The mind always floats back to that night in January 2023 when adrenaline shot up from Harmanpreet’s forearms, and a drag move caught up with his oppositions’ goalposts in Paris. Scene from Bhubaneswar. A distraught captain of India who had put the hopes of his country on his penalty-killing abilities stood clueless. On these putts, the ball almost refused to curl back towards the hole.
New Zealand sent India packing from the World Cup without so much as reaching the quarter-finals. The dream died during cross-overs when Harmanpreet’s desperate D-top flick beat New Zealand wicketkeepers in a one-on-one penalty shootout that defined the game for India and their captain. Hanging his head as he took seat next to Graham during mandatory press conference. Reid knew this might be his last interview with the media as head coach of India.
That was about a year and a half before the Paris Olympics. Hockey India appointed Craig Fulton as their new coach whose work with Harmanpreet has not only earned India titles which include an Asian Games gold medal but also brought back Harmanpreet with his deadly short angle skills..
It was like Rocky Balboa coming out of retirement—Harmanpreet scored six goals in five games.
India were saved late by Harmanpreet’s goals from tough opening two matches against New Zealand (3-2 win) & 2016 Olympic Champions Argentina (1-1 draw). It was a relief to keep clean sheet after 2-0 win over Ireland where both strikes came off Harmanpreet’s boot. However, defending Olympic champions Belgium and arch-rivals Australia will always test them more than any other side.
Having already qualified for the quarters, India lost to Belgium 1-2 in two important matches. The story however is different men’s hockey The game so far is against Australia.
After 52 years, India finally managed to beat Australia in an Olympic match – the last time being a 3-1 victory in 1972 in Munich.
Harmanpreet carried on his good form with the bat, scoring twice in India’s 3-2 victory to take his international tally to 190 from 224 matches played.
India went two goals up against Australia at half-time, which is something unusual considering their past encounters over the years. They wanted to show this promise ahead of Paris.
“We want to go for that – a ninth (hockey) gold medal for India. Everything we are doing is aimed at winning the gold,” Harmanpreet said, according to International Hockey Federation (FIH), after Australia win
“But our main games start now. So the quarterfinals, semis, those games are really critical. So we are just trying to do our best,” said double-men’s player of the year according to International Hockey Federation.
With 10 points, second-placed India will face third-placed England from Group A on August 4 at 1:30 p.m. IST.
After historic victory against Australia, Harmanpreet commented; “We started with a win and decided that was it (Paris Olympics). We mounted pressure on them; we put them under topspin..very high.
But the actual tournament starts only when knockout rounds get underway where losers pack their bags and return home. In essence Harmanpreet summarized it all in these short but precise words.
“There’s no room for error.”
