But the Thomas Briels-led Belgium team, which had won the World Cup here last year and claimed Kalinga Stadium as their `second home venue’, restored parity when Gauthier Boccard converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute.

Though Belgium created more opportunities in the 60-minute game, India emerged winners due to their spirited performance both in defence and attack. Belgium won as many as 12 penalty corners but converted just one. On the other hand, India converted one out of three PCs that came their way. Ramandeep scored from their second penalty corner, taken by drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh in the 33rd minute.

India goalkeepers Pathak and Sreejesh were outsanding today with the former making exceptional saves in the first and third quarters and the latter doing so in the second and fourth periods. Pathak was rewarded with the award as Player of the Match. India midfielder Raj Kumar Pal maed his senior international debut in this game.


The defeat was the of the season for Belgium, who, however maintained their place at the top of the table with 11 points from five matches. One other hand, India moved up to the second place with eight points from three games.
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TOP: Indian players celebrate after beating world champions Belgium in Bhubaneswar on 8 February, 2020.
RIGHT: India goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak receives the Player of the Match prize from FIH president Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra in Bhubaneswar on 8 February, 2020.