'This Love Doubles Our Responsibility': Hockey Captain Harmanpreet Singh On Warm Reception Received In India

10.08.2024 - 07:53 sports.ndtv.com

Hundreds of fans lined up to garland and cheer for them as members of the Indian men's hockey team, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, touched down in the national capital on Saturday after fetching a second successive Olympic bronze medal in Paris.

The Indian team extended its record overall Olympic medal haul in the sport to 13 with a 2-1 victory over Spain in the third place match in Paris.

However, not all members of the winning team made their way back home as a few vital cogs remained in the French capital for the closing ceremony on Sunday.

Celebrated goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who retired at the end of India's campaign, is the joint flag-bearer for the ceremony along with double-medallist Manu Bhaker.

hockey Olympics 2024 Olympics Medals Tally Manu Bhaker Harmanpreet Singh France Spain India

India hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh on Wednesday said that his side was unlucky to lose to Germany in the Paris Olympics semifinal despite creating several chances but termed the back-to-back bronze winning performance a "huge achievement". India repeated their 2021 Tokyo Games performance in Paris, defeating Spain to win consecutive bronze medals for the first time in 52 years. The keenly-contested semifinal earlier saw India going down to reigning world champions Germany 2-3 to set up a bronze-medal match with Spain.

"Back-To-Back Olympics Medals In Hockey A Big Thing": India Captain Harmanpreet Singh

"I Take Inspiration...": India Hockey Star Hardik Singh On Hardik Pandya

India hockey vice-captain Hardik Singh revealed that star cricket all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been a source of inspiration for him because of his ability to deliver performances in important moments. The name Hardik took the limelight in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. India's star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, with nerves of steel, delivered a performance of a lifetime in the final against South Africa. While in the recently concluded Paris Olympics, Hardik Singh, who served as the deputy of Harmanpreet Singh, was a core element in the Indian hockey team's machinery.

"I Take Inspiration...": India Hockey Star Hardik Singh On Hardik Pandya

Family And Fans Accord Warm Welcome To Indian Hockey Players At Amritsar

Elated family members and ecstatic fans on Sunday accorded a boisterous welcome to members of the Olympic bronze medal-winning Indian hockey team at the Amritsar airport as celebratory ‘dhol' drummed in the background. India clinched their second successive bronze medal in the Olympics, beating Spain 2-1 at the Paris Games. Right after their touchdown, family members greeted the players with garlands and warm hugs, before accepting congratulations from the state political leaders such as minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla.

"Hello India, This Is For You": India Hockey Captain Harmanpreet Singh Dedicates Olympics Bronze Medal To Fans

Following his team's bronze medal win at the Paris Olympics, Indian men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, who played brilliantly throughout the entire Olympics, celebrated the victory and posted a picture with the medal on Instagram. Taking to Instagram, Harmanpreet posted a picture of him kissing his medal, captioned, "Hello India this is for you." The Harmanpreet Singh-led side secured a historic bronze medal, defeating Spain 2-1, marking their second consecutive Olympic medal, an achievement last accomplished 52 years ago.