Indian men’s hockey team returns to heroes’ welcome from Paris 2024 Olympics

The 16-member squad created history by winning back-to-back medals for the first time since the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

The Paris Games saw the Indian men’s hockey defeat Australia by 3-2, for the first time after 52 years in the Olympics | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Indian men’s hockey team made a triumphant return from the Paris 2024 Olympics, bringing home a bronze medal and setting new records. This achievement marked a historic milestone, as the team won back-to-back Olympic medals for the first time in over five decades, since the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh said, “It is very heart-warming to see Indian fans come out to receive and congratulate us for the bronze medal. The team left no stone unturned to prepare for the Olympics and to see your efforts bear fruit, to see the whole country rejoice in our victory, is an inexplicable feeling.”

In a thrilling turn of events at the Paris Games, the Indian men’s hockey team achieved a historic victory, defeating Australia 3-2 for the first time in 52 years at the Olympics. The team continued to showcase its resilience in the quarterfinals, where it successfully defended with a man down for over 40 minutes, forcing a penalty shootout. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh emerged as a hero, leading the team to a 4-2 win in the shootout.

Vice captain Hardik Singh highlighted the camaraderie in the squad saying, ”The trust we had in each other, the unshakeable belief that a teammate will step right up to cover up if you miss a step, is what pushed us to always give our best on the field.”

Before heading to Paris, legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh announced his plans to retire. With the rallying cry of “Win it for Sreejesh,” the team fought its way to the bronze medal match against Spain. In a thrilling finale, Harmanpreet Singh, the top scorer of the Paris 2024 Olympics with 10 goals, scored a crucial brace to secure the victory and seal the bronze medal.

“The Paris 2024 Olympics turned out to be an unforgettable experience, and we will cherish these memories for some time to come. With this bronze medal, the team has proved that Indian hockey is back on track. We are a force to be reckoned with, and on our day, we can really be unstoppable,” Harmanpreet concluded.