India Falls to Belgium in Rescheduled Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Match
Ipoh, Malaysia - The Indian men’s hockey team suffered a 3-2 defeat against Belgium in a rescheduled match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025, held at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium on Tuesday after being postponed from Monday due to heavy rain. Despite goals from Abhishek (33′) and Shilanand lakra (57′), India were unable to overcome a determined Belgian side.
Roman Duvekot (17′, 57′) and Nicolas De Kerpel (45′) scored for Belgium, the former Olympic champions. The match saw a strong performance from both goalkeepers, with Pawan of India and his Belgian counterpart both making crucial saves. India, ranked seventh in the world, initially held world No.3 Belgium at bay,weathering early pressure and maintaining a level scoreline through the first quarter.
Belgium took the lead in the second quarter through Duvekot, but India responded early in the third with a goal from Abhishek. Belgium regained the advantage with a penalty corner conversion by De Kerpel, and extended their lead early in the fourth quarter with another goal from Duvekot. Lakra‘s late goal,assisted by Rabichandra Singh,offered a glimmer of hope for India,but a last-minute save from Mohit HS wasn’t enough to secure an equaliser.
The five-time Sultan Azlan Shah Cup winners will next face hosts Malaysia on Wednesday.
