India end runner-up after conceding last minute goal

India,seeking to repeat their Champions Challenge title win of 2001,led 2-0 and again 3-1 before a late rally by Belgium saw them equalise 3-3 and then deliver the knock-out blow in the last minute.

India8217;s goals came through penalty corner strikes from V R Raghunath 23rd minute,Sandeep Singh 39th while Shivendra Singh 53rd minute scored from a fine field goal.

The Belgians came back strongly through Jerome Dekeyser8217;s two outstanding field goals in 45th and 57th minutes,while Gauthier Boccard penetrated the Indian defence with a fine deflection in the 55th minute.

India had several chances of scoring but their strikers were off-mark and often got blocked by a number of Belgian defenders,falling back to crowd the circle.

India were unlucky not to have scored in the third minute when Manpreet Singh8217;s deflection rebounded off the post.

India held sway after Raghunath converted a penalty corner with a low drag-flick in the 23rd minute.

Sandeep,adjudged the best player of the tournament,doubled the lead for India with a fierce drag-flick to the top right of the rival goal in the 39th minute before Dekeyser pulled one back in the 45th minute on a breakaway move.

Shivendra then dribbled in from right to flick the ball in behind the goalkeeper in the 53rd minute to score a beautiful field goal and hand India a 3-1 lead.