Amritsar (Punjab) [India], August 8 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced that it will give a cash award of Rs 1 crore to each hockey player from the state, who was part of the Indian men’s team that won a bronze medal in the Paris Olympic Games.
“As per our sports policy, we will give 1 crore for each bronze medal players of Punjab. Chak De India. Prize,” Bhagwant Mann posted on X.
A brace from skipper Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh’s effortless saves secured a bronze medal for India at the Paris Olympics with a 2-1 win over Spain at the Yves du Manoir Stadium on Friday.
While playing in an electrifying atmosphere, the Indian team added a fourth medal to their tally at the Paris Olympics, after being down 0-1 after the first quarter.
Sreejesh, who was playing his last game for India, went on the ground, filled with emotions, and the rest of the team joined him to celebrate the momentous occasion in India’s hockey history.
India won consecutive bronze hockey medals for the first time in 52 years since the 1972 Munich Games.
Under the reign of coach Craig Fulton, India created history and secured back-to-back bronze medals at the Olympics. Goals from Harmanpreet Singh (30′, 33′) for India were enough to get them across the finish line. For Spain, Marc Miralles (18′) was the sole goal scorer.
India had an upper edge in their head-to-head record against Spain at the Olympics. In their ten meetings, as they had defeated the Spanish side seven times.
Emotions were running high, with India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh playing his final international game. He was given the title of the ‘God of Indian Modern Hockey’ by Hockey India before the bronze medal game.
With the chants of ‘India’ echoing throughout the stadium, India tried to decipher Spain’s defence at the beginning of the first quarter.
India sniffed the first opportunity in the bronze medal match after Hardik sent the ball to Sukhjeet, who sent the ball wide of the goalpost.
India punished Spain for not capitalising on their chances and equalised before the second quarter. Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner with his trademark drag flick, passing the ball through Calzado and Rodriguez to make the scoreline 1-1.
India went ahead for the first time in the game moments into the third quarter. It was yet another penalty corner for India, and Harmanpreet once again converted the opportunity to make it 2-1.
In the final 40 seconds, in a last-gasp opportunity, Spain got a penalty corner, giving them a chance to equalise, but Sreejesh stepped up with a flying save to seal the bronze medal for India. (ANI)
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