India Lose 1-2 to Belgium in Hockey Champions Trophy

India succumbed to their first loss in the 2016 Champions Trophy, going down 1-2 in a tightly fought game against Belgium in London on Monday.

Alexander Hendrickx converted a penalty corner in the 25th minute and India equalised through Devender Walmiki five minutes later, but Jerome Truyens won the day for the Belgians through his field goal in the 44th.

Just when it seemed that a Red Lions victory was on the cards, Die Honamas hit back with two goals in three minutes with Miltkau grabbing his second before Oli Korn secured a second successive draw for his team.

Playing deep inside their own territory in the first quarter against the early British raids, the Indians scored through Mandeep Singh on their first raid by Sunil in the 17th minute.

On Friday: Korea 2 bt Belgium 0; Great Britain 0 drew with Australia 0.

This was the first win for Belgium in three outings.

The ball trickled over the goalline between Sreejesh’s pads.

Alexandre de Paeuw’s strike was followed by a superb individual effort from Florent van Aubel, who ensured his 150th worldwide appearance was one to remember. “They have given me a nice surprise”, said Oltmans, who has rested several senior players with the aim of providing top-quality exposure to the juniors before picking the Indian side for the Olympic Games.

GB fought back to bring themselves back into the contest, with Simon Mantell stinging the goalkeeper’s gloves with a shot on the turn, before Ashley Jackson’s drag flick from a penalty corner was well saved on the stroke of half-time.

Goals from Mandeep Singh (26th minute) and Harmanpreet Singh (32nd) gave India a 3-1 lead, but Germany forced a series of penalty corners against a shaky Indian defence. Belgium looked the best team on the park in the initial minutes as they snatched their first penalty corner in the opening minute.

Both the teams tried hard to take the lead and it was the Belgians who regained the lead in the 44th minute in another mistake from Sreejesh.

In the second match, world champions Australia bounced back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Olympic champions and Champions Trophy holders Germany 4-3.