- Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Indians played valiantly and dominated the proceedings to beat the Kookaburras (3-2). This is the first Olympic win against Australia since 1972 in Munich.
By: Shajil Kumar
SKIPPER Harmanpreet Singh scored a brace as the India men’s hockey team registered a famous 3-2 win over Tokyo Games silver medallist and nemesis Australia in its final Pool B match here on Friday.
Already assured of a quarterfinal berth before Friday’s encounter, the Indians played valiantly and dominated the proceedings for the major part of the match to stun the Kookaburras, against whom they last won in Olympics in the 1972 Munich edition.
It seemed India had saved their best for their last pool match, as it delivered a power-packed performance, playing attacking hockey from the beginning, and defending well throughout.
Abhishek (12th), skipper Harmanpreet (13th, 33rd) scored for India while Tom Craig (25th) and Blake Govers (55) found the net for Australia.
With this win, India most likely will finish their pool engagements in the second position with nine points, finishing behind table toppers Belgium (12), who are yet to play a match.
The pole position will not change even if Belgium loses its match against Argentina.
The goal difference after that match will determine the final placing.
The Indians started on an aggressive note and made two circle entries in the first two minutes.
Veteran India custodian PR Sreejesh, who is playing his last international tournament, was rock solid in front of the goal, making some vital saves to deny the Kookaburras.
In the 11th minute, Sreejesh made the first save to deny Tom Wickham, which resulted in a penalty corner. But the resultant effort from Jeremy Hayward was off-target.
Jarmanpreet Singh then fired a pass to Sukhjeet Singh from the right flank. He just needed to deflect the ball but he could not stop the powerful strike.
The strong Australian defence easily foiled his attempt by the time he gathered the ball and was ready to strike.
Australia created two back-to-back opportunities, but the Indian defence was rock solid.
India stunned Australia by taking the lead through Abhishek in the 12th minute. It was Lalit, who received a pass in an empty D, he attempted a shot but that was saved by goalie Andrew Charter.
Abhishek got the ball on the rebound, turned, and hammered it past rival goalkeeper Andrew Charter.
A minute later, India got a penalty corner when the ball touched the foot of Jake Harvie and Harmanpreet beat Charter’s defence with a fierce grounded flick.
Tim Brand had an opportunity to reduce the deficit early in the second quarter but he struck the ball wide.
Australia earned their second penalty corner of the match in the 19th minute but Govers’ shot was blocked by Sreejesh.
Vice-captain Hardik Singh was a livewire in the mid-field, feeding the forwards consistently.
Australia got their third short corner in the 25th minute. It was a poor injection from skipper Aran Zalewski but it turned into a goal as the Australians recovered quickly to pass it to an unmarked Craig at the second post, who deflected the ball in.
India also got a penalty corner soon but this time Harmanpreet’s strike was kept at bay by Charter. India led 2-1 at half-time.
India got their third penalty corner when Manpreet Singh was tackled by an Australian defender. Harmanpreet’s goalmouth strike was obstructed by Flynn Ogilvie. India took a referral, which resulted in a penalty stroke.
And Harmanpreet made no mistake by converting the chance.
Australia earned another short corner seconds from the third quarter but failed to utilise the chance.
The Indians too secured back-to-back penalty corners in the final quarter, only to waste them.
In the 53rd min, Abhishek scored another fine goal after he was fed by Mandeep Singh but the goal was ruled out for a stick check.
Five minutes from the final hooter, Govers scored his seventh goal from a penalty stroke to reduce the margin.
Thereafter, the Indian defence stood tall to deny the Australians to register a famous win.
‘Wall of Indian hockey’
Star India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who is playing his last international tournament, on Friday said he is the Dhanraj Pillay for youngsters of the current team.
In a gruelling sport like hockey, where quick turnover of players is a norm than an exception, Sreejesh, 36, is playing alongside several youngsters half his age as India looks to finish on the podium here.
Sreejesh, who is playing his fourth and last Olympics, had already announced that he will retire after the Paris Games.
The 36-year-old custodian from Kerala played a stellar role in India’s stunning 3-2 win over Australia on Friday.
India last defeated Australia in men’s hockey competition at the Olympics way back in the 1972 Munich edition.
“I don’t know those stats. Everyone played well today not just the defence. The defence starts from centre-forward and I am the last man. All did well today,” Sreejesh, regarded as the ‘Wall of Indian hockey’, said after the match.
“I am playing with fourth generation in this team. Some were not even born when I started playing hockey. A few years back, players wanted to do it for Dhanraj Pillay. I am Dhanraj for this generation, they want to do it for me, what more you can you ask for,” he added.
Dhanraj, one of the greatest forwards India has produced, started Indian hockey’s resurgence when he guided the team to an Asian Games gold after 32 years, in 1998 at Bangkok. Before that India had won gold at the Asian Games in 1966. (PTI)
