In the most recent European leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2023/24, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team encountered a formidable test, resulting in a 1-4 defeat against Belgium. Abhishek (55’) secured the solitary goal for India, while Felix Denayer (22’), Alexander Hendrickx (34’, 60’), and Cedric Charlier (49’) all contributed to Belgium’s triumph with their goals.
The match commenced with Belgium demonstrating their formidable prowess against a well-drilled Indian defensive unit. Both teams remained deadlocked in a stalemate until nearly halfway through the first quarter, with no goals registered. Following a strong start from both sides in the second quarter, Belgium managed to break the deadlock with Felix Denayer (22’) finding the back of the net and propelling his team to a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
India emerged aggressively after the interval, but Belgium’s resolute defense continued to repel their advances. By the end of the third quarter, Belgium had extended their advantage to 3-0 through Alexander Hendrickx (34’) and Cedric Charlier (49’). With five minutes remaining, Abhishek (55’) managed to notch a goal for India, yet it proved insufficient to secure a victory.
The match concluded with Belgium emerging victorious with a final score of 4-1. The resilient Indian team’s efforts were evident, with player Jarmanpreet Singh achieving an impressive milestone of completing 100 international caps during the match.
Looking ahead, the Indian Men’s Hockey Team is slated to once again confront Belgium at 7:45 PM IST on May 25, poised to bring their determination and skill to the forthcoming match.
In a separate encounter, the Indian junior men’s hockey team competed against Dutch local club, Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push, and fought valiantly despite a shaky start. Captain Rohit (18th minute), Sourabh Anand Khushwaha (24th), Ankit Pal (32nd), and Arshdeep Singh (58th) scored for India, yet they fell short with a 4-5 loss to the local side.
Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push initiated the game aggressively, establishing an early lead and sustaining the pressure throughout the match. Despite India’s determined efforts to narrow the deficit, Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push emerged victorious with a final score of 5-4.
The Indian junior men’s team is now preparing for their next challenge against Germany in Monchengladbach on May 28, primed to rebound from their recent setback and exhibit their resilience on the field.