India faced yet another setback in the Rourkela leg of the FIH Pro League, suffering a disheartening 2-4 defeat against Belgium on Saturday. This marked their third consecutive loss at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, as Belgium asserted dominance following their previous 3-1 win over India.
The Belgian team took command early in the match, with Alexander Hendrickx leading the charge scoring twice by the 17th minute, alongside goals from Hugo Labouchere and Arthur de Sloover. Although India displayed stronger defense after halftime, with Aditya Lalage and captain Harmanpreet Singh finding the net, the early deficit proved insurmountable.
As Belgium launched a series of relentless attacks, India’s hopes of a comeback were thwarted by their opponents’ solid defense. Despite a valiant effort from Indian goalkeepers Suraj Karkera and Pawan, standout performances by Belgium secured their victory. India will aim to regroup before their upcoming match against Argentina.