New Delhi: India’s men’s hockey team suffered their second straight loss, dropping 1-3 to host Belgium in Boom for a disappointing end to the first leg of their European tour.
The Red Devils distributed a brisk performance last night and returned from a goal to beat India and pocket the two-game series 2-0 on so many days.
India had previously lost by a single goal to Belgium in their opening game of the tour on Wednesday. Yesterday’s match began in cloudy conditions with India with the momentum to start.
The young goalkeeper Suraj Karkera made a brilliant save in the first minutes of the first quarter to deny the Belgians. The Indians, who have fielded an experimental team here with up to six players debuting in the senior national team, began on an aggressive note and moved forward in the fourth minute when Armaan Qureshi scored a brilliant goal from the field.
India had the opportunity to double the lead early from a penalty spot, but the opportunity went wrong. The visitors kept up the pressure to keep Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch busy.
Qureshi had two consecutive shots on the goal, but Vanasch was ready for the challenge and denied India more advantage. The advantage did not last long as Belgium scored the tie through Amaury Keusters (minute 9).
The second quarter saw both teams negotiate penalty corners. While India squandered their chances, Belgium found success through Loick Luypaert who converted a set set in minute 21.
Just at the end of the first half, Belgium extended their lead through Cedric Charlier’s field strike. For two goals, India was close to converting a field goal in the third quarter, but Sumit narrowly lost a deviation from Mandeep Singh.
In the fourth quarter, India pressed hard for goals, but Belgian goalkeeper Vanasch was in the best shape to deny Mandeep, Qureshi and Ramandeep Singh.
The Indians will now head to Waalwijk, The Netherlands to face the local team on August 13 and 14 before finishing their five-game tour against Austria in Amstelveen on 16 August.
For India, midfielder Chinglensana Singh Kangujam made the distinction of playing 150 matches for his country yesterday. The Manipur-born Chinglensana made his international debut at the 2011 Champions Challenge in South Africa.
Since then, he has been a regular member of the Indian team. It has also been part of some of the team’s most memorable feats, including the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, a gold medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, a historic silver medal in the 36th FIH Champions Trophy in London Last year, as well as the gold medal in the Asian Champions Trophy in 2016.
