Tokyo Olympics: Red Lions dash India’s gold medal hopes

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SLM Desk
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Harmanpreet Singh in action against Belgium. (Source: HI)
Tokyo: India’s hopes to make it to an Olympics final were dashed on Tuesday after they were beaten 2-5 by Belgium in the men’s hockey semifinal at the Oi Hockey Stadium. Leading 2-1 in the first quarter itself, the Men in Blue lost momentum and will now vie for the bronze medal on August 5.
Harmanpreet Singh (7th) and Mandeep Singh (9th) scored for India while Belgium were bolstered by a hat-trick from Alexander Hendrickx (19th, 49th, 53rd), Loick Luyaert (2nd) and John-John Dohmen (60th). Belgium will play either Australia or Germany in the final.

Both teams got off to a blistering start in the first quarter. While there was early pressure from Indian attackers, it was the World Champions who drew first blood through Luypaert courtesy of a stunning goal.

India, however, were quick to respond when they were awarded back-to-back PCs five minutes later. It was Harmanpreet who came up with a perfect drag-flick, scoring his fifth of the tournament. The Men in Blue extended their lead two minutes later when a brilliant assist by Amit Rohidas was picked up beautifully by Mandeep who struck a tomahawk from top of the D.

India could have gone 3-1 up on the 11th minute but Rupinder Pal Singh flick was saved well by Belgian goalie Vincent Vanasch. The Red Lions equalised four minutes into the second quarter when their leading goal scorer Hendrickx did brilliantly to hood-wink Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, sending a powerful flick to the right bottom of the post.

Though India continued to dominate the ball possession in the rest of the quarter and the subsequent one, the Manpreet Singh-led side failed to muster any goal. The third quarter seemed slightly dull compared to the first two quarters that saw tremendous tempo created by both teams who lived up to the billing of being hockey powerhouses of the world.

However, things went against Indian in the final 11 minutes when Manpreet was given a green card. This was when the Belgians won three consecutive PCs. Hendrickx scored off the third attempt to put Belgium ahead 3-2. Under pressure, India gave away three more PCs.

Though Sreejesh and Amit Rohidas were at the heart of India’s PC defence, the third PC for Belgium turned into a penalty stroke. Hendrickx stepped up to convert it and completed his hat-trick. Though India made valiant attempts to push for a goal, a well-structured Belgium defence was too hard to beat for India’s forward-line.

Dohmen put the icing on the cake in the final minute.

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