Hockey World Cup 2018: Match between India & Belgium ends with 2-2 draw

Bhubaneswar: The much-awaited Pool C match between India and Belgium of the on-going Hockey World Cup ended in a 2-2 draw at Kalinga stadium here today.

India recovered from a slow start to produce a superb second half performance to hold title contenders Belgium to draw.

Alexander Hendrickx drew first blood for Belgium when he fired a penalty corner through the legs of Indian goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh in the eighth minute.

Harmanpreet Singh scored the equaliser for India off a penalty stroke in the 39th minute before Simranjeet Singh put them in the lead in the 47th.

But Florent van Aubel earned a point for the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallists when he scored Belgium's second goal in the 56th minute.

Earlier, India had thrashed South Africa by 5-0 goals in the opening game of their campaign on November 28 whereas Belgium defeated Canada by 2-1 goals.

(With IANS inputs)