Paris Olympics: Indian men's hockey team wins bronze medal, repeat their feat from Tokyo Olympics

Indian men's hockey team secured yet another medal, this time a bronze, for India at the ongoing Paris Olympics, thrashing Spain by 2-1, and finishing at the podium for the second consecutive time since the Tokyo Olympics, where they had previously secured a bronze.

For India, both goals in this match were scored by skipper Harmanpreet Singh, also popularly known as Sarpanch Sahab. For the first time in 50 years, India has won bronze medals in Olympics, back to back. India holds the distinction of being the country that holds the most number of Olympic medals in field hockey.

With this, India takes its medal tally to four in this Olympics. All of them are bronze medals, won by Manu Bhaker (2), Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale in shooting.

India came very close to winning medals in Paris 2024 Olympics, securing six 4th place finishes. These athletes include Arjun Babuta (shooting), Dhiraj Bommadevara/Ankita Bhakat (archery), Manu Bhaker (shooting), Anantjeet Singh Naruka/Maheshwari Chauhan (mixed team skeet shooting), Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting) and Lakshya Sen (badminton).

The medal comes as a soothing salve, as India nurses a series of brunts, following Vinesh Phogat's unfortunate disqualification from wrestling finals, and Antim Panghal's three-year ban imposed by the International Olympics Association (IOA), after she was found in breach of discipline. Her sister was arrested on charges of impersonation and entering the international athlete's village on Panghal's accredition card, following which the wrestler was sent back to India.

After their gold medal triumph in 1980, the Indian hockey team had to go through a long, 41-year drought, where the team won no medals, till Tokyo Olympics 2020, where we secured a bronze. To date, India has won 8 gold medals in hockey in Olympics, with the country's last gold medal in this sport coming in 1980.

India did qualify for semi-finals in this Olympics and also came a step closer to winning silver or gold medal, but were defeated by Germany 3-2. Previously, India has also won a silver medal in 1960, alongside 3 bronze medals in 1968, 1972 and 2020.

This is the last Olympic outing for star goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who managed to save many a crucial hits from the opposition. The team dedicated the medal to him, squaring off his fantastic career, which began in 2006. He holds 2 Asian games gold medals, 4 Olympic hats, and over 300 games to his credit.