Indian Men's Hockey Team Falls Short Against Belgium in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup
Intense Match Ends with India Losing 2-3 to Belgium
In a closely contested match at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, the Indian Men's Hockey Team faced a narrow defeat, losing 2-3 to Belgium. The match, which was impacted by rain, took place on Tuesday. Abhishek (33') and Shilanand Lakra (57') scored for India, while Belgium's goals came from Roman Duvekot (17', 57') and Nicolas De Kerpel (45'), as reported by Hockey India.
First Half Overview
India started the match with determination, managing to keep Belgium at bay despite early pressure. Goalkeeper Pawan made crucial saves, ensuring the score remained level. Belgium's first significant chance came from a penalty corner ten minutes into the game, followed by another attempt, but India's defense held strong, keeping the score at 0-0 by the end of the first quarter.
As the second quarter began, India looked to take control, creating several passing sequences in search of a goal. However, Belgium struck first against the run of play, with Roman Duvekot scoring in the 17th minute. India attempted to respond quickly, but a goal from Dilpreet Singh was disallowed for dangerous play. Despite their efforts, India went into halftime trailing 0-1.
Exciting Second Half with Late Action
The second half saw India come out aggressively, and they equalized with a goal from Abhishek (33') after a well-executed play. With newfound momentum, India pressed Belgium for a second goal.
However, Belgium regained the lead when Nicolas De Kerpel converted a penalty corner in the 45th minute. Shortly after, Roman Duvekot scored again in the 46th minute, extending Belgium's lead and giving them a 3-1 advantage.
India continued to fight back, earning a penalty corner with less than ten minutes remaining. Shilanand Lakra (57') scored from a brilliant cross by Rabichandra Singh, reigniting hopes for India. In the final moments, Mohit HS made a spectacular save to prevent Belgium from scoring again, but India could not find the equalizer in this hard-fought match.
Upcoming Match for India
India's next challenge will be against Malaysia on November 26, scheduled for 1730 hours IST. Fans can catch all the action of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 live on FanCode.