the D.

The Spanish's dribbles win him a penalty corner!!!

India recycle possession.

Spain continue to press.

India try to break the lines with a long ball but Spain intercept.

They now come forward to counter.

India fall back well to force the ball back into Spain's half.

India begin again, now a goal down.

The ball is chipped forward to the left.

India win a free hit on the dotted line.

Hardik tries to spin and weave his way in.

The cross eventually comes in and is cleared long after the interception.

MARC MIRALLES CONVERTS!!!

The Spain skeeper rifles a shot into the roof of the net and Sreejesh can't do anything about it!!!

SPAIN HAVE A PENALTY STROKE!!!

Spain come down the left.

The ball breaks free in the centre at the edge of the D.

A deft pass forward from Lacalle finds Gerard.

He is fouled in the D!!!

A ball into the D is interceoted.

Harmanpreet has possession. Switches it along the ground to jarmanpreet.

Back to the Indian skipper again in India's half.

Amit eventually plays it forward to Raj Kumar Pal.

The Indian spins around looking for an opening but eventually succumbs to the pressure and loses the ball.

India get us underway again in the second quarter.

Ball chipped into the centre from the left.

Played forward to Pal on the right. He rotate s it back.

A long ball across flanks is awry and Spain win back possession 

A very even quarter to begin.

Neither side looked particulary threatening.

Both teams have employed a relitavely high press and counter quickly when the chance arises but defences have been steady. Penetrations into the D have been rare and uneentful even when either team has had the odd success.

Spain rush forward but play it back to the middle.

Last 30 seconds of the quarter.

Joaquin plays it forward with hopes of one last attack.

It does not work and the hooter blows.

Ball with india again.

They rotate it back to their own half.

Spain are pressing with three men in India's half.

Hardik plays it to Vivek in attack on India's left.

Spain rob him of possession.

India lose possession cheaply.

Jarmanpreet wins it back on the left wing with a sharp tackle.

Hardik has the ball on thelong corner line.

The forward pass does not work.

Spain try to counter, lose it in their own half and India counter back. Nothing doing.

Spain with the ball.

Rodrigues' feint on the right opens a path to the centre.

Spain win a free hit on the edge of theD.

They rotate it to the right flank.

And now back to the middle of the park.

Onto their left now with Joaquin.

He crosses it in to win a long corner whereafter India win back the ball in defence.

harmanpreet with the ball in India's third.

Rotates it cacross Amit.

The defender plays it forward to Abhishek.

He tries to spin around in the D and loses the ball.

India quickly fall back to avoid another counter.

Spain counter.

A crucial last ditch tackle saves the day for the Men in Blue!!!

Now Sumit goes down prone on the field after being knocked off his feet by a Spaniard.

India with the ball in defence.

Six minutes left in the quarter.

Amit has the ball on th right after returning from his one-match suspension.

Now back to the middle. They continue to rotate it in defence.

The ball finally finds Sumit deep on the left. 

He is surrounded and the cross thus goes awry.

We resume with Spain coming forward down the right.

No openinsgs and the ball is back in the centre.

Come down the right again.

GERARD WEAVES HIS WAY IN ALONG THE BACKLINE!!!

SREEJESH INTERVENES IN TIME TO STOP THE DANGER WITH A SPARING DIVE!!!

That looks like a painful blow, it hit him square on the forehead. The Indian is going off the field alongside the physios now.

That looks like a paindful blow, it hit him square on the forehead. The Indian is going off the field alongside the physios now.

A break in play as Manpreet rattled into Gerard.

India have a free hit on the edge of the D.

A DANGEROUS CROSS BY HARMANPREET ACROSS THE CENTRE FROM THE RIGHT!!!

IT HITS GURJANT IN THE HEAD BEFORE GOING OVER!!!

Spain comes forward now.

Mark loses it in the D.

India try to counter butonly have one man forward. They rotate it back and chip it to Jarman on the right inside the D.

He crosses it in and a last minute clearance gets Spain our of trouble!!!

Ball with India still.

Gurjant has space to shoot.

HE GETS IT ON TARGET BUT THE BALL IS DEFLECTED AWAY SAFELY!!!

Spain play it forward grounded down their right against another high press.

It goes behind innocously.

India move it forward now down the same flank.

A lovely panna from Hardik to manufacture space on the wing.

The cross finds Sukhjeet.

HE RIFLES IT WIDE!!!

The ball is chipped to Jarmanpreet on the right.

He plays it forward to Lalit on the right.

The Indian tries to weave his way in and loses the ball.

Mandeep penalized for a challenge on Jordi in the Spain third.

Spain rotatte the ball in defence now. 

A four man deep press from India but Spain win the free hit to relive some pressure.

Two forwards continue to hound the Spanish defender.

He spins wonderfully out of trouble and plays it to the space ahead on left.

A shrewd tackle wins India back possession.

The ball is roatted back to the middle.

India press with three man.

Spain rotate out of trouble.

India win the ball on their lelft flank eventually and Abhishek wins a free hit.

Spain with the ball now in defence.

They chip it forward to the right flank.

Jordi receives it well and tries to penetrate into the D.

He receives a blow on the head from an Indian elbow and Spain have a free hit at the edge of the D.