Paris Olympics 2024: Why back-to-back bronze medals at Olympics are proof that India's hockey revival is on right track

This is the first time the Indian men’s hockey team has won back-to-back Olympic medals in half a decade.

The Indian men’s hockey team clinched the bronze medal at Paris Olympics 2024, defeating Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal playoff match.

This marks the Indian hockey team’s second straight bronze medal at the Olympics, following their success at the Tokyo 2020 Games. It’s the first time in over 50 years that India has won back-to-back Olympic medals in hockey, a feat last achieved with bronze medals at the 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics.

India remains the most successful nation in Olympic men’s hockey history, with an impressive haul of eight golds, one silver, and four bronze medals. However, after winning gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the team went through a 41-year-long medal drought.

A major factor in this decline was the introduction of artificial turf, which significantly sped up the game and posed challenges for India. The decline was so severe that they failed to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and finished last in their group at the 2012 London Games, losing all five of their matches.

India’s journey back to the top of Olympic hockey hasn’t been quick or easy. It’s been built over years of hard work, exposure to top teams, tough losses, and key tournaments. Slowly but surely, India has become a team no one takes lightly. They’ve had their struggles against powerhouses like Australia and Belgium, but the days of being overawed by bigger teams are behind them.

Also Read: Hockey at Olympics: Full list of medal winners

Ranked fifth in the world, India was once as high as third. At Tokyo 2020, after a heavy loss to Australia, they bounced back strong, winning four straight matches. Although they led against Belgium in the semifinals, missed opportunities saw them lose. But in the bronze medal match, they showed incredible grit, overturning a 3-1 deficit to beat Germany 5-4.

This resilience has become a hallmark of Indian hockey. Their ability to fight back keeps opponents on the edge until the final hooter. However, inconsistency has been a challenge, as seen in their disappointing exit from the 2023 World Cup.

Despite a slow start at the Paris Olympics 2024, India peaked at the right time, defeating Australia for the first time in 52 years. They showed immense character in the quarterfinals, holding Great Britain to a 1-1 draw despite being a man down, and then winning the penalty shootout.

Although they fell to Germany in the semifinals, India rallied once more to secure bronze against Spain.

Harmanpreet Singh will continue as India’s hockey captain until 2028. Known as the ‘Sarpanch,’ he’s one of the best drag flickers in the world and was the top scorer at the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, India needs a second drag flicker to avoid becoming too predictable. Jugraj Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal are potential candidates, but both need more experience and development.

With goalkeeper PR Sreejesh retiring, Krishan Pathak is ready to step in, having already shared duties with Sreejesh for the past few years. Core players like Hardik Singh, Vivek Prasad, and Sumit are expected to continue, while some veteran forwards might be phased out.

Also Read: Five sports where India has won the most medals in Olympics

The return of the Hockey India League this December will provide valuable experience for young talents across the country. This will create healthy competition for spots in the national team, ensuring no one takes their place for granted.

As India looks ahead to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, the team is focused on building a strong foundation to aim for gold.

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