India to Compete for Bronze After 3-2 Defeat by World Champions Germany in Semi-Finals:For the second consecutive Olympics, the Indian men’s hockey team will vie for bronze after a 3-2 loss to world champions Germany in the semi-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics on Tuesday.
Ranked fifth, India took an early lead with Harmanpreet Singh scoring from a penalty corner in the 7th minute. However, the world No. 2 Germany quickly equalized with a goal from Gonzalo Peillat in the 18th minute and took the lead through Christopher Ruehr in the 27th minute.
India, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists, managed to level the score 1-1 with a goal from Sukhjeet Singh in the 36th minute. But a decisive goal by Marco Miltkau in the 54th minute thwarted India’s hopes of reaching the men’s hockey final for the first time since Moscow 1980.
India will now face Spain in the bronze medal match. Spain, ranked 8th, lost 4-0 to the Netherlands in their semi-final.
At the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes, India started strong, earning the first penalty corner within two minutes. Harmanpreet Singh’s initial attempt was saved by German goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneebrg, while India’s PR Sreejesh made a crucial save against Marco Miltkau.
India put Germany under pressure in the first quarter, with Harmanpreet Singh eventually breaking the deadlock. Germany responded in the second quarter with Peillat’s goal and Ruehr’s penalty stroke, giving them a 2-1 lead at halftime.
The second half saw Hardik Singh nearly equalize, but Sukhjeet Singh’s goal in the third quarter only briefly restored parity. Germany dominated the final quarter, with Miltkau’s goal six minutes from time proving decisive.
In a bid for an equalizer, India substituted PR Sreejesh for an extra attacker, but crucial chances by Sukhjeet Singh and Shamsher Singh went astray. India, who had previously defeated Great Britain in a shootout to reach the semi-finals, missed the services of defender Amit Rohidas, who was suspended for this match.
India, who had previously beaten Spain 3-0 in the Tokyo 2020 group stage, will compete for bronze at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium on Friday.
