The Indian men’s hockey team faced a defeat of 4-1 against the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist Belgium in their FIH Pro League 2023-24 encounter held in Antwerp on Thursday.
Abhishek (55’) managed to secure the lone goal for the world No. 6 India, while Felix Denayer (22’), Alexander Hendrickx (34’, 60’), and Cedric Charlier (49’) found the target for the hosts.
Following the loss, India currently holds the third position in the FIH Pro League 2023-24 standings with 17 points from 10 matches, while Belgium ranks seventh with six points from the same number of games.
In the early stages of the match, Belgium, ranked third globally, exhibited more attacking prowess. Nevertheless, the Indian defense held firm under pressure.
Although both teams struggled to break the deadlock in the first quarter, Belgium managed to seize a 1-0 lead in the second quarter through Felix Denayer, despite India’s defensive efforts.
Despite India’s aggressive play after halftime, Belgium extended their lead to 3-0 by the end of the third quarter, with Alexander Hendrickx and Cedric Charlier finding the net.
In the final quarter, Abhishek scored a consolation goal for India, but Belgium sealed their victory with another goal from Hendrickx, concluding the match with a 4-1 win.
Notably, Jarmanpreet Singh marked his 100th international cap during the encounter.
The Indian men’s hockey team is set to face Belgium again in the upcoming FIH Pro League match on Saturday.
