India at Paris Olympics Game 2024: In a thrilling encounter at Stade Yves-du-Manoir, India emerged victorious over Great Britain in the men’s hockey quarterfinals at the Paris Olympics, winning 4-2 in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time.
The match saw intense action right from the start. Lee Morton equalised for Great Britain after Harmanpreet Singh had given 10-man India a surprising lead in the second quarter. Harmanpreet’s seventh goal of the tournament came just minutes after Amit Rohidas was sent off, reducing India to ten men. Morton’s equaliser five minutes later set the stage for a nail-biting contest, with the score reading 1-1 at half-time.
India’s defense, led by a crucial goal-line clearance from Jarmanpreet Singh and key saves from goalkeeper P. Sreejesh, kept Great Britain at bay throughout the first half. Despite several attempts, neither team could break the deadlock further in the second half, leading the match to a penalty shootout.
Great Britain went first in the shootout, with Wallace scoring to give them an initial lead. Harmanpreet Singh matched this effort, bringing the score to 1-1. Wallace’s teammate scored next, followed by Sukhjeet Singh for India, making it 2-2.
The turning point came when Great Britain missed their third shot, while India capitalized, scoring to take a 3-2 lead. Another miss by Great Britain on their fourth attempt sealed their fate, as Rajkumar Pal stepped up and scored for India, clinching a 4-2 victory in the shootout.
India’s win sees them advance to the semifinals, keeping their Olympic medal hopes alive. The team’s resilience and composure under pressure were key factors in their triumph, showcasing their potential to go all the way in the tournament.