Paris: The Indian men’s hockey team secured a thrilling 4-2 victory over Great Britain in a shoot-out during their quarter-final match at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday, earning a spot in the semi-finals. India will face either Germany or Argentina on August 6.
India started the game with strong offensive pressure, winning three penalty corners in the first quarter. However, Great Britain’s goalkeeper, Ollie Payne, made several key saves to keep the score level.
In the 16th minute, India’s defender Amit Rohidas received a red card after a one-on-one encounter with Will Calnan, where he was deemed to have dangerously lifted his stick. Rohidas’ dismissal left India playing with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
India took the lead in the 22nd minute with a penalty corner goal from captain Harmanpreet Singh, marking his seventh goal of the Paris Olympics. However, Great Britain equalized in the 27th minute through Lee Morton, who scored on a rebound after a save by goalkeeper Sreejesh.
Despite playing with a man down, India’s defense held strong. Former captain Manpreet Singh, who moved to central defense, made several crucial stops to keep the match tied. Great Britain dominated the third quarter and created numerous scoring chances in the fourth quarter but could not break the deadlock.
In the shoot-out, both teams were initially tied 2-2. However, crucial moments saw Connor Williamson miss his shot and Sreejesh make a decisive save against Phillip Roper, securing India’s place in the semi-finals.
