Paris Olympics 2024: Team India Dedicates Bronze Medal to PR Sreejesh as 'The Wall of Indian Hockey' Bids Adieu

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In a thrilling encounter at the Paris Olympics 2024, the Indian men's hockey team clinched their second successive Olympic bronze medal, defeating Spain 2-1 in the third-place playoff.

The victory marks a historic moment for Indian hockey, as it is the first time in 52 years that India has won back-to-back Olympic medals, with the last consecutive medals coming in 1968 and 1972. This achievement also represents the 13th Olympic medal for the Indian hockey team.

The match saw India concede an early goal in the second quarter, with Spain's captain Marc Miralles scoring from a penalty stroke in the 18th minute. However, India's captain, Harmanpreet Singh, led the fightback by converting a penalty corner just before halftime in the 30th minute.

Harmanpreet struck again early in the third quarter, scoring another penalty corner in the 33rd minute to secure the bronze for India.

A Tribute to the 'Wall of Indian Hockey'

This bronze medal also serves as a fitting farewell for the legendary Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, affectionately known as the 'Wall of Indian Hockey.' After an illustrious 18-year career, Sreejesh has decided to retire from international hockey, making this medal his last with the national team. His contributions to Indian hockey over the past 13 years have been nothing short of remarkable, and his presence in the team will be sorely missed.

Former India captain Manpreet Singh dedicated the bronze medal to Sreejesh, acknowledging his immense impact on the team's success.

"We dedicate this medal to PR Sreejesh, for it was his last medal. His contribution to Indian hockey for 13 years has been terrific. Our dream was to play in the final and clinch the gold or silver medal. We thank the nation for their love and support throughout our campaign."

Manpreet also reflected on the team's journey, particularly their semi-final loss to Germany, which dashed their hopes of playing in the final. "It was always going to be a crucial match; yes, we were disheartened after the loss against Germany in the semi-final, but it was always there at the back of our mind to reach the podium."

A Moment of Pride and Reflection

Harmanpreet Singh, who emerged as the tournament's leading goalscorer, expressed his pride in the team's accomplishment while also addressing the disappointment of missing out on the gold.

"It is a moment of pride for the entire nation and a big moment for us as well. We always step on the pitch with the intention to win; sometimes the result doesn't come in our favour. First of all, I would say sorry to the entire nation for missing out on that elusive final game and our shot at the gold medal, but we ensured winning back-to-back medals."

He further added, "Both the medals are special, and it shows our game is on the right path. We promise to come back stronger in the next edition. Keep supporting us."

PR Sreejesh: A Legacy of Resilience

India's journey at the Paris Olympics 2024 serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of the team. The bronze medal, dedicated to PR Sreejesh, symbolises not just the end of an era but also the promise of a bright future for Indian hockey.

Reflecting upon his team's performance and journey in the game, Sreejesh said, "This is just the right moment to finish the career with a bronze medal. Thankful to the team and everyone in our journey. It is just the right occasion to bid adieu to the career."

Asked Tokyo or Paris, which bronze medal is he going to cherish more, the Kerala custodian said, "Tokyo will be special because it ended a long wait and gave us the belief that we could be the best in the world and today we repeated our feat."

With a mix of seasoned players and rising stars, the team has shown that they are capable of competing at the highest level and will continue to strive for excellence in the years to come.