November 22, 2024 23:22 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Centre to send over 10,000 additional soldiers to violence-hit Manipur amid fresh violence | Chhattisgarh: 10 Maoists killed during encounter with security forces in Sukma | Baba Siddique murder case: Arrested Akashdeep Gill used a labourer's hotspot to evade tracking, say police | Donald Trump picks 'smart and tough' Pam Bondi as new US Attorney General after Matt Gaetz withdraws | Canadian government denies media report that claims PM Modi knew of Khalistani leader Nijjar's killing
India go down 2-5 against Belgium in men’s hockey semi final at Tokyo Olympics
India at Olympics
Image Credit: UNI

India go down 2-5 against Belgium in men’s hockey semi final at Tokyo Olympics

| @indiablooms | 03 Aug 2021, 08:29 pm

Tokyo/IBNS: Riding on a fine hat-trick by renowned drag flicker Alexander Hendrickx, favourite Belgium beat India 5- 2  in the first semi final of the men’s hockey at the  Olympics Tuesday. 

After a spirited display against Great Britain in the quarter final earlier, India Tuesday began almost on equal note and also took  2-1 lead for a brief period  in the second quarter. Though  Belgium drew level soon, the  score line remained 2 -2 till the 49th  minute.  But  India succumbed to the pressure in the final quarter and conceded three more goals during the last eleven minutes.

India still have a chance to earn the bronze if they can beat Germany in the play off match for the third place. In the second semifinal Tuesday,  Australia beat Germany  3-1  to set up a title clash with Belgium on Thursday.

The India- Belgium match saw India starting aggressively and forcing a penalty corner in the very first minute which proved abortive. Belgium made a counter attack and went ahead in the very next minute through  Loick Luypaert who converted  their first penalty corner ( O  - 1 ).

Stung by the reverse, India  also pressed up their attacks and not only drew level 1-1 with Harmanpreet Singh converting India’s second penalty corner, they also took the  lead  in the 8th minute.

This time Mandeep Singh after collecting a pass from Amit Rohidas inside D,  scored with a quick hit ( 2- 1). The lead was, however, short lived as four minutes into the second quarter Alexander Hendrikx displayed his skill in converting the penalty corner to restore parity  for the world champions ( 2 – 2 ).

After a barren third quarter, Belgiam  resorted to all out attacks and scored three more goals within eleven minutes to make sure of their entry into the final. 

While Hendrickx converted another penalty corner in the 49th minute to snatch the lead 3-2 and then buttressed the same converting a penalty stroke four minutes later ( 4-0 ), John John-Dhmen completed the tally for Belgium  just before the hooter ( 5-2). 

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.