Heartbreak for India
India’s dream of reaching the Olympic hockey final for the first time in 44 years ended with a narrow 2-3 defeat to Germany in the semi-final at the Paris Olympic 2024 Match. The match, played on Tuesday, saw India start strong but ultimately fall short as Germany’s late goal sealed the victory.
Strong Start for India
The Indian team began the game on the front foot, dominating early and putting pressure on the German defense. Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored the first goal in the 7th minute, giving India an early lead.
Germany’s Comeback
Germany, known for their resilience, bounced back in the second quarter. Gonzalo Peillat equalized in the 18th minute with a penalty corner goal. Christopher Ruhr then put Germany ahead in the 27th minute, converting a penalty stroke.
India’s Equalizer
In the 36th minute, India equalized through Sukhjeet Singh, who deflected a variation from Harmanpreet’s flick into the net. This brought the score to 2-2, setting up a tense final quarter.
Germany’s Decisive Goal
The Olympic 2024 Match saw Germany attack with intensity. With just six minutes remaining, Marco Miltkau scored the winning goal, deflecting a cross into the Indian net. This decisive moment dashed India’s hopes of reaching the final.
Missed Opportunities
India had multiple opportunities to score, earning 11 penalty corners throughout the match but converting only one. In contrast, Germany secured four penalty corners but made their chances count.
Bronze Medal Match Ahead
Despite the loss, India will now compete for the bronze medal against Spain. This match offers India a chance to win their second consecutive Olympic men’s hockey bronze. Meanwhile, Germany will face the Netherlands in the final.
