Antwerp (Belgium), July 18(HS): The Indian 'A' men's hockey team suffered a 1-3 loss to Belgium during their European tour at the Sportcentrum WilrijksePlein in Antwerpen, Belgium, with captain Sanjay scoring India's sole goal. Belgium dominated the early match, netting three goals in the first quarter, which pressured India. However, the Indian team regrouped, improved their ball control, and created multiple scoring opportunities.

Coach Shivendra Singh acknowledged the weak start but noted the team's overall performance was commendable, emphasizing better ball positioning and the need for improved finishing. He highlighted the importance of this tour for the players' development against top teams under pressure. Looking ahead, the team will face the world number 1 Netherlands in Eindhoven on July 18 and 20, aiming for better results to conclude their tour positively.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar