DOHA: Alexander Hendrickx scored three goals as world champions Belgium overcame India 5-2 in the men’s hockey semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday.
India will face off against either Australia or Germany in the Men’s Hockey Bronze medal match.
Hendrickx had earlier got things back on level terms, scoring a thunderous dragflick to level the scores in the 2nd quarter.
The Indians started well and looked to keep up the good work, but lost the tempo slightly in the last quarter and that is where the boys from Belgium capitalised.
In the first couple of minutes, Belgium took a lead as Luick Luypaert struck from an early penalty corner to give Belgium the lead.
India bounced back as Harmanpreet Singh equalised with a dragflick on a penalty corner, followed by a fantastic tomahawk hit from Mandeep Singh that gave the coach Graham Reid side.
A 5-2 scoreline in the end doesn’t reflect how close this game was, especially in the first half. But it does reflect who the better team was.
But it’s not all over for India. A bronze medal match beckons with either Germany or Australia. They’ll have to pick up from here and get back out roaring in a couple of days. A medal, irrespective of the colour, will be massive.
