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The Indian junior hockey team kicked off their Tour of Europe with a 2-2 (4-2 SO) win over Belgium in the first match of the tour which was played in Antwerp, Belgium. Vice-Captain Shardanand Tiwari (3', 27') scored a brace for the Indian colts.
The Indian junior men's hockey Team took the lead early in the game with vice-captain Shardanand Tiwari (3') firing in a penalty stroke. They maintained their tempo throughout the first quarter to hold onto their lead going into the break. The second quarter saw Shardanand Tiwari (27') return to double the team's lead with yet another penalty stroke as the half ended with the visitors leading 2-0. Belgium converted a penalty corner early in the third quarter to reduce the goal deficit to one. No further goals were scored in the quarter as the score read 2-1 in favour of the Indian junior men's hockey Team at the end of the third quarter. Although the Indian Colts had a one-goal lead going into the final quarter, Belgium didn't give them much breathing space and kept the pressure on them. With just a few minutes left in the game, the Belgians converted yet another penalty corner to equalize. As no more goals were scored in the regulation time, the fourth quarter ended with the scoreline reading 2-2 taking the game into a shootout. Gurjot Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Dilraj Singh and Manmeet Singh scored for the Indian Colts in the penalty shoot-out while goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh made two brilliant saves as they won the penalty shoot-out 4-2 to begin their Europe tour with a win. The Indian Junior Men's team will play their next match against Belgium in Breda, Netherlands on May 22. (ANI)
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