Hockey

[Eisen]

Gold for Belgium

This really has been a brilliant job from everyone involved. 15 years ago field hockey in Belgium was at the bottom, they built it from the ground up again, a 9th place finish in Beijing, 5th in London, 2nd in Rio and now finally a gold medal in Tokyo.

They are the reigning world champions as well. They were the favourites in this tournament and delivered. Good games from them.

 

[BMann]

India on the way up after years of falling behind. If they can fully translate their junior results such as thrashing both Australia and Belgium they will be back where they used to be like the Canada or Soviet Union of ice hockey. Belgium were fortunate in their semifinal and play pretty dull methodical hockey.

The Dutch women a class apart. Argentina need to sort out the dispute between players in both their mens and womens teams and their coaches and federation. They were weakened as a result. Losing Peillat and der Heyde for instance is no small loss to a side.