The Indian hockey team performed brilliantly in the Paris Olympics and won the bronze medal. India defeated Spain 2-1 in the bronze medal match. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh played an important role in the victory of the Indian team. Experienced goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who played his last tournament, kept protecting the Indian goal like a rock throughout the tournament.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Olympic team on Thursday (15 August). During this, PM Modi also interacted with the players of the hockey team. During this, PM Modi praised the Indian hockey team. PM Modi said that the hockey team won medals in two consecutive Olympic Games after 52 years. PM also talked to PR Sreejesh about his retirement. Sreejesh had said goodbye to international hockey along with the Paris Olympics.
#Watch | Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to PR Sreejesh, who played the last match of his career in the bronze medal winning hockey match at Paris Olympics, during his interaction with the Indian Olympic contingent at his residence. pic.twitter.com/of12RIQLuj
– ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2024
PR Sreejesh said, ‘I was thinking about this for the last few years. Even my team members were asking when will you retire. But I was thinking that I have been playing for my team for about 20 years, so I will retire from a good platform. So the Olympics is a platform where the whole world celebrates sports. So we thought that there could be no better decision than this.
PM Modi also praised Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh for giving a memorable farewell to Sreejesh and his teammates. PM Modi said, ‘The team gave you a wonderful farewell. Congratulations to the team. However, I appreciate the way the team gave you a farewell. Sarpanch Sahab did a great job…’
This was India’s fourth bronze medal in hockey. Apart from this, India has won the maximum 8 gold and 1 silver medal in Olympic history. India also won the bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics. With this, the Indian hockey team created history after 52 years in the Olympics. Actually, the Indian hockey team has won 2 consecutive medals in the Olympics after 52 years. Earlier, from 1960 to 1972, India had won 4 consecutive medals in hockey. Then in the 1976 Olympics, the country did not get any medal. After this, gold was won in 1980.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)