FIH Pro League: Indian men's hockey team lose shootout after improved display leads to 2-2 draw against Belgium

The Indian men’s hockey team suffered a defeat against Belgium in a penalty shootout despite an impressive fightback to hold the Olympic champions to a 2-2 draw during their FIH Pro League European leg encounter in Antwerp on Saturday.

The sixth-ranked Indian team ended up collecting a solitary point following a 1-3 defeat in the shootout against world No 3 Belgium, who collected two points including the bonus point for winning the shootout.

Araijeet Singh Hundal put India in the lead in the 11th minute with a fine field goal before Felix Denayer (30th minute) restored parity just a few seconds before half time off a penalty corner.

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Florent Van Aubel put Belgium ahead for the first time in the match with a 50th minute goal from a penalty corner but Sukhjeet Singh (57th) equalised three minutes before the end of regulation time.

In the shootout, only Sukhjeet Singh scored for India while Vivek Sagar Prasad, Abhishek and Araijeet Singh Hundal missed.

For Belgium, William Ghislain, Florent Van Aubel and Gauthier Boccard found the target while Arthur De Sloover missed.

India had lost to the same opponents 1-4 in their earlier match on Friday. Before that, the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian side had defeated Argentina 5-4 in the shootout on Wednesday.

India play Argentina again on Sunday.