WATCH: Harmanpreet Singh's magical drag flick helps India to double their lead against Australia

In a remarkable display of skill and determination, India's men's hockey team secured a historic victory over World No. 4 Australia. Australia was the Tokyo 2020 silver medalist and this win helped India to finish second in Pool B at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This 3-2 win not only marked India's first Olympic triumph against Australia since 1972 but also highlighted the team's formidable prowess heading into the quarterfinals.

The match started on a high note for India as they quickly established a 2-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Abhishek, continuing his excellent form, netted his second goal in as many games in the 12th minute.

However, the moment that truly ignited the Indian camp came just a minute later when captain Harmanpreet Singh capitalized on a penalty corner. Known for his lethal drag-flicks, Harmanpreet’s powerful strike left no chance for the Australian defence, doubling India’s advantage and setting the tone for the rest of the match.

Here is the video:

Stop everything! Watch Harmanpreet Singh's penalty corner magic!



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Despite Australia's attempts to counter, with Thomas Craig narrowing the lead to 2-1 in the 25th minute, the Indian team maintained their composure. The turning point of the game arrived in the third quarter when India was awarded a penalty stroke following a successful video referral. Harmanpreet, once again rising to the occasion, confidently converted the stroke to extend India's lead to 3-1.

Blake Govers threaten India in the last minutes

Australia, known for their resilience, intensified their efforts in the final quarter. Blake Govers managed to bring the score to 3-2 with a penalty stroke, causing a brief scare for the Indian side. However, the Indian defence, bolstered by the outstanding performance of goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, held firm to secure the victory.

Harmanpreet Singh’s leadership and scoring ability were pivotal in this match. His goals, especially the penalty corner conversion, were a testament to his experience and skill, inspiring his team to one of their most significant victories in recent history. Reflecting on the match, Harmanpreet expressed his satisfaction, saying, “I think we ticked off all the right boxes today... It is a special win ahead of the quarterfinals. It gives us a lot of confidence.”