India and Belgium play a hard-fought 7th/8th-place match at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, ending regulation time with a 3-3 draw before Belgium wins the penalty shootout. Across the reports, India takes an early lead through Abhishek Nain and Belgium responds to overturn the score.
All accounts say Harmanpreet Singh becomes central to India’s comeback, scoring twice—first to level the game at 2-2 and then again with a late penalty-corner equaliser to force the shootout. Belgium then edges India in the shootout, described as tense and decided by fine margins, with Belgium’s goalkeeper also playing a decisive role by saving attempts.
In terms of match narrative emphasis, the outlets agree on the result and key scoring turning points but differ in wording: some foreground the heartbreak and “spirited fightback” from India, while others note Belgium’s advantage of playing at home as co-hosts. The final standings reported are consistent: Belgium finishes seventh, and India finishes eighth, ending their respective World Cup campaigns without a medal-round finish.
