In an exciting finals match, the Indian national men's hockey team outscored Spain 2-1 to win the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. This hard-earned victory marked the conclusion of goalkeeper PR Sreejesh's illustrious international career.
Both sides battled neck and neck in the opening quarter, keeping the score level at 0-0. However, Spain broke the deadlock in the second 15 minutes to take a 1-0 lead. Showing great determination, India leveled the match in the final seconds before halftime.
The third quarter belonged to India as they found the back of the net again to snatch the advantage. When the final whistle blew, the team had successfully defended their one-goal lead to secure third place on the podium.
This bronze medal at the Paris Olympics meant that India repeated their achievement from Tokyo 2020, continuing a resurgence in men's hockey on the biggest stage. More importantly, it served as a fitting farewell for Sreejesh, who has been a pillar between the posts for the nation for over a decade and a half.
In an emotional message, Sreejesh expressed that representing India had been the greatest honor of his life. After four Olympics, it was time for the 36-year-old to pass on the torch to the next generation. His legendary career will stand as an inspiration for all upcoming hockey players.
