High hopes of India men hockey team to win gold or silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics proved in vain as they lost to Belgium 2-5 in the first semifinal match at Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo today. Leading 2-1 at the end of first quarter, India conceded one goal in the second quarter and three in the last to suffer the huge defeat.

However, the Indian team still has an opportunity to win the bronze medal if they beat Germany in the third-place match on August 5. World champions and Rio Olympics silver medallist Belgium will meet Australia in the final also on August 5. Australia reached the final, defeating Germany 3-1 in the second semifinal today.

Drag-flick specialist Alexander Hendrickx scored a hat-trick to power Belgium to the thumping win over India. With the three goals today (19-PC, 49-PC, 53-PS), Hendrickx further consolidated his position as the top scorer of the tournament with 14 goals to his name till date.

Belgium took an early lead with Loick Luypaert converting a penalty corner in the second minute. But playing attacking hockey, India bounced back, scoring twice within two minutes. After Harmanpreet Singh equalised, converting a penalty corner in the seventh minute, Mandeep Singh scored a field goal in the ninth minute to give India a 2-1 lead.

After trailing 2-4, India made a desparate move in the last quarter by replacing goalkeeper PR Sreejesh with an outfield player. But the gamble, which left the Indian goalpost unguarded, backfired as John-John Dohman scored a field goal in the 60th minute to clinch the emphatic win for Belgium.

The day for India at Tokyo Olympics proved to be full of failures. Following the defeat of men hockey team, woman wrestler Sonam Malik, javelin thrower Annu Rani and shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor either lost in respective events or put up forgettable performances.
Sonam, the youngest Indian freestyle wrestler in the fray, crashed out in the first in the women 62kg category lost to Bolortuya Khurelkhuu 2-2 on criteria as the Mongolian equalised with a takedown in the last minute.

Tajinderpal and javelin Annu Rani failed to make it past the qualification round. Tajinderpal, who had been nursing a wrist injury, threw 19.99m in his first attempt, which was his only clean one in three attempts, and finished 13th out of 16 athletes in Group A. He finished 24th overall.

Annu Rani finished 29th overall, throwing the javelin to 50.35m and 53.19m in her first two attempts before managing a best of 54.04m. She was nearly 10m short of her personal best of 63.24m, and the automatic qualification mark was 63m.
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PHOTO: Heart-broken Indian players after losing their semifinal match against Belgium on 3 August, 2021.