India vs Belgium Junior Hockey World Cup Q/F: India beat Belgium 4-3 in penalty shoot-out

India vs Belgium

India vs Belgium Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 HIGHLIGHTS: Two-time champion India will face defending champions Germany in the semifinals

The hosts India continued their unbeaten streak in the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 after beating Belgium 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out in the quarterfinals in Chennai to set their semifinal date with defending champions Germany. India were trailing 0-1 after the end of the first half but they fought back hard in the second half to end the game 2-2 on level terms in the regulation time before stealing the win from Belgium in the shoot-out.

Belgium started the first quarter on a high as they had a shot on target in the first minute of the game itself. They continued the approach, keeping the Indian team on the defence. India found a crack in Belgium’s defence as Manmeet took a straight shot at Belgium’s post, but it was saved as the scoreline remained nil-nil. India then won the first penalty corner of the match in the 10th minute but failed to convert. Belgium then struck the first goal of the match in the 13th minute thanks to Cornez-Massant, who made India concede for the first time in the tournament, to end the first quarter 1-0 in the lead.

India started the second quarter aggressively, creating realistic equaliser chances but were unable to take the final hit. India won another penalty corner in the 25th minute but failed to convert again as Belgium kept their lead alive. India, despite their best efforts, were unable to find the equaliser as Belgium walked out of the turf at half-time still leading 1-0. 

Belgium took control of the ball early in the third quarter, but India started to find possession midway through and finally won their third penalty corner of the match in the 39th minute. However, just like the first two attempts, they failed to convert once more as Belgium’s lead stayed in place. India won the fourth penalty corner of the match in the 45th minute, but this time skipper Rohit delivered to end the third quarter tied 1-1 with Belgium. 

Belgium, just like in the third quarter, took early control in the fourth quarter and won their fifth penalty corner of the match, but India defended well to keep the score level at 1-1. Then India won their fifth penalty corner of the match and Sharda Nand Tiwari converted with ease to finally put India in a 2-1 lead. Belgium then pulled off a stunner in the 59th minute to level the score 2-2 and send the match to a penalty shoot-out. 

In the shoot-out, India’s Sharda Nand Tiwari and goalkeeper Princedeep led from the front to hand India a 4-3 win and take the hosts into the semifinals.