FIH Pro League: Indian women’s hockey team suffers 2nd straight loss to Belgium

FIH Pro League: The Indian women’s hockey team’s European campaign in the FIH Pro League hit a roadblock as they suffered a second consecutive defeat to Belgium, this time going down 1-2 on Saturday. The loss extends their winless streak and adds pressure to their performance in the remaining matches.

FIH Pro League: Fresh Start

Stuttering Performance

The Indian women’s hockey team got off to a rough start in their European leg of the FIH Pro League, suffering a disappointing 0-5 defeat to Argentina. The match, played on May 22nd in Antwerp, Belgium, saw Argentina dominate from the beginning, scoring five goals while the Indian offense struggled to find the net.

Belgium Dominates First Half

Belgium took control early, capitalizing on penalty corners. Ambre Ballenghien opened the scoring in the 14th minute, followed by Vanessa Blockmans in the 20th minute. India found themselves down 0-2 at halftime.

The Indian team displayed some fight in the second half. Kumari Sangita managed to pull one back for India with a field goal in the 34th minute. However, they couldn’t find the equalizer despite efforts in the final quarter. Belgium held on to secure a 1-2 victory.

Here’s a breakdown of the situation:

• New Leadership, Tough Start: The Indian team, under the fresh guidance of coach Harendra Singh and captain Salima Tete, started the European leg with a rough patch. They were earlier thrashed 0-5 by Argentina before facing Belgium.
• Back-to-Back Losses to Belgium: Saturday’s match marked their second straight defeat to Belgium. The Belgians dominated the first half, scoring two goals through penalty corners by Ambre Ballenghien (14th minute) and Vanessa Blockmans (20th minute).
• A Lone Goal for India: The Indian team didn’t go down without a fight. Kumari Sangita pulled one back for India with a field goal in the 34th minute, but they couldn’t find the equalizer in the remaining time.
• Missed Opportunities: While India secured some penalty corners, they couldn’t convert them, unlike Belgium. This proved to be a crucial factor in the outcome.

FIH Pro League: Statistically Speaking

Belgium capitalized on their penalty corner advantage, earning three corners compared to India’s zero. This highlights a potential area for improvement for the Indian team.

This two-match losing streak extends India’s winless run against Belgium to seven games in all international competitions. The team will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming matches in the European leg of the FIH Pro League.

DISCLAIMER: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.