A rare incident occurred in the Japan-Korea match when the Japanese were found playing with 12 players instead of 11 in the last moments of the game. The FIH officials, who could not spot this situation on the moment, later confirmed it. The FIH officials also spoke to the Japan team who explained that they had not realised the occurance of such an incident and expressed their most sincere apologies.

In the second match of the day, Victor Wegnez helped Belgium avoid defeat by scoring their second goal in the 54th minute. Though the Red Lions were first to take the lead through a field goal by Cedric Charlier in the ninth minute, Germany fought back to take a 2-1 lead with Niklas Wellen scoring a field goal in the 22nd minute and Tom Gram busch converting a penalty stroke in the 52nd minute.

German forward Wellen, who became a first-time parent midway through the game against Belgium, was awarded as the Player of the Match. But his teammates adjudged him as the Daddy of the Game.

RESULTS (17 January 2023):

Match 15 (Pool-B, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar): South Korea (Jungjun Lee 8-FG, 23-FG) beat Japan (Ken Nagayoshi 1-PC) 2-1. PoM: Jungjun Lee.

Match 16 (Pool-B, Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar): Belgium (Cedric Charlier 9-FG, Victor Wegnez 54-FG) drew with Germany (Niklas Wellen 22-FG, Tom Grambusch 52-PS) 2-2. PoM: Niklas Wellen.
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TOP: German forward Niklas Wellen in action during their World Cup match against Belgium in Bhubaneswar on 17 January 2023.
RIGHT: Korea player Jungjun Lee is congratulated by teammates after he scored a goal in their World Cup match against Japan in Bhubaneswar on 17 January 2023.