India Vs Belgium Highlights, FIH Hockey Pro League: BEL Clinch 4-2 Win To Complete Rourkela Double Over IND

Hello and welcome to our live blog for India Vs Belgium – stay tuned for all the latest updates.

Fans can catch India’s FIH Pro League 2025-26 matches live on JioHotsar, while Star Sports Khel will broadcast all the action on television across India.

India are rocking their traditional blue kits today, while Belgium are in all-white, looking crisp and sharp. The stands are packed, Rourkela has turned up in full force, loud and proud, hoping to cheer their team to better memories after the heartbreak of the first two games this week.

The national anthems are done, goosebumps all around, and, we are officially underway. The first ball is in play, and the battle for dominance begins. The energy here is electric, India need a strong start to set the tone.

Early minutes and India are holding their own. The ball is moving fast, quick passes, sharp rotations, they’re probing, looking for that perfect opening into the circle. Belgium are organized at the back, though, and so far, no real clear-cut chance. Still, the energy from the crowd is infectious, India smelling that first breakthrough.

Ten minutes in, and India have looked the sharper side. The intent is clear, quick transitions, confident carries through midfield, and real urgency in those circle entries. This is exactly the kind of start Craig Fulton would’ve demanded after the tough week they’ve had.

But dominance means little without a finish. The final touch is still missing, and against a side like Belgium, that can come back to bite. You just know the visitors won’t stay quiet for long, they’ll settle, tighten up, and start pushing back.

India have set the tone. Now they need the reward.

And there it is. Just as we spoke about Belgium finding their moment, they win their first penalty corner of the night. Clinical sides don’t need many invitations.

The injection is clean, the stop is steady, and Hugo Labouchere steps up. What a drag-flick. Thundered high with precision and power. Suraj Karkera stretches, but it’s flying past him before he can react. No chance.

Belgium strike with their first real opportunity, and suddenly India are trailing despite the bright start. That’s the difference at this level, one chance, one goal. Now the response becomes crucial.

Oh this is ruthless. Belgium win another penalty corner, and you just know what’s coming.

Alexander Hendrickx steps up, one of the deadliest drag-flickers in world hockey, and he does not disappoint. The strike is fierce, arrowing into the net with brutal precision. Suraj Karkera barely has time to set himself before it’s past him.

Two penalty corners. Two goals. Belgium have flipped this game on its head in a matter of minutes. India started brightly, but now they’re staring at a mountain. The response has to come fast, because Belgium are smelling blood.

It’s another blow for India. Belgium win yet another penalty corner, the first trap goes wrong, but Arthur de Sloover reacts quickest, pouncing on the loose ball and slotting it home. Three goals in a flash, all from set-pieces, and the visitors are running riot. Rourkela has fallen silent, India are staring at another long night unless they find an immediate response.

What a brutal swing that first quarter turned out to be. India actually began brightly and even thought they had edged ahead at one point, only for it to be ruled out. That early spark faded quickly once Belgium found their rhythm. Three clinical penalty-corner strikes later, the visitors are firmly in control.

Suraj Karkera will feel he could’ve done better with at least one of those efforts, and at 0-3 after 15 minutes, India are staring at another uphill battle. The response in the second quarter has to be immediate, because right now, Belgium look ruthless.

Barely a minute into the second quarter and it’s déjà vu. Sloppy defending gifts Belgium yet another penalty corner, and at this point, you just know how dangerous that is.

They were three from three. Make that four. Alexander Hendrickx steps up again and sends a vicious drag-flick screaming toward Pawan’s right. Precision, power, no mercy. Four penalty corners. Four goals. Belgium aren’t just dominating, they’re dismantling India piece by piece.

Finally, something for the home crowd to roar about!

Abhishek shows brilliant composure inside the circle, holds off the defender, sells a clever dummy, and unleashes a sharp shot. The Belgian goalkeeper makes the initial save, but the danger isn’t cleared. Chaos in the goalmouth, sticks flying, bodies scrambling, and Aditya reacts quickest, stabbing it home from point-blank range.

That’s much better from India. A reward for persistence, and maybe, just maybe, the spark they desperately needed.

The hooter sounds, and India head into the break with plenty to think about. It was a nightmare first quarter, Belgium clinical from penalty corners, punishing every defensive lapse to race to a commanding lead.

But that late spark from Aditya has at least given the crowd something to cling to. India showed urgency in patches, especially going forward, yet defensively they’ve been exposed far too easily.

The second half now becomes a test of character. Do India come out swinging, or does Belgium tighten their grip? The next 30 minutes will tell us everything.

Another penalty corner for Belgium and once again Alexander Hendrickx lines it up. This time he goes low and straight, but Sooraj is ready. Solid stick down, sharp reflex, and he blocks it cleanly.

Belgium scramble for the rebound, but India react quickly, clear their lines, and win the free hit. That’s much better, a rare defensive win tonight, and one that might just lift the energy a little.

There it is, the skipper steps up. Harmanpreet Singh gets his first goal of the tournament, and he makes it count. It hasn’t been the smoothest stretch for him over the past three games, but give him one clean look from a penalty corner and he delivers. Trademark power. No hesitation.

Big credit to Sukhjeet for winning the PC in the first place, that burst into the circle forced the error and gave India the opportunity they needed.

Now it’s 2-4. Two goals the difference. The crowd is alive again. The question is simple, do India have another surge in them?

Final quarter. Fifteen minutes left for India to turn this around, and they waste no time.

Abhishek threads a clever pass into the circle, perfectly weighted, and Hundal gets his stick to it, trying to steer it past the onrushing goalkeeper. For a split second, Rourkela rises, but the Belgian keeper pulls off a sharp save to deny him.

That’s the urgency India need. The intent is there. Now it’s about finishing. The clock is ticking.

That’s a wrap from Rourkela. Belgium take the win, India show late fight, but the early damage proves decisive.

We’ll be back with another live blog soon, until then, take care and see you next time.