Hockey World Cup: India goes down fighting to Belgium

India could only manage an eighth-place finish in the hockey World Cup after a 3-4 penalty shootout loss to Belgium.

India had fought back twice from a goal down to hold the co-host 3-3 in regulation time at the Belifus Arena here on Friday.

At 2-2, veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh was struck near his eye as he put his body on the line to get on the end of Hugo Labouchere’s close-range shot. A bloodied Manpreet was helped off the pitchto a round of applause from the home crowd. But even as the Indian team could recover from the horror injury, Belgium pounced on an error to score through Nicolas de Kerpel.

The goal was upheld despite India’s referral for a touch on the body in the build-up, which added to a frustratingly mixed afternoon for skipper Harmanpreet Singh.

In the first quarter, he was the recipient of a five-minute suspension for an embarrassing situation when his side fielded 12 players before being handed a green card in the third.

But in between them, he struck with his trademark powerful drag-pushes to twice equalise, the second one coming with just seconds left on the clock to level the scores.

However, he couldn’t find a way past Vincent Vanasch in the shootout as did his teammate Sukhjeet Singh. India goalkeeper Mohith H.S. committed too early as Belgium managed to find the net four times to end its home World Cup with something to cheer about.

India silenced the home side five minutes into the start when Abhishek Nain’s shot deflected in off Alexander Hendrickx for the opening goal.

But Belgium continued to suffocate India with its full court press and launched a barrage of shots. While Suraj Karkera resisted in the opening quarter, Mohith couldn’t stop an unmarked Roman Duvekot from equalising before Labouchere scored from Belgium’s fifth PC.

The result: India 3 (Abhishek 5, Harmanpreet 30, 59-pc) drew with Belgium 3 (Duvekot 21, Labouchere 22-pc, de Kerpel 46). Belgium won 4-3 in the penalty shootout.