Skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored twice as the Indian men’s hockey team secured a historic 3-2 victory over Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympics hockey on Friday. This marked India’s first win against Australia in Olympic hockey since the Munich 1972 games, ending a 52-year drought. In the seven encounters since then, India had lost five times.
World No. 7 India saw goals from Harmanpreet Singh (13’, 32’) and Abhishek (12’), while Thomas Craig (25’) and Blake Glovers (55’) scored for the fourth-ranked Australian team. Harmanpreet Singh has now scored six goals in the Paris 2024 hockey tournament, equalling his tally from Tokyo 2020, where India won bronze.
“I think we ticked off all the right boxes today,” said Harmanpreet Singh. “Starting the way we did and then some brilliant saves by PR Sreejesh ensured we stayed ahead in the game. It is a special win ahead of the quarter-finals. It gives us a lot of confidence.”
At Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes, Abhishek opened the scoring for India from a counterattack, with Lalit Upadhyay setting up the goal. Harmanpreet Singh then doubled India’s lead from a penalty corner. In the second quarter, goalkeeper PR Sreejesh made crucial saves, but Australia found the net through Thomas Craig.
After the break, India were awarded a penalty stroke, and Harmanpreet Singh restored the two-goal cushion. Although Abhishek’s final quarter goal was disallowed upon review, Blake Glovers scored from a stroke for Australia with five minutes remaining. However, India held on for the win.
With this victory, Harmanpreet Singh’s team accumulated 10 points in their group, winning three out of five matches. India will face three-time champions Great Britain in the Paris 2024 hockey quarter-finals on Sunday.
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