Heartbreak in Wavre: India Fall to Belgium in Shootout, End Hockey World Cup 8th
What Happened
India's men's hockey team signed off from the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup with an eighth-place finish, losing 4-3 in a shootout to co-hosts Belgium after a thrilling 3-3 draw in regulation time. Abhishek gave India an early lead, while captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice, including a last-minute equaliser that forced the match into a shootout. Belgium held their nerve in the decider to seal seventh place.
Key Takeaways
Despite showing resilience and coming back twice in the match, India's World Cup campaign ended without a top-six finish. Harmanpreet Singh finished the tournament among the leading scorers with eight goals, but the narrow shootout defeat capped a disappointing campaign for the Indian side.