Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice in the space of three minutes with his trademark, power-packed drag-flicks to put India ahead. His goals in the 30th and 33rd minutes overpowered Marc Miralles' 18th-minute conversion of a penalty stroke.

India had also emerged victors in the Olympics bronze play-off three years ago in Tokyo. Goalie PR Sreejesh was the hero then in a pulsating 5-4 win over Germany, whom the Indians narrowly lost to in the Paris 2024 semi-finals.

The last time the Indian men's hockey team clinched back-to-back Olympic medals was 52 years ago, in the 1968 (bronze) and 1972 editions (bronze).

The bronze medal also ended a disappointing medal-less spell for the Indian contingent In Paris, which has endured six fourth-place finishes so far, apart from heartbreaking disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat.

It was a tense last few minutes for the Indian team as it faced two penalty corners within the last 60 seconds, but the defence stood tall and soaked in the pressure.

Three minutes from the final hooter, Spain took off goalkeeper Luis Calzado in a last-ditch attempt to find an equaliser, but India made no mistake in the dying moments.