Rio 2016: Hockey heartbreak
India hockey skipper Sreejesh P.R. walks off the field dejected after their 1-3 loss to Belgium in the men’s quarter-final at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. (Photo: AFP)
India hockey skipper Sreejesh P.R. walks off the field dejected after their 1-3 loss to Belgium in the men’s quarter-final at the Olympic Hockey Centre in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. (Photo: AFP)
It wasn’t going to be easy against the sturdy Belgium, but Sreejesh P.R.’s men knew it was their best chance since 1980 Olympic Games to turn things around for Indian hockey, and perhaps have a shot at history.
In the end though, it was heartbreak and pain as Belgium routed India 3-1 in their quarter-final knockout match as the Men in Blue were left high and dry.
It was a match of two halves as India, who had played inspirational hockey in the tournament and even till the first 30 minutes of the quarter-final clash, led 1-0 against the Red Lions.
The defence stood strong, the strikers made aggressive runs in the Belgian half while the midfield too held its own, till it all fell apart.
Akashdeep Singh’s 15th minute goal was negated by Sebastien Dockier (34th) and Belgium soon came into their own.
India went into the defensive mode and looked panicky, as their opponents brought out their A game to the fore and played with complete control.
The forwardline cut a sorry figure as they hardly created any chances which could be gauged from the fact that India failed to earn a single penalty corner in the entire 60 minutes.
Dockier added another in the 45th minute and forward Tom Boom (50th) made it 3-1, with 10 minutes still left to play. India coach Roelant Oltmans took out goalkeeper Sreejesh to add another forward, but it was too little too late.
Belgium scripted history as they progressed to the semi-finals after a gap of 96 years.