Indian men’s hockey team qualifies for Paris Olympics with gold

With the help of two goals from captain Harmanpreet Singh, the Indian men’s hockey team defeated defending champion Japan by 5 goals in a one-sided final. 1, won the gold medal in the Asian Games after nine years and also qualified for the Paris Olympics. Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist India last won a gold medal at the Incheon Games in 2014, while the team had to be content with bronze last time in Jakarta. Of the current team, this is the second gold only for former captain Manpreet Singh and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who were also part of the 2014 team. India had previously won gold medals in hockey in Bangkok in 1966 and 1998. South Korea defeated host China by 2. Won bronze medal by defeating 1.

Harmanpreet Singh (32nd and 59th minutes), Abhishek (48th minute), Amit Rohidas (36th) and Manpreet Singh (25th) scored goals for India. The only goal for Japan was scored by Seren Tanaka in the 51st minute. Harmanpreet scored the maximum 13 goals in the tournament while Mandeep Singh scored 12 goals. India got a chance to score in the fifth minute when Lalit Upadhyay fired a shot from the left flank but it was saved by Japanese goalkeeper Takumi Kitagawa. India got a penalty corner in the 15th minute but Harmanpreet Singh’s flick went straight in front of the Japan goalkeeper. In the second quarter, the Indians continued to attack, the benefit of which came in the form of a penalty corner in the second minute, but this time also Rohidas missed the target on the variation.

Manpreet opened India’s account in the 25th minute. Lalit Upadhyay took the ball inside the circle and Abhishek took the initial shot which was saved by the Japanese goalkeeper. Manpreet, standing on the circle, took precise aim on the reverse and put the ball inside the goal. India scored two goals on penalty corners in the third quarter. Harmanpreet scored these goals in the 32nd minute and Rohidas scored these goals after four minutes. In the fourth quarter, Abhishek scored in the third minute and Harmanpreet scored a goal a minute before the hooter, sealing India’s spectacular victory. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh said that securing the quota ten months before the Olympics will allow the team to focus on preparation. He said, “We have got about a year to prepare for the Olympics. We performed brilliantly in the last Olympics, then in the Asian Championship and now in the Asiad.” India’s head coach Craig Fulton said that the preparations for the Olympics will be tested through the Hockey Pro League next year. He said, “Pro League is to be held in February through which we will test ourselves.

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