Paris, August 5: India’s hockey team scripted a thrilling victory over Great Britain in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics on Sunday, securing a place in the semifinals. The match, marked by drama and intensity, saw goalkeeper PR Sreejesh emerge as the hero, making crucial saves to deny the British and set up a shootout win.
India played most of the match with 10 men after defender Amit Rohidas was red-carded. Despite the disadvantage, the team held their nerve, with Harmanpreet Singh scoring the lone goal in regulation time. The match was eventually decided in a shootout, where Sreejesh’s brilliance shone through.
The veteran goalkeeper, playing his final Olympics, received a standing ovation from the crowd, including the British fans, for his exceptional performance. Sreejesh credited the constant pressure of the game for his heroics in the shootout.
Meanwhile, India’s hopes in other disciplines suffered setbacks. Boxer Lovlina Borgohain bowed out of the competition, while badminton star Lakshya Sen was defeated by world number two Viktor Axelsen. The country’s hopes now rest with athletes in athletics and shooting, as well as the women’s table tennis team.
India will face Germany in the semifinals, a challenging test for the team.
