In a gripping encounter at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes, the Indian men’s hockey team suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to the defending champions Belgium on Thursday. This loss marks India’s first setback in their campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Abhishek scored the opening goal for India in the 18th minute, giving the sixth-ranked Indian team a brief lead. However, Thibeau Stockbroekx equalised for Belgium in the 33rd minute, and John-John Dohmen secured the win with a decisive goal in the 44th minute. Despite a strong performance from Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who managed to keep the team in the game with several crucial saves, Belgium’s persistence eventually paid off.

Belgium’s early pressure and India’s resilient defense

Belgium started the match with relentless pressure, testing the Indian defence repeatedly. PR Sreejesh’s impressive goalkeeping ensured that India managed to keep a clean sheet in the first quarter. This defensive resilience set the stage for India’s breakthrough goal. Abhishek capitalised on a defensive lapse by Belgium to score, giving India a 1-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Belgium’s comeback and decisive goals

After India’s goal, both teams had several opportunities through penalty corners. Despite India’s strong defensive efforts, Belgium’s dominance was rewarded in the early minutes of the third quarter. Thibeau Stockbroekx scored his first goal of the tournament, assisted by Florent van Aubel, leveling the score at 1-1. Shortly before the end of the third quarter, John-John Dohmen scored from close range after a save by Sreejesh, giving Belgium a 2-1 lead.

India’s upcoming match against Australia

Belgium’s defence remained firm throughout the final quarter, preventing any further goals and securing their fourth consecutive victory in the tournament. Prior to this match, the Indian men’s hockey team had already secured a quarter-finals spot with victories over Ireland and New Zealand and a draw against Argentina. They will now face the world No. 4 Australia, the silver medallists from Tokyo 2020, in their final Pool B match on Friday.

Strategic adjustments and future outlook

The Indian men’s hockey team, despite the setback, has demonstrated strong potential throughout the tournament. Their performance against Belgium highlights areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining momentum and defensive coordination against top-ranked teams. With a solid track record in the pool stages, the team’s upcoming match against Australia will be crucial in determining their final standing and preparation for the knockout stages. The clash with Australia promises to be a high-stakes encounter, offering India a chance to showcase their resilience and strategic adjustments.

  Abhishek, Australia hockey, Belgium hockey, India hockey, John-John Dohmen, Paris 2024 Olympics, PR Sreejesh, Thibeau Stockbroekx, Yves-du-Manoir Stadium