Paris 2024 Olympics: Indian men's hockey team beats Australia 3-2, first Olympic win against the Kookaburras since Munich 1972
The Indian men's hockey team defeated Australia 3-2 in their final pool game of the men's competition at Paris 2024 on Friday (August 2). It was their first win over the Kookaburras at the Olympic Games since Munich 1972.
Abhishek was in the thick of things for the Indians, giving his side the lead in the opening quarter which was doubled thanks to a penalty corner strike from Harmanpreet Singh.
The Indian captain then converted a penalty stroke after Thomas Craig had reduced the margin with a short corner. Blake Govers scored off a penalty stroke earned by the Australians in the final quarter but Colin Batch's side failed to find an equalizer.
The Indians began with a flurry of attacks, with goalkeeper Andrew Charter being tested early even as Abhishek displayed his class in the attacking circle.
Lalit Upadhyay's goalbound shot in the 12th minute was stopped by Andrew Charter before Abhishek pounced on the rebound to give India a 1-0 lead.
The Indians kept their feet on the pedal and earned a short corner a minute later, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring his fourth goal of the competition.
Thomas Craig reduced the margin for the Australians five minutes before half-time. Despite Aran Zalewski making a mess of the injection, Craig did well to make the most of the short corner.
Flynn Ogilvie stopped Harmanpreet Singh's drag-flick on the goalline but did so with his feet, which resulted in a penalty stroke in the 32nd minute. Harmanpreet Singh made no mistake from the spot to give the Indians a 3-1 lead.
Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played a stellar role for the Indians coming up with an array of magnificent saves against the marauding Aussie strikers.
Blake Govers managed to score his seventh goal of the competition via a penalty stroke in the 55th minute but the Indians came away with a historic Olympic win against Australia for the first time since Munich 1972.
The Indian men's hockey team had defeated Australia by a 3-1 margin en route to a bronze medal.
Which teams have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Men's Hockey event at Paris 2024?
While the final placings will not be known until the last pool match of the day is played later this evening, eight teams have already booked their places in the quarterfinals of the men's hockey event at Paris 2024.
Belgium, Australia and Argentina have advanced to the knockouts from Pool B alongside the Indians. Belgium have topped the pool, with Australia finishing third behind India.
Meanwhile, in Pool A, the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, and Spain will be playing the quarterfinals. The Netherlands beat Spain 5-3 to move to the top spot in Pool A for now before Germany and Great Britain face each other later today.
Spain, who finished in 4th place in Pool A, will take on the pool toppers from Pool B which could be either Australia or Belgium.
The quarterfinals of the men's hockey competition at Paris 2024 will be played on August 4.