Paris: In a heart-pounding start to their Paris 2024 Olympics campaign, the Indian men’s hockey team secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against New Zealand in a gripping Pool B match at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir. Let’s dive into the exhilarating details:
- The Goals:
- India: Mandeep Singh (24′), Vivek Sagar Prasad (34′), and Captain Harmanpreet Singh (59′) found the back of the net.
- New Zealand: Sam Lane (8′) and Simon Child (53′) scored for the Black Sticks.
- The Comeback:
- Trailing by a goal, the Indian team staged a remarkable comeback. They took the lead, only to see New Zealand equalize at 2-2 just seven minutes before the final whistle.
- In a nail-biting moment, India earned three penalty corners between the 57th and 58th minutes. Then, in the 59th minute, Harmanpreet Singh converted a crucial penalty stroke into a goal, sending waves of joy through the Indian supporters at the stadium.
- The Drama:
- Fresh off their bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics (their first Olympic medal in 41 years), India faced a formidable New Zealand side.
- Despite early pressure and simple mistakes in the first quarter, India fought back aggressively. New Zealand capitalized on a counter-attack, with Sam Lane’s eighth-minute penalty corner goal catching veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh off guard.
- Gurjant Singh’s green card forced India to play with ten players from the 10th to the 15th minute.
- The Turning Point:
- The second quarter saw a transformed Indian team. Lalit Upadhyay led the charge, but New Zealand’s captain spent five minutes in the sin bin due to a green card.
- India’s persistence paid off when Mandeep Singh capitalized on a rebound from a penalty corner, leveling the score at 1-1 by halftime.
- Aggression and Heroics:
- In the third quarter, they exploded with action. Vivek Sagar Prasad’s goal put India ahead, and the defenders, led by Sreejesh and Amit Rohidas, thwarted New Zealand’s four consecutive penalty corners.
- Sreejesh continued his heroics, denying New Zealand another penalty corner in the dying moments of the third quarter.
- The Thrilling Finish:
- The fourth quarter was a rollercoaster. New Zealand pressed for an equalizer, earning three consecutive penalty corners in the 52nd minute.
- Simon Child seized the opportunity, scoring the equalizer from a rebound, leaving the Indian camp stunned.
Next up, India faces Rio Olympic champions Argentina in their Pool B clash on July 29. With penalty corners to address, the Indian team aims to build on this electrifying victory.
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