The Indian hockey team eked out a 1-1 draw in their 2nd game of Pool B fixtures in the Paris Olympics 2024 at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium on 29th July 2024. Courtesy Harmanpreet Singh’s last-minute penalty corner, India could share the spoils against Argentina.
It was Lucas Martinez, who had put Argentina ahead in the 22nd minute of the game through a field goal. In the 36th minute, Argentina’s Maico Casella had missed a decisive penalty stroke and that haunted the Argentines.
Argentina had lost their previous game to Australia and needed a strong comeback. But all they could manage was a draw versus the 8-time Olympic Gold-Medallists.
It was the last-minute penalty corner, that saved India from embarrassment. Skipper Harmnapreet Kaur, one of India’s finest-ever drag-flickers, stepped up to the occasion and delivered the goods with perfection and expertise.
The Indians missed a total of 9 penalty corners and this is a huge cause of concern for Craig Fulton’s Team India. A major chunk of the praises must be spared for Argentine goalkeeper Tomas Santiago, who acted as a wall in front of the Indians.
India next cross swords with Ireland
Harmanpreet Singh and co. next lock horns with Ireland on 30th July 2024 in their 3rd match of Pool B of the Paris Olympics 2024. India had earlier defeated New Zealand on 27th July 2024, 3-2.
Mandeep Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Harmanpreet Singh had netted the goals for India against the Kiwis. India are ranked 5th in the World and need to give their best, in order to advance to the quarter finals and the latter stages in the Paris Olympics 2024. Harmanpreet’s India had bagged the bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and ended India’s 41-year medal drought at the Olympics.