Defeat in hockey, but medal dream is alive
Tokyo: The Indian men’s hockey team’s dream of an Olympic gold after 41 years remained unfulfilled as it lost 2-5 to world champions Belgium in the last-four stage but the side is still in the hunt for a bronze in the Tokyo Games.
Manpreet Singh’s men will get a second and last shot at finishing on the podium on Thursday when they take on Germanythe other losing semifinalist, in the bronze play-off.
Tokyo, Aug. 3: The Indian men’s hockey team’s dream of an Olympic gold after 41 years remained unfulfilled as they lost 2-5 to world champions Belgium in the Last four stage but the side is still in the hunt for a bronze in the Tokyo Games here on Tuesday.
Alexander Hendrickx (19th, 49th, 53rd minutes), the tournament’s highest goal getter, scored a hattrick while Loick Luypaert (2nd minute) and John-John Dohmen (60th) also struck to hand the reigning silver-medallists their second successive entry into the final of the Olympics.
India’s goals came from the sticks of Harmanpreet Singh (7th) and Mandeep Singh (8th).
India’s last appearance in the final of the Olympics came way back in 1980 Moscow Games, where they went on to win their last of the eight gold medals.
The Indians had only themselves to blame for Tuesday’s disappointment as Belgium’s all four goals came from penalty corners.
The Indian defence was put under relentless pressure by the Belgians as they secured as many as 14 penalty corners out of which they converted four.
Belgium’s game plan was clear from the onset as they tried to enter the Indian circle and earn penalty corners with Hendrickx and Luypaert in their ranks.
The ploy worked to perfection as the Indian defence wilted under pressure to concede the set pieces. India too earned five penalty corners in the
match but could make use of just one.
The Indians still have a chance to secure an elusive medal from the Olympics as they will feature in the bronze medal match on Thursday against the losing team from the second semifinal between Australia and Germany later in the day.
The Indians started slowly as Belgium had the initial burst of the match, controlling the proceedings for the first five minutes which also yielded them a goal.
Belgium scored from their first attack, earning a penalty corner which
was converted by Luypaert with a powerful flick in the second minute.
The Indians came back strongly and changed the course of the match in a span of two minutes with two goals. India secured two penalty corners in the seventh minute, the second of which was beautifully converted by Harmanpreet for his fifth goal of the tournament.
A minute later, Mandeep gave India the lead with a fine field goal.
Mandeep beautifully received a Amit Rohidas cross from the right, turned over and found the back of the net with a
fierce reverse hit past Vincent Vanasch in front of the Belgium goal.
Trailing by a goal, the Red Lions came out stronger in the second quarter and pressed hard on the Indian defence which wilted under pressure, conceding as many as four penalty corners, the last of which was converted by Hendrickx to level the scores.
Minutes later Sreejesh pulled of a reflex save to deny Dockier.
Belgium secured their sixth penalty corner of the match soon but it was well defended by the Indians. —