India loses to Belgium 2-5 in Men's Hockey Semi-final at Tokyo Olympics
In the final minute, Belgium scores the game's fifth goal against India. Belgium defeats India 5-2 and advances to the final. Meanwhile, India’s dream to reach the final of thehockey Olympics once again shatters. However, the Indian players have a chance to win a bronze.
On the 12th day of the Tokyo Olympics, the men's hockey semi-finals between India and world champion Belgium has ended with great sorrow for the country as India has lost the match by5-2.
As Belgium scored the first goal in the match in the second minute, India did not take much time and emerged with an incredible comeback after scoring their first goal in the 7th minute.Harmanpreet scored a penalty corner for India with a drag flick.
Following Harmanpreet's goal, Mandeep Singh then scored a field goal with a stunning backhand shot in the eighth minute. The Indian team had a 2-1 advantage over Belgium at the end ofthe first quarter.
In the 19th minute of the second quarter, Belgium earned another penalty corner. Alexander Hendrix, one of the top drag-flickers in the world, seized on the opportunity to tie the game at2-2.
However, after halftime, Belgium scored goals, one after another taking a lead by three points in the last minute.
After 41 years of drought, India had a chance to enter the finals. Last India had won gold in 1980 Moscow Olympics after defeating Spain 4-3. At that time the team was led by Vasudevan Bhaskaran.