Quarter-final berth sealed, men’s hockey team face first real test against Belgium

Indian hockey team. Pic/AFP

Assured of a quarterfinal berth, India will aim for consistency when they take on reigning champions Belgium in their tough penultimate Pool B match of the Olympic Games here on Thursday.

The Red Lions are leading Pool B with three wins from as many matches, while the Indians are a rung below in the second place with two wins and a draw.

Mighty Australia are placed third with seven points from two wins and a loss. Argentina have also qualified for the quarter-finals with four points from three games, which includes a win, a draw and a loss.

New Zealand and Ireland are out of the race after suffering three consecutive losses. Only the top four can make the last-eight cut.

Indians started their campaign on a shaky note with a 3-2 win over New Zealand and then scored a last-minute goal to salvage a draw against Argentina.

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