The Hindu: Belgium dashes India’s dream

Belgium scripted history as it progressed to the semifinals of the Olympics after a gap of 96 years.

A lacklustre India squandered a one-goal advantage to go down 3-1 to Belgium in the quarterfinals and crashed out of the men’s hockey competition here on Sunday.

Eight-time gold medallist India, thus, blew away a great opportunity to create history after a hiatus of 36 years to climb the medal podium.

Belgium, on the other hand, scripted history as it progressed to the semifinals of the Olympics after a gap of 96 years.

Having topped Pool A, Belgium was the favourite to win the encounter and it played like a champion dominating the proceedings for most part of the game barring a few minutes in the second quarter after India took the lead late in the first quarter.

India, on the other hand, looked completely out of sorts as it played catch-up hockey.

Earlier in the day, Argentina defeated Spain 2-1 to book its place in the semifinals.

The results:

Quarterfinals: Belgium 3 (Sebastien Dockier 34, 45; Tom Boon 50) bt India 1 (Akashdeep Singh 15).

Argentina 2 (Gonzalo Peillat 15, Juan Gilardi 59) bt Spain 1 (56).