Paris: Veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh produced a stellar performance in India’s iconic 4-2 win over Great Britain in the penalty shootout. The Indian team was one man down for about 42 minutes, but the 10 players in the middle fought like warriors throughout the match and took it into the penalties. The Indian penalty takers held their nerves well in the shootout and converted their chances but it was Sreejesh who once again proved to be the Great Wall of India with a couple of incredible saves.
Earlier, Lee Morton scored the equaliser for Great Britain at half time to make it 1-1. He was in the right place at the right time to put the ball inside goal. For India, Harmanpreet Singh once again scored the goal, opening the scoring here from the penalty corner to put the Asian giants ahead in the game but Morton equalised quickly for Britain. The Indian men’s hockey team is all set to take on Great Britain in the 2024 Paris Olympics hockey quarterfinals at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes. India, who are fifth in hockey rankings, finished second in Pool B, with 10 points from five matches. They had already qualified for the quarters after beating Ireland and New Zealand, before holding Argentina to a 1-1 draw. Although they lost 1-2 against defending champions Belgium in their next match, they secured a second spot in the table, behind the unbeaten Black Sticks, after beating the mighty Australian side 3-2 in their final group game. It was, in fact, their first win against the Kookaburras in 52 years at the Olympics.
