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Wavre (Belgium): The Indian men's hockey team's journey in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 ended in eighth place. In the classification match played on Friday at the Belfius Hockey Arena, host and world number-2 team Belgium defeated India 4-3 in the shootout. Till the scheduled time both the teams were tied at 3-3. India took the match to the shootout with the help of Harmanpreet Singh's penalty corner goal in the last 26 seconds of the match, but Belgium won there.

Abhishek gave the initial lead

India started the match on a positive note. Belgium applied aggressive pressure in the initial minutes, but the Indian team gradually found its rhythm by handling the threat. In the sixth minute, Manpreet Singh created a chance and passed a pass to Abhishek Nain from a difficult angle. Abhishek made a strong push, which despite hitting the pads of the Belgian goalkeeper, the ball went into the goal and India took a 1-0 lead.

However, Belgium made a quick comeback in the second quarter. Roman Duvecot equalized the score by scoring a goal in the 22nd minute. Just one minute later, Hugo Labouchere converted a penalty corner to give the host team a 2-1 lead.

Harmanpreet again equalized the score

After the break, India responded strongly. With the help of Rajinder Singh, India won a penalty corner and captain Harmanpreet Singh scored with his powerful drag-flick in the 31st minute to make the score 2-2.

After this Belgium again tried to take the lead. His one goal, scored from a penalty corner, was disallowed after India's referral. The match remained tied till the end of the third quarter.

Belgium ahead again, India made a comeback at the last moment

At the beginning of the last quarter, Belgium once again took the lead. After rising in the air, the ball hit the Indian defender and reached De Kerpel. His shot hit the turf and went out of the reach of Indian goalkeeper Mohit and into the net.

The problems for India increased further when Manpreet Singh had to leave the field after being hit on the face by the ball. With less than three minutes left in the match, India decided to replace goalkeeper Carcera with an extra outfield player.

This bet of India was successful. There were only 26 seconds left for the match to end when India got a penalty corner. Harmanpreet Singh once again sent the ball into the goal with a brilliant drag-flick. With this goal the score became 3-3 and the match went into a shootout.

Belgium won the shootout

In the shootout, Belgium showed better composure under pressure and won 4-3 to take seventh place. India had to be content with eighth place.

For India, Abhishek Nain scored one goal while captain Harmanpreet Singh scored two goals in the stipulated time. Roman Duvequot, Hugo Labouchere and Arthur de Sleuver scored for Belgium.

Harmanpreet becomes joint top scorer with 8 goals

Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored a total of 8 goals in this World Cup. Along with this, he was among the joint highest goalscorers of the tournament along with Argentina's Tomas Domene. However, there was still one day of play left in the competition.

Two Indian players also achieved personal achievements in this match. Defender Amit Rohidas played his 250th international match, while midfielder Rajinder Singh completed his 50th international match.