Punjab: In a nice gesture, the Indian hockey players offered prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday following their bronze medal-winning campaign at the Paris Olympics 2024. India clinched their second successive bronze medal in the Olympics, beating Spain 2-1 at the Paris Games. The colour of the medal could have been better had the Men in Blue not lost to Germany in the semifinals.
Upon landing in New Delhi on Saturday, the Indian players went to Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in the Capital to pay respects to the legendary figure. Notably, the likes of PR Sreejesh, Amit Rohidas, Raj Kumar Pal, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay will be flying back to India after the Closing Ceremony.
On Sunday, elated family members and ecstatic fans accorded a boisterous welcome to the players at the Amritsar airport as celebratory ‘dhol’ drummed in the background. Right after their touchdown, family members greeted the players with garlands and warm hugs, before accepting congratulations from the state political leaders minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Manpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Shamsher Singh, Gurjant Singh and Hardik Singh arrived in their home state. Manpreet stated that they had already planned to visit the Golden Temple if they won a medal in Paris.
#WATCH | Punjab: Indian Hockey team members offer prayers at Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar.
Indian Hockey team won the Bronze medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. pic.twitter.com/Vq42D1WJEk
— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2024
“We had already decided that if we will win a medal at the Olympics we will offer prayers at Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)…We played well in the entire tournament…In the upcoming tournaments also we will perform well..,” Manpreet said.
Harmanpreet was overwhelmed by the reception and wowed to better their performance in the future. “We will do our best in future, so that this sport gets more love,” said Harmanpreet, who hails from Timmowal village in Amritsar. The 28-year-old, who is fondly called ‘Sarpanch’, said he was fortunate to lead this Indian side.
“I am feeling very happy…We offered prayers at Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)…The team played well and it is a matter of pride of winning back to win back-to-back medals in the Olympics…Many initiatives are being taken to promote sports in Punjab..,” he added.
