Harmanpreet Singh threw his hockey stick in jubilation. Manpreet Singh knelt down and kissed the blue astroturf. PR Sreejesh looked up towards the sky in a praying gesture. There were hugs and smiles. High emotions make experiences memorable, and that's what it was.
The ghost of Jakarta was finally exorcised and the Indian men's hockey players can now proudly tell the world they are the conquerors of Asia. On a breezy Friday evening at the Gongshu Canal Sports Park Stadium, an undefeated Harmanpreet Singh-led side booked its berth for the Paris Olympics 2024 after a dominant 5-1 win over defending champions Japan in the final of hockey here.
