India’s men’s hockey team pulled off a stunning upset, defeating World No. 4 Australia 3-2 in their final Pool B match at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This victory holds historical significance, marking their first Olympic win against Australia since the 1972 Munich Games.
India started the match with a strong display, establishing a 2-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Abhishek, scoring his second goal in as many games, opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Captain Harmanpreet Singh followed up with a penalty corner conversion just a minute later. Australian attempts to break through the Indian defense in the first quarter were met with a solid performance from goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh.
The second quarter saw Australia claw their way back into the match, with Thomas Craig scoring in the 25th minute to narrow the deficit to 1-2 at halftime. India extended their lead to 3-1 in the third quarter after a successful video referral. Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick was initially ruled a miss, but the review revealed that it had hit Flynn Ogilvie’s foot on the goal line, resulting in a penalty stroke. Harmanpreet expertly converted the penalty stroke, maintaining India’s advantage.
The fourth and final quarter proved to be the most tense of the game as Australia rallied hard, eventually pulling within one goal with a penalty stroke scored by Blake Govers in the 55th minute. Despite the late surge, India held their nerve and secured the victory, ending the group stage on a high note.
Prior to this match, India had already secured their place in the quarterfinals after victories over Ireland and New Zealand and a draw against the 2016 champion Argentina. This win against a formidable opponent serves as a strong statement for India’s Olympic aspirations.
