How Indian hockey staff ended half a century of harm at Paris Olympics | Paris Olympics 2024 Information

It is wanting promising: Hockey staff beats Australia in Olympics for first time since 1972, ends 2nd in Pool B
PARIS: This was a match to determine the place India would end on the factors desk in Pool B of the hockey competitors – a match towards a staff India have suffered towards through the years. Actually, India had not crushed Australia for the reason that 1972 Munich Video games within the Olympics.One wouldn’t have blamed the Indian supporters for being a bit apprehensive on the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium right here on Friday afternoon.
For the Indian staff, there was nothing to look again at. It was a clear slate. Forward of them, on Pitch 2, was a rival they needed to beat. They had been prepared, they had been motivated, and so they gained it 3-2, preventing until the final second.

It was a very long time coming. 52 years to be exact, and it felt good to have witnessed that.
What stood out in India’s victory was their excellent defence – when the Aussies counter-attacked or once they obtained the penalty corners. Their off-the-ball operating was spot on. They tried to shut the channels within the midfield, which was manned nicely by veteran Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh. If the Aussies attacked by way of the flanks, the defenders, midfielders and even the strikers fought collectively to thwart them.
“We knew that they could possibly be very harmful in counter-attacks. We had determined that we might win the one-on-one battles, concede penalty corners however not give them a free run at our purpose. We now have a very good penalty nook defence. We additionally saved altering our technique based on the state of affairs. We saved calling one another out once we wanted man-to-man marking or zonal marking. It labored,” Manpreet mentioned later.

The defence was the platform which the strikers used very nicely to hit the Aussies arduous. Actually, India’s first purpose got here by way of discipline play within the opening quarter. On an assault from the left within the twelfth minute, Lalit Upadhyay hit arduous on the purpose and Abhishek slammed the rebound off the goalkeeper Andrew Constitution’s pads.
This got here after Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh had made two excellent saves within the preliminary minutes. The 36-year-old- taking part in in his final Olympics- like all the time was a rock within the purpose.
Even because the Kookaburras had been trying to hit again, got here the second purpose. Within the very subsequent minute (thirteenth minute), the Aussies tried to clear an extended ball of their circle and conceded a penalty nook. Skipper Harmanpreet Singh, who already had 4 objectives in his bag right here, obtained his fifth one, hitting flat and straight by way of the center to slam the board.

Within the second quarter, Australia pulled one again Craig Thomas’ penalty nook conversion. It was an oblique mixture. A string of 5 passes beat the Indian defenders. At 2-1, India knew they wanted to attain extra to make sure they obtained full factors.
It got here simply minutes into the third quarter. India gained a penalty nook, their third, which was saved on the goal-line by an Aussie participant. India requested for a video referral which revealed a foul and a penalty stroke was rewarded. Harmanpreet had no hassle slotting it house. At 3-1, India had a cushion.
Within the final quarter, India appeared to have gone up 4-1 as Abhishek scored in a goal-line melee. The Aussies referred to as for a video referral which confirmed a foul by Mandeep Singh earlier than the ultimate end.

Relieved, the Aussies pressed and obtained their second when a penalty stroke was given for a foul contained in the Indian circle. Blake Govers scored to make it 2-3. It stayed that means as Sreejesh made a valiant save within the dying seconds.
The goalkeeper later mentioned that the technique labored. “We performed nicely towards Belgium too on Thursday however did not take our possibilities. Immediately, our forwards seized the chance. That labored for us. Sure, we defended very nicely.”
When requested concerning the ‘Win it for Sreejesh’ marketing campaign, he mentioned: “It feels good. I’m making an attempt my finest to not disappoint followers again house. I obtained a few knocks ultimately; my ribs are swollen however I’m completely happy.”