India faces Belgium in hockey double clash

Antwerp

India’s men’s and women’s hockey teams are set to face Belgium in key matches of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 on June 21 (today) and 22. Both teams aim to finish strong as they face one of their toughest rivals on European soil.

The Indian men’s team has had a tough run, losing six matches in a row. Hopes of a top-three finish and a World Cup berth now seem out of reach, with India slipping to eighth place in the standings. Their next opponent, Belgium, currently holds third place after a recent 6-3 win over Spain.

Vice-captain Hardik Singh admitted that results have been disappointing. “It hurts more when you play well but don’t get the result. We want to finish the tournament on a positive note with two good games,” he said. He emphasized better defence and scoring chances as the team’s focus.

India and Belgium share a strong hockey rivalry, often pushing each other to perform at their best. A win in either match would boost the team’s morale.

Meanwhile, the women’s team is preparing to face world No. 3 Belgium. Captain Salima Tete said the team learned valuable lessons from recent close games, especially a tough 1-4 loss to Argentina. “We’re taking forward the learnings to challenge Belgium,” she said.

The women’s team hopes to improve on last year’s performance, where they made Belgium work hard for every win. As both Indian teams gear up for their final Pro League fixtures, fans hope they’ll end their campaigns with a strong fight.