Antwerp (Belgium): The Indian men's hockey team performed much better than its previous match as both the teams were tied 2-2 at the stipulated time in the FIH Pro League, after which they lost to the defending Olympic champions Belgium in the shootout. . Saturday.

India, ranked sixth in the world, lost 1-3 in the shootout and took one point. World number three Belgium secured two points, including a bonus point for winning the shootout.

Arajit Singh Hundal gave India the lead with a brilliant field goal in the 11th minute, but Felix Denayer (30th minute) equalized from a penalty corner seconds before half-time.

Florent Van Aubel put Belgium ahead for the first time by converting a penalty corner in the 50th minute, but Sukhjit Singh (57th) equalized the score three minutes before the end of the stipulated time.

Only Sukhjit Singh scored for India in the shootout while Vivek Sagar Prasad Abhishek and Arijit Singh Hundal missed.

For Belgium, William Ghislain, Florent Van Aubel and Gauthier Bocard scored the goals, while Arthur de Slover missed.

India had lost 1-4 to the same opponents in their first match on Friday. Earlier, the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian team had defeated Argentina 5-4 in the shootout on Wednesday.

India will play Argentina again on Sunday.