The Indian men’s hockey team’s lost 2-5 to Belgium in the semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday. India, who were looking to enter the final after 41 years, will now feature in the bronze medal playoff on Thursday. 

Tournament
top-scorer Alexander Hendrickx (19’, 49’, 53’) scored a hattrick while Loick
Luypaert (2’) and John-John Dohmen (60’) also scored to give the world
champions their second consecutive Olympic final berth.

Harmanpreet
Singh (7’) and Mandeep Singh (9’) were the scorers for India.

India were
sloppy in defence as the Belgians forced 14 penalty corners, converting from four
of them. It was part of the Belgium tactics for the match, as from the very
onset, they tried to penetrate the circle and win PCs.

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The plans
clicked on the day as India wilted under pressure to concede the dangerous set pieces.

Meanwhile, India
earned a total of five penalty corners but could convert from only one, with
drag-flick specialist Harmanpreet Singh scoring to bring India back on terms. This
was Harmanpreet’s fifth goal of the tournament.

The Indians
started slowly as the Belgians came bursting off the blocks, controlling the
proceedings in the initial stages and snatching a lead within the first two minutes.
However, the Indians responded in kind, changing the outlook of the match within
minutes.

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India
secured two penalty corners in the seventh minute, the second of which was
executed to perfection by Harmanpreet, before Mandeep scored a field goal to
give India the lead two minutes later.

After receiving
a cross from Amit Rohidas from the right, Mandeep turned over and scored with a
reverse hit.

India had
another chance to take the lead in the 38th minute, earning a
penalty corner, but Rupinder Pal Singh’s shot was saved by Belgian keeper
Vincent Vanasch.

The Belgians
came back stronger in the second quarter, winning four penalty corners, the last
of which was converted by Hendrickx to equalise. The Red Lions were the dominant
team in the second half, scoring thrice to snuff out India’s hopes of a first
final in 41 years and dreams of a ninth Olympic gold.

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The last time India appeared in the final of an Olympics was in the 1980 Moscow Games. In that tournament, India had won the gold medal, their 8th in field hockey. 

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.