TOKYO (Dispatches) - Alexander Hendrickx’s hat-trick gave Belgium a 5-2 win over India to secure their place in the men’s Olympic hockey final against Australia.
Loick Luypaert put Belgium ahead but India were 2-1 up at the end of the first quarter, thanks to goals by Harmanpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh.
Hendrickx smashed home two penalty corners and a penalty stroke before John-John Dohmen’s late goal.
Belgium will battle Australia for the gold after their 3-1 win over Germany.
Tim Brand put the hockeyroos ahead early on but Lukas Windfeder equalized for the Germans.
Blake Glover got Australia in front again from a penalty corner in the third quarter before Lachlan Sharp sealed the win a minute from time.
Hendrickx’s hat-trick for Belgium, who are ranked second in the world, was his third treble of the tournament and ends India’s bid to claim an overdue Olympic gold.
India are historically the most successful team in Olympic hockey history, but the last of their eight golds came back in 1980.
They will face Germany in a play-off match for the bronze medal.