India’s dream of winning a ninth Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey failed within 15 minutes when they lost a hard-fought semi-final to world champions Belgium 5-2 on Monday at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo. India’s inspired run to the first semifinals in 49 years raised hopes of a billion at home, but they finished second in the Tokyo Olympics semifinals.
Tokyo 2020: India 2-5 Belgium, highlights in the men’s hockey semifinals
Manpreet Singh’s men kept the game in balance as it was a 2-2 draw in the 3rd quarter. But a spate of unfortunate events led them to lose the initiative when Belgium number 2 in the world, currently considered one of the toughest teams in world hockey, scored two goals to crush India’s hopes.
A hat trick by the dreaded drag flicker Alexander Hendrick, two of them in the last quarter, sealed the deal for Belgium with a place in the final. Hamanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh scored for India, but it was not enough as Belgium benefited from rainy penalty corners in Tokyo.
India would always pay the price to collect up to 14 penalty corners, which simply wouldn’t make the cut against Belgium, which has a glowing and world-class drag flicker in Hendricxx. Belgium only had to convert 3 of its 14 penalty corners and for India the text was on the wall.
A green card to captain Manpreet in the final quarter made things worse for India as Belgium exerted intense and relentless pressure to score 3 crucial goals in the last 15 minutes.
#IND lost the semifinals to #KIND from 2-5. ??
They are still in the medal hunt since they are in the #Bronze Medal game. # Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | # Stronger together | #Ice Hockey
– # Tokyo2020 for India (@ Tokyo2020hi) August 3, 2021
India reacts after conceding an early goal
World champion Belgium got off to a flying start and took the lead in the second minute. Alexander Hendricxx wasn’t on the field but Belgium converted their penalty corner when Loick Lupayert shot him past PR Sreejesh.
But India showed a character that has shaped them throughout this season as they responded brilliantly and turned their first penalty corner in the 7th minute. Harmanpreet Singh, one of India’s fine smugglers, was there when he put him in the post.
India looked charged after this equalization and took the lead, stunned Belgium, which was in second place in the world rankings. Amit Rohidas brought the ball from the flank into the circle and Mandeep Singh brought India with a spectacular finish to 2-1 lead from a field goal.
It was Mandeep’s first goal of the tournament and the Indian star found the perfect time to score it.
India seemed to be the dominant team in the first quarter, but everything changed in the second quarter when Belgium kept winning short corners at a trot. Hendricxx inevitably converted one, this time in the 19th minute and equalized for Belgium.
India’s defense was up to date and players like Amit Rohidas did a good job first. Sumit showed class behind, but India took up to 7 penalty corners in the first 3 quarters.
The pace slowed after the first two quarters on a hot and humid day in Tokyo, as both teams were in the third
India, number 3 in the world, has shown the world that they are here to win, not just make up the numbers. After a series of heartaches over the past few years, the men of Manpreet Singh at the Tokyo Olympics have grown to take this opportunity.
They started their campaign with a dominant 3-1 win over New Zealand but suffered a devastating 7-1 defeat, their biggest defeat in Olympic history against Australia.
However, India recovered from the setback and showed tremendous courage to win the next 3 games and finish 2nd in Pool A with 4 wins in 5 games.
The Men in Blue ended a 49-year wait for the semi-finals with a dominant 3-1 win over Great Britain. Unlike some other teams, India has found different heroes for different games and kept hopes of a billion alive until Tuesday.
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