Pawan's heroics go in vain as India go down 1-0 to Belgium in final

An error-prone Indian men's hockey team went down 0-1 to Belgium in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup final in Ipoh on Sunday (Nov 30). Thus, the Red Lions have won the tournament for the first time, while dashing India's hopes of winning the gold after a 15-year wait.

Thibeau Stockbroekx broke the deadlock after the break, though the Indians squandered a pair of penalty corners with two fouls at the top of the circle. Craig Fulton's Chargers were also inaccurate with their final passes into the attacking circle.

A series of defensive lapses gifted the Belgians numerous scoring chances, but the Red Lions were held at bay by an inspired display from Pawan in goal.

The Red Lions forced an early equalizer in the seventh minute. Roman Duvekot, who scored against India in the pool match, could not direct a long ball towards the goal. India got their first penalty corner in the tenth minute, but Jugraj Singh's curling shot went wide.

Both teams went into the long breather of the Azlan Shah Cup final with no goals to show for their efforts. Belgium managed 15 entries in circles compared to the Indians who had just 4, but the Red Lions could only manage 2 shots on goal.

Karthi Selvam attempted a snap for the first time immediately after the break. Vincent Vanasch refused to be beaten.

An unmarked Abhishek, who stood right in the goalmouth, needed to hit the ball into the net with only the keeper to beat, but he couldn't get hold of it.

At the other end, Nicolas de Kerpel dodged a couple of Indian defenders near the byline to send in a cross, which Thibeau Stockbroekx sent perfectly into the back of the net in the 34th minute.

Dilpreet Singh won a penalty corner in the 35th minute. Amit Rohidas entered the pitch on instructions from Craig Fulton, but the corner was not properly stopped.

Abhishek won his third penalty corner in the 42nd minute, but the ball was again misdirected, much to the dismay of the Indian bench.

Roman Duvekot got a well-directed reverse after a defensive lapse by Vivek Sagar Prasad in the 47th minute. Pawan in goal made a vital save.

Tom Boone had the ball in the net in the 50th minute after receiving a pass from Thibeau Stockbroekx. The goal was disallowed for dangerous play.

Pawan continued to deny Tokyo Olympic champion a second goal until he was withdrawn at the death, but the Indians could not get the elusive equaliser.

Goals galore in the 31st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

A total of 107 goals have been scored during the 18 matches played in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, 58 of them coming from open play, while 40 came from penalty corners. Nine goals have been scored with penalty kicks.

Belgium and India scored the most goals (24) during the group stages of the Azlan Shah Cup competition, twice as many as New Zealand and Malaysia, who scored 12 goals each as a team.

New Zealand's Sam Lane finished as the competition's top scorer with a total of 9 goals, having scored 5 goals during the qualifying match against Malaysia. Belgium's Tom Boon and Thibeau Stockbroekx scored six each.