~Alexander Hendrickx, Hugo Labouchere and Arthur de Sloover secure victory for Belgium, while Captain Harmanpreet Singh and Aditya Lalage score for India~
Rourkela, February 14, 2026: India suffered a 4-2 defeat to Belgium in the Rourkela leg of the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-2026 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Saturday. This was the second meeting between the two teams in this stage, with Belgium having won the earlier match 3–1. Alexander Hendrickx (14′, 17′) led the visitors with a brace, supported by goals from Hugo Labouchere (11′) and Arthur de Sloover (15′). India showed improved defensive character in the second half by keeping a clean sheet, but goals from Aditya Lalage (24′) and captain Harmanpreet Singh (37′) were not enough to overturn the early deficit.
Belgium initiated the procedure and immediately imposed controls. While Indian Hardik Singh excited the crowd with an early forward run, the hosts struggled to test the Belgian defense. India thought they had taken the lead in the 7th minute, but the goal was disallowed. Belgium quickly capitalized on their momentum and earned their first penalty corner in the 11th minute, which Labouchere successfully converted. The pressure continued and in the 14th minute Hendrickx doubled the lead with a powerful drag move from a new penalty corner. Despite Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera making a crucial foot save moments later, Belgium struck again in the final minute of the quarter. By opting for a variation on their third penalty corner, a series of short passes ensured that De Sloover made it 3-0.
Belgium continued where it left off in the second quarter. Hendrickx earned their fourth penalty corner in the 17th minute and made no mistake with his drag move to extend the lead to 4-0. Desperate for a response, India moved on. The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when Abhishek dribbled past the Belgian defense and fired a shot. Although goalkeeper Loic Van Doren made the first save, Aditya Lalage expertly poached the rebound to pull one back, making it 4-1. Belgium earned a fifth penalty corner in the final moments of the half, but the goal went wide.
In the third quarter the battle was more balanced. In the 36th minute, the Indian defense successfully avoided Belgium’s sixth penalty corner. Moments later, a brilliant run by Sukhjeet Singh gave India its own penalty corner. Captain Harmanpreet Singh stepped up and used the opportunity masterfully in the 37th minute, scoring his first goal of the 2025/26 season to reduce the deficit to 4-2. The teams went head-to-head for the rest of the quarter. Karkera made a solid save against another Belgian penalty corner, and Van Doren denied Harmanpreet’s strike from India’s second penalty corner in the 44th minute.
India started the final quarter brightly and almost made it 4-3, but Van Doren produced a brilliant save to deny them. Two minutes later, Indian goalkeeper Pawan was on his feet to thwart a dangerous Belgian attack. With the clock ticking down, Belgium switched to an ultra-aggressive approach to close out the match. Pawan made a huge double save in the 56th minute to keep India’s hopes alive, but despite their efforts to find space in the final two minutes, the determined Belgian defense held firm to secure the win.
India will play their last match of the Rourkela leg against Argentina tomorrow at 7:30 PM IST.
All India matches of FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-26 Rourkela match will be telecast on Star Sports Khel and JioHotstar while other matches will be streamed live on Jio Hotstar.