India Aims for Consolation Win Against Belgium in FIH Pro League

India's campaign in the ongoing FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 has not been as successful as anticipated. Aiming for a top-three finish and a World Cup qualification spot, the men's team now faces its hockey rival, Belgium, following six consecutive defeats. Belgium, currently ranked third behind the Netherlands and Australia, recently achieved a victory over Spain.

The upcoming double-header on June 21 and 22 pits India's men's and women's teams against Belgium. As the men's team seeks a much-needed consolation win, Hardik Singh acknowledged the disappointing results, emphasizing the importance of introspection and focusing on strong defense. The women, meanwhile, aim to leverage insights from previous close games against Australia and Argentina to secure a triumph in Antwerp against the world number three team.

With India slipping to eighth in the standings, the stakes are high as the teams hope to finish their respective campaigns on a positive note. Both teams emphasize their strategic focus on defense and scoring opportunities, with the men's vice-captain and women's captain confident in their ability to bounce back.

(With inputs from agencies.)