World Junior Hockey Women’s World Cup: India loses 3-2 to Belgium

Annu’s support was in vain as India lost 2-3 to Belgium in a closely contested Pool C match and slumped to their second successive defeat in the FIH Junior World Cup.

Santiago, December 2: The Indian women’s team came back from a two-goal deficit to suffer a narrow 3-2 defeat to Belgium in their third and final preparatory league match at the 2023 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup on Saturday.

Annu (47′, 51′) scored a brace for India after Noa Schreurs (5′) and France De Mot (42′) had given Belgium the lead. Astrid Bonami scored the winner in the 52nd minute and Belgium withstood some strong attacks from the Indian girls in the hard-fought encounter.

India quickly established a passing rhythm and applied pressing play to put pressure on Belgium. Despite securing an early penalty corner, India could not convert it into a goal.

However, Belgium not only defended strongly to deny India an early lead, but also launched counter-attacks. This strategy paid off when Noa Schreurs (5′) scored a remarkable field goal, giving Belgium an early lead.

With the score in their favor, Belgium piled on the pressure by making frequent inroads into the circle, limiting India’s chances of equalizing in the opening quarter, which ended with Belgium leading 1–0.

Determined to turn the tide, India adopted an aggressive stance in the second quarter, emphasizing possession. Nevertheless, Belgium’s steadfast defense thwarted India’s attempts, maintaining a 1–0 lead at half-time, while the second quarter ended goalless.

Eager to maintain their lead, Belgium preferred possession in the third quarter as they consistently pushed into the Indian circle. Despite their efforts, a remarkable save from Khushboo denied Belgium the lead.

However, Belgium finally broke through when France De Mot (42′) expertly converted a penalty corner and doubled the lead. The penultimate quarter ended 2-0 in favor of Belgium.

In the final quarter, India immediately launched an offensive, leading to their first goal of the match from Annu (47′) from a penalty corner, reducing the deficit.

Buoyed by this breakthrough, India intensified their attacks, resulting in a crucial penalty ball which Annu (51′) calmly converted, leveling the score. But moments later, Belgium was also awarded a penalty, which was shot past the Indian goalkeeper by Astrid Bonami (52′) to give her team the lead again.

Hoping to find the equalizer again, India attacked relentlessly and tried their best to break through the Belgian defense but were unable to do so, eventually succumbing to a 3-2 defeat.

As per the current rankings in Pool C, India are second on the points table with three points from as many matches and a better goal difference than Germany in third place, who have three points from two matches.