FIH Men’s Pro League 2025–26: Belgium beat India 4–2 in Rourkela rematch

India went down 4–2 to Belgium in their second meeting of the Rourkela leg of the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025–26 on Saturday at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. After winning the earlier fixture 3–1, Belgium once again proved clinical, with Alexander Hendrickx scoring a brace while Hugo Labouchere and Arthur de Sloover added one each. For India, Aditya Lalage and captain Harmanpreet Singh found the net.

Belgium started with intent and quickly took control of the tempo. India had a brief moment of excitement when Hardik Singh surged forward early on, but clear chances were hard to come by. The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the seventh minute, only for the goal to be disallowed.

Belgium capitalised soon after. In the 11th minute, they earned their first penalty corner, and Hugo Labouchere made no mistake. The pressure continued as Alexander Hendrickx doubled the lead in the 14th minute with a powerful drag flick from another penalty corner. Despite a crucial save from Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera, Belgium struck again at the end of the first quarter. A clever variation from a penalty corner allowed Arthur de Sloover to make it 3–0.

The visitors carried the momentum into the second quarter. In the 17th minute, Hendrickx converted his second drag flick of the match to stretch the lead to 4–0. India needed a response, and it came in the 24th minute. Abhishek made a brilliant run into the circle and forced a save from goalkeeper Loic Van Doren, but Aditya Lalage reacted quickest to slot in the rebound and reduce the deficit.

Belgium earned another penalty corner late in the half, but the effort went off target, leaving the score at 4–1 at the break.

The third quarter was far more balanced. India defended strongly, clearing Belgium’s sixth penalty corner in the 36th minute. Soon after, a determined run from Sukhjeet Singh earned India a penalty corner. Captain Harmanpreet Singh stepped up and converted with authority in the 37th minute, scoring his first goal of the 2025–26 season to make it 4–2.

Both teams continued to trade chances. Karkera produced another solid save, while Van Doren denied Harmanpreet’s effort from India’s second penalty corner in the 44th minute.

India pushed hard in the final quarter and nearly made it 4–3, but Van Doren pulled off a superb save. At the other end, goalkeeper Pawan produced a double save in the 56th minute to keep India in the contest. However, Belgium’s disciplined defence held firm in the closing minutes to seal a 4–2 victory.

Despite a spirited second-half performance, India were undone by Belgium’s early penalty-corner efficiency, as the visitors completed a double over the hosts in the Rourkela leg.