India signed off from the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 with an eighth-place finish after hosts Belgium edged them 4-3 in a shootout following a pulsating 3-3 draw in the 7th-8th place classification match at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre on Friday.
India had looked set to bow out with a regulation-time defeat before Harmanpreet Singh converted a penalty corner with just 26 seconds remaining to force the shootout. But Belgium held their nerve in the decider to claim seventh place.
Harmanpreet ended the tournament with eight goals, level with Argentina’s Domene at the top of the scoring charts with one day of competition still remaining.
India made a bright start and took the lead in the sixth minute. Manpreet Singh created the opening, finding Abhishek at a tight angle, and the forward’s powerful push was padded away by goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch but ricocheted into his own goal.
Belgium responded strongly, however, and turned the game around in the second quarter.
Roman Duvekot levelled in the 22nd minute after creating space in front of goal and wrong-footing Hardik Singh and Sanjay before beating goalkeeper Mohith HS.
The hosts struck again barely a minute later. After winning a penalty corner, Hugo Labouchere found the net to put Belgium 2-1 ahead.
Belgium had earlier enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure after India were reduced to 10 players when Harmanpreet received a yellow card for an on-field player-number violation. Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera kept his side in the contest with a series of important saves, including two stops from Alexander Hendrickx’s drag-flicks.
India restored parity soon after the interval.
Rajinder Singh helped win a penalty corner and Harmanpreet produced his trademark drag-flick to beat Vanasch and make it 2-2. Belgium challenged the goal, but the video review found no infringement and the equaliser stood.
The hosts thought they had regained the lead through Hendrickx from another penalty corner, but India successfully referred the decision and the goal was ruled out for height.
The game remained level heading into the final quarter, but Belgium regained the lead soon after.
India were dealt another blow when Manpreet was struck in the face by a close-range Labouchere attempt and had to leave the field with a bloody injury.
Belgium then capitalised on an attacking move, with Nicolas de Kerpel collecting the ball after it deflected off an Indian defender before sending a low, bouncing hit past Mohith to make it 3-2.
India struggled to break through Belgium’s compact defence as time ran down. Vanasch produced another crucial save in the 57th minute, denying Abhishek’s reverse hit.
With less than three minutes remaining, India removed Karkera and introduced an additional outfield player in an attempt to force an equaliser.
The gamble paid off.
India won a penalty corner with just 26 seconds on the clock, and Harmanpreet stepped up once again. His drag-flick beat Vanasch to make it 3-3 and send the match into a shootout.
Belgium proved more composed from the spot.
Harmanpreet and Sukhjeet Singh were denied by Vanasch, while Abhishek converted India’s final attempt. Belgium’s Tom Boon, Arthur de Sloover and Alexander Hendrickx scored, before Duvekot converted the decisive attempt despite India’s referral, with goalkeeper Mohith contesting the effort.
The goal stood, handing Belgium a 4-3 shootout victory and seventh place.
For India, the eighth-place finish brought a disappointing end to a campaign that had promised more. Harmanpreet’s eight-goal haul provided a personal highlight, but the team will be left to reflect on the missed opportunities that prevented them from mounting a serious challenge for a semi-final spot.
Belgium, meanwhile, signed off in front of their home crowd with a dramatic victory after a match that had everything — goals, saves, video referrals, injuries and a shootout finish.
(Inputs from Hockey India)
