Now Reading: India exit Hockey World Cup after shootout loss to Belgium
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India exit Hockey World Cup after shootout loss to Belgium
India's Hockey World Cup campaign ended in eighth place after Belgium beat them 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw in regulation time. Abhishek gave India an early lead, but…
India's Hockey World Cup campaign ended in eighth place after Belgium beat them 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw in regulation time. Abhishek gave India an early lead, but Belgium struck back through Roman Duvekot and Hugo Labouchere to lead 2-1 at halftime. Captain Harmanpreet Singh equalised in the third quarter with a penalty corner drag-flick, but Nicolas de Kerpel put Belgium ahead again.
With time running out, India pulled goalkeeper Suraj and threw everyone forward. Harmanpreet scored his second goal in the 60th minute to make it 3-3 and force a shootout. In the shootout, Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch saved attempts from Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet Singh. India fought back through Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh and Abhishek, but Duvekot scored the decisive attempt after India's referral failed.
The loss ends India's campaign in eighth place, while Belgium advance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India's eighth-place finish matches their performance at the 2023 World Cup in Bhubaneswar-Rourkela, where they also lost in the quarterfinals. The team has struggled to convert penalty corners consistently beyond Harmanpreet Singh, who scored both of India's set-piece goals in this match. Under the International Hockey Federation's current ranking system, eighth place earns India 300 ranking points, which affects their seeding for the next World Cup. India now turn to the Asian Games in Hangzhou later this year, where they need a gold medal to secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Asian Games hockey tournament begins on 23 September.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
