Hockey World Cup Men’s: India finish 8th after shootout loss to Belgium

The Indian men’s team’s dismal campaign at the 2026 Hockey World Cup came to an end with a heartbreaking shootout loss to Belgium on Friday, August 28. The match ended 3-3 in normal time before Vincent Vanasch was the hero for the Belgian side, making two crucial stops in the shoot-out as the Tokyo Olympic gold medalists eventually won 4-3.

For India, Harmanpreet Singh and Sukhjeet Singh missed their shots in an intense penalty shoot-out and Mohith could only hit once as they return home after failing to beat any of the higher-ranked teams they faced in the tournament.

INDIA SURVIVES AS BELGIUM REMAINS FLOWABLE

Belgium is going through a transition phase at the moment, with the likes of Tom Boon, Alex Hendrickx and others entering the twilight of their careers.

It was seen in the performances of the gold medalists from the Tokyo Olympics who were in the finals of the last two editions of the Men’s World Cup. Yet it was Belgium who started the match strongly, pushing India into their own half. They were enjoying a lot of possession and entering the circle and it looked like a goal would come.

But no one expected at that time that it would come from India. Against the run in the sixth minute, India moved the ball into the D with a couple of effective passes and Abhishek’s ball was headed into the net by Hendrickx.

However, this started the onslaught of the Belgians, who began to drive between the circles with ease and missed their shots. Suraj Karkera was needed to stop Hendrickx’s PC. Thibeau Stockbroekx fought his way into the D and Jugraj got on the line in the eighth minute to stop the goal.

Karkera was needed again in the 9th minute as Nelson Onana had the Indian defense in all sorts of trouble. If there was one thing India were guilty of in this tournament, it was that they made mistakes.

And this time they made a schoolboy mistake. In the 11th minute, India were penalized for 12 men on the field and Harmanpreet was shown a yellow card.

With 10 men, India were forced to face all the pressure from Belgium but they managed to cope. More than India’s resistance, it was Belgium’s ineffectiveness in front of goal.

Tom Boon had a chance to equalize in the last minute of the first quarter, but his shot went wide.

The second quarter started with India back to 11 men but the pace was with Belgium. Stockbroekx had an attempt in the 19th minute but Mohith was able to save.

But India was walking a tightrope at that point. The Indian team was happy to defend low throughout the tournament as the higher ranked sides started throwing everything at them from the start.

This time they struck twice in the space of two minutes as Belgium took the lead. First, the Indian defense broke down and Roman Duvekot found the equalizer in the 22nd minute.

Just seconds later, Belgium got the PC and Hugo Labouchere scored to give his team the lead.

Belgium’s problem wasn’t that they didn’t create chances, but that they couldn’t convert them. They missed another PC in the last minute before going into the break.

By the time it was half time, Belgium had 21 circle entries, 7 penalty corners and 15 shots on goal.

And that has been the problem with Belgium throughout the campaign. They were second in goals scored with 10 before the game and likewise in PC efficiency with 16.67 percent.

INDIA IS COMING BACK

The second half started with India trying to build some momentum and found an equaliser. There was no surprise as to who scored the goal as it was captain Harmanpreet who slotted it past Vincent Vanasch in goal.

And again it was Belgium with the momentum and India happy to sit back and defend. The characters were coming to Belgium very quickly and each one of them was being rescued.

A goal was disallowed in the 34th minute as India seemed happy to take the match to a shootout.

India almost got another goal as another PC routine created havoc with the Belgian ranks. By the time the third quarter was over, India seemed to be in the contest and frustrating Belgium.

But then they lost Manpreet Singh to a freak injury and he cut himself right above his left eye. Soon after, Arthur de Sloover scored to put Belgium back in the lead.

India tried to push forward, with Harmanpreet playing center forward at times. Belgium were happy not to sit back and keep applying pressure.

India decided to take their keeper down and Sanjay was the flying one. And in the last minute of the game, India secured a PC and that led to Harmanpreet leveling the game and pushing it into a shootout.

INDIA CRACKS UP UNDER THE PRESSURE OF THE FASHION

The shootout started a bit confused as Harmanpreet didn’t hear the hooting and stood there for a long time. But in the second chance he fluffed and Vanasch intervened.

Although Tom Boon missed many chances during the game, he easily rounded Mohith to give Belgium the lead. Sukhjeet was up next and Vanasch pulled out another stunner to give his side the advantage.

Mohith came to the rescue for the second time as he got out early and Foubert missed his chance. Vanasch almost made another save but Shilanand managed to hold his nerve and get the equaliser.

De Sloover restored the lead with a sensational effort and India were under pressure. But Dilpreet restored parity as India needed a save from Mohith.

But the Indian goalkeeper conceded the penalty, which Hendrickx was able to score.

Abhishek stepped up next and scored to make it 3-3 with Belgium last up. Duvekot managed to hit the wicket and Mohith tried his best to check for the back post.

But the referee recognized the goal and Belgium won.

– The end

Published on:

28 Aug 2026 23:55 IST