Paris Olympics: Harmanpreet’s brace enables India to overcome Ireland challenge

Harmanpreet's brace leads India to a 2-0 victory over Ireland in a challenging Olympic hockey match.

In punishing heat and draining conditions, Harmanpreet’s first-half brace enabled India to overcome a strong challenge from Ireland and post a 2-0 win in a Pool-B hockey match of the Olympics at the Yves du Manoir Stadium in Paris on July 30.

With two wins and a draw, India has gathered seven points from three matches and has almost made it to the quarterfinals.

After conceding goals first against New Zealand and Argentina, India had a better start as it explored the gaps and passed the ball well to put pressure on Ireland.

Abhishek was brilliant on the left as he combined with Sukhjeet to earn India’s first penalty corner in the second minute.

India’s persistence paid off in the 11th minute as Gurjant made a superb interception and went up to combine with Mandeep Singh. The latter was felled inside the circle and the resultant penalty stroke put India ahead with Harmanpreet slotting it, beating Irish keeper David Harte on the left.

Following a longer inter-quarter break due to excessive heat, which made goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh to rest on the shade behind the post to save energy, India carried on its momentum to double its lead.

India got three successive short corners and Harmanpreet’s power-packed drag-flick got deflected from a defender’s stick to the top left corner of the post in the 19th minute.