The Indian Men’s Hockey Team had their sights set on changing the color of their medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. While they couldn’t clinch the gold, their achievement of securing a second consecutive Bronze medal is a testament to their dedication. This victory holds special significance as the team dedicates it to their “big brother” and retiring teammate, PR Sreejesh. Returning to India with a sense of pride, captain Harmanpreet Singh and his teammates, who have once again made the nation proud, share their thoughts exclusively with HT City.
“Before heading to the medal ceremony, the entire hockey team was watching Neeraj (Chopra; javelin thrower) bhai’s match,” Harmanpreet recalls. His gesture of exchanging his medal with the outgoing goalkeeper PR Sreejesh during the podium ceremony has touched many hearts. “We did the same thing last time too. Sreejesh bhai and I stood together… Our bond is special; he’s like my big brother. We wanted to win the gold for him, and though that didn’t happen, we were all very happy to finish with a medal in his last match,” adds Harmanpreet, who is now affectionately known as ‘Sarpanch’ not just by his team but even by PM Narendra Modi!
Sreejesh remains in Paris to serve as the joint flag-bearer alongside shooter Manu Bhaker at the Paris 2024 Olympics Closing Ceremony. “This was his last Olympics… He has given so much to hockey. We’ve played together for 13 years, sharing countless moments in the locker room,” shares midfielder Manpreet Singh, the former team captain who led the team to a Bronze finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Beyond their strong camaraderie, the players are deeply grateful to their families, who have been their unwavering support throughout this journey. “Whenever my daughter watches hockey, she doesn’t say ‘hockey’… she says ‘papa’ (smiles),” Harmanpreet shares, and defender Jarmanpreet Singh echoes similar sentiments as a proud father. “When my daughter (Jind Kaur) was born, I was selected for the team. She’s here now, and I’ve brought home an Olympic medal.”
Reflecting on the tournament, many players believe it was the “quarter-final match” against Great Britain that truly tested their resilience. “During the quarter-final, I was determined that we had to win, no matter what,” says Jarmanpreet. Forward player Gurjant Singh adds, “We had waited a long time for this tournament, and our mindset was clear—we had to win, no matter the circumstances. At one point, we were down to just nine players on the field due to red cards. We knew if we didn’t win that match, we’d have to wait another four years for a shot at a medal!”
