Why Sharda Nand Tiwari took all penalty strokes for India in shoot-off win over Belgium?

India vs Belgium played out a 2-2 draw at the end of regular time.

India’s shoot-out victory over Belgium in the FIH Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup 2025 quarterfinal match. raised eyebrows primarily because Sharda Nand Tiwari stepped up to take all of India’s penalty strokes, a rare sight in top-level international hockey.

However, the decision was well within the ambit of the regulations and a calculated tactical call by the Indian camp. India and Belgium played out a 2-2 draw at the end of the regular time.

Gaspard Cornez-Massant opened the scoring for Belgium in the 13th minute of the game. The half-time score read 1-0 in favour of Belgium.

The Indian Colts skipper Rohit stepped up on the occasion and converted a penalty corner in the dying seconds of the third quarter to level scores.

Sharda Nand Tiwari continued his brilliant performance in the tournament by converting a penalty corner in the 48th minute, helping the hosts take a 2-1 lead.

Nathan Rogge found the back of the net in the exact 60 seconds to go on the clock, making it 2-2. The match then headed into a penalty shootout with a set of five shots each to decide the winner.

Why Sharda Nand Tiwari took all penalty strokes for India in shoot-off win over Belgium?

Interestingly, Sharda Nand Tiwari was not part of India’s original five designated shoot-out takers. India began the shoot-out with their initially nominated players, but proceedings took an unusual turn when the Belgian goalkeeper committed fouls in each of the first three attempts, denying India clear scoring opportunities.

As per FIH shoot-out regulations, when a defending goalkeeper commits a foul that prevents a probable goal, the umpire is empowered to award a penalty stroke or a re-take of the penalty shoot-out, depending on the nature of the offence.

Also Read: India vs Belgium Quarter-final Highlights, FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025

Following the repeated infringements by the Belgian custodian, India were awarded penalty shoot-outs, shifting the dynamic of the contest.

With the shoot-out scenario triggered, India brought in Sharda Nand Tiwari, a specialist stroke-taker, to execute the penalties. Tiwari made no mistake, confidently converting all three attempts to swing the tie decisively in India’s favour.

The sequence explained why Tiwari took all the decisive shots despite not featuring in the original five, highlighting how the rules allow teams to adapt personnel when fouls alter the course of a shoot-out.

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