The Indian men’s hockey team secured a thrilling 1-1 draw with Argentina in their second Pool B match at the Paris 2024 Olympics, held at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir on Monday. Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh (59’) scored from a late penalty corner to tie the game after Lucas Martinez (22’) gave the Rio 2016 champions Argentina the lead in the second quarter.
With a win and a draw from two matches, India sits third in Pool B with four points. Belgium and Australia lead the table with six points each. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medallists had earlier secured a late 3-2 win over New Zealand in their Paris 2024 campaign opener.
A Promising Start
Ranked fifth in the world, India began the match on a positive note. They were awarded the first penalty corner of the match in the 10th minute, but Sanjay’s shot was saved by Argentina’s goalkeeper Tomas Santiago. The side had another penalty corner a minute later, and this time, Abhishek struck the post. Two minutes later, India’s veteran goalie PR Sreejesh was called into action to make a save off Agustin Mazzilli, and the first quarter ended with seventh-ranked Argentina squandering a penalty corner.
Mid-Match Tension
India had three consecutive penalty corners four minutes into the second quarter, but the Argentine keeper was on hand to save the efforts from Harmanpreet. The Argentina hockey team took the lead through Lucas Martinez at the 22nd-minute mark. They dominated much of the third quarter and created several chances, but the Indian defense stood their ground. India breathed a sigh of relief after thwarting a penalty stroke from Maico Casella in the 37th minute. Tomas Domene also came close from a couple of penalty corners but failed to convert.
Late Drama
Towards the closing stages of the third quarter, India missed another penalty corner, while Sukhjeet Singh had his shot saved by Santiago. India went on the offensive in the fourth quarter, with Abhishek having a strong chance just two minutes before the end of the game. Hardik Singh and Harmanpreet had their shots saved by the Argentine goalie on consecutive penalty corners. However, India finally leveled the tie at 1-1 with Harmanpreet converting from a penalty corner just a minute before the final hooter.
Looking Ahead
The intense match between India vs Argentina hockey showcased the resilience and determination of both teams. India will face Ireland in their third Paris 2024 Olympics hockey Pool B match on Tuesday, aiming to build on their performance and secure a spot in the knockout stages.
India’s ability to secure a draw against a strong Argentine side underscores their readiness to compete at the highest level. As the tournament progresses, fans will be eager to see how the team capitalizes on this momentum.
