'Bronze which shines like gold': Netizens react as Indian hockey team breaks 52-year-old record at Olympics 2024

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India hockey team defeated Spain 2-1 to win bronze at the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday, August 8. It's the second time after the 1972 Munich Olympics (first time in 52 years) that the Indian hockey team managed to win back-to-back Olympics medals. They also won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The win brought smiles back on the faces of billions. The nation was dealing with the heartbreaking news of Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from the final of women's wrestling 57kg category for being 100 grams overweight, and the gritty performance by Harmanpreet Singh's men in PR Sreejesh's final match for India has brought the fans back to life.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh once again led from the front and scored the equaliser after converting a penalty corner just 21.2 seconds left in the second quarter. Another low drag-flick from the skipper on the right of Spanish keeper Luis Calzado.

Spain gave it their all till the last second, but India held their nerves to script history, and take another massive step towards bringing back Indian hockey's 'golden era' back.

The win was even more emotional because it was legendary goal-keeper PR Sreejesh's last match for India. Also, India were the better side in the semi-final match against Germany but suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat by leaking a goal just minutes before the penalty shootout.

As the Indian hockey team celebrated their back-to-back Olympics bronze medals and India's fourth medal at the Paris Olympics, their fans across the globe also joined. PM Narendra Modi, VVS Laxman, Abhinav Bindra and Vijender Singh were among the first few to congratulate the Indian men's hockey team on X. Have a look.