Paris Olympics 2024: Indian hockey team secures bronze - Cricketers React

India defeated Spain 2-1 to secure bronze in the ongoing Paris Olympics. In the semi-finals, the Harmanpreet Singh-led side suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat and even on Thursday, August 8, they were trailing 1-0 to start with but the team showed tremendous grit and played to their merit to turn the table and win the bronze medal.

On the big day, the captain led by example, firing twice to get the job done. Harmanpreet scored in the 30th and 33rd minute of the game and after which, Spain attacked multiple times and won many penalty corners, but they failed to get past PR Sreejesh, who played his last game for the country. 

He once again had a brilliant night under the post, saving plenty of Spain’s chances. After the game, he was very emotional, as the 36-year-old was lying on the field in tears while his teammates hugged him in that state and gave him a fitting farewell. He retired with two Olympic bronze medals, two Asian Games gold medals and one bronze medal, two Commonwealth Games silver medals, one Asia Cup silver medal and two Champions Trophy silver medals. 

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India meanwhile secured its 13th Olympic medal in men’s hockey history. They won gold in 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964 and 1980 while won silver in 1960 and Bronze in 1968, 1972, 2020 and 2024. Notably, this was for the first time since 1972 when India secured back-to-back medals in hockey in the Olympics.

Meanwhile, with a brace against Spain, Harmanpreet now has 10 goals in the Paris Olympics - most by any player so far. India now have four medals in the Paris Olympics and the cricketing community was delighted with the success. Many former cricketers including Anil Kumble congratulated the team and lauded them for a stunning comeback after being 1-0 down after the first quarter. The likes of Harbhajan Singh, VVS Laxman and Venkatesh Prasad congratulated the team as well. 

Here's how cricketers reacted:

Mubarkaa @TheHockeyIndia well done Shero ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sKHvJXOKGW

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 8, 2024

Absolutely stunning play by the Indian Hockey team to fight back and get the game after trailing 1-0 in the first-quarter! @13harmanpreet has led the team by example! Big congratulations @TheHockeyIndia on winning the Bronze medal!#Olympics

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 8, 2024

Much deserving. A bronze. Fantastic play.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 8, 2024

Absolutely stunning play by the Indian Hockey team to fight back and get the game after trailing 1-0 in the first-quarter! @13harmanpreet has led the team by example! Big congratulations @TheHockeyIndia on winning the Bronze medal!#Olympics

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 8, 2024

Many congratulations to the Indian men's hockey team on securing a second consecutive Olympic Bronze medal . Outstanding effort from our boys. #Paris2024Olympics @TheHockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/yPebk7BnCF

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 8, 2024

𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐙𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐋 no.4🥉

HOCKEY: India BEAT Spain 2-1 🇮🇳🇮🇳

𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗢! A perfect farewell for the "Great Wall of India" Sreejesh, signing off on a terrific career between the sticks with another Olympic Bronze medal added to his… pic.twitter.com/tFbdhqMtqO

— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) August 8, 2024

Outstanding display by Team India and a much deserved medal for our boys.@TheHockeyIndia #Paris2024Olympics pic.twitter.com/j4ydkxmGfF

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) August 8, 2024

Brilliant effort from the boys to beat Spain and a second consecutive Olympic bronze for our boys. Congratulations @TheHockeyIndia . #ParisOlympics2024 pic.twitter.com/O66eymgNM7

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 8, 2024

“Hockey is an emotion” जय हिन्द! 🇮🇳 Perfect farewell to our champion #Shreejesh! Brilliant Bronze 🥉 pic.twitter.com/ejDzVNEl6F

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 8, 2024