It was a lionhearted performance from the Indians as they went ahead early in the first quarter but were staring down the barrel as the Black Sticks scored once in the second quarter and twice in the third to make it 3-1.
Team India along with Spain and New Zealand have arrived in the city to participate in the tournament. India arrived here one day before Diwali and commenced their training at the Kalinga Stadium. With Chief Coach Graham Reid at the helm, the team looks confident and is leaving no stone unturned to put up a powerful performance.
India fought back brilliantly from a goal deficit twice to hold champion-elect Argentina 3-3 in regulation time of their FIH Hockey Pro League match before claiming a bonus point by beating the Las Leonas 2-1 in the shoot-out
Barbara Nelen (2'), Charlotte Englebert (4'), Abi Raye (19'), Stephanie Vanden Borre (23') and Ambre Ballenghein (36') scored a goal each for the hosts Belgiun.
Speaking ahead of the two-legged tie against hosts Belgium, men's captain Amit Rohidas said, "We've had a successful home leg, and I must say we have gone from strength to strength in the season so far.
The Indian women's team is currently third in the FIH Pro League 2021/22 table with 22 points in eight games.
The 20-member squad includes goalkeepers Suraj Karkera, Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, defenders Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh and Jarmanpreet Singh.
The Netherlands scored through Tessa Beetsma (12th min), Luna Fokke (53rd min) and Jip Dicke (54th min) to book their berth in the final and set themselves up for a shot at winning their third title.
The Indian team has now been awarded six points -- three each for a match -- for the two cancelled games
While the 22-member team list includes new faces in defender Mahima Choudhary and forward Aishwarya Rajesh Chavan, experienced striker Rani Rampal has been named in the probables after a long injury lay-off.
Just like on Saturday, both the teams were locked at 1-1 at the end of the regulation time, leading to the shoot-out.
But India, ranked ninth in the world, responded immediately through a field strike from Jyoti before Neha Goyal stunned the Spaniards in the 52nd minute with another field goal.
Consistency will be key for the Indian men's hockey team when they take on a lower-ranked Spain, while its women counterparts would look to carry on the momentum against same opposition during their respective FIH Pro League campaigns on Saturday.
Hockey India selectors also named five stand-by players -- Rashmita Minz, Akshata Abaso Dhekale, Sonika, Mariana Kujur and Aishwarya Rajesh Chauvan -- for the double-header.
The team, led by Rani Rampal, is all pumped up to give a tough fight to Spain in their upcoming matches
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