Forty-eight years after their last medal, the Belgian women’s team beat Australia in the third-place play-off to claim bronze at the Women’s Hockey World Cup.
Belgium played Australia for third place at the Women’s Hockey World Cup in Amstelveen, in the Netherlands. With Justine Rasir suspended, Belgium went into the match weakened by her absence.
However, it was the Red Panthers who won the match 1–0 thanks to Charlotte Englebert, Belgium’s top scorer in the tournament, who converted a penalty corner in the second quarter.
The 25-year-old player once again proved to be one of the key players in the Belgian squad and was also honoured by the tournament organisers when she was named Player of the Tournament.
Following their frustrating elimination at the hands of the Netherlands in the semi-finals (a 1-0 defeat marred by refereeing errors), the Belgian players bounced back in style to round off an outstanding World Cup campaign.
The Red Panthers therefore claimed bronze, their first World Cup medal in 48 years, as their last podium finish was third place in Madrid in 1978.
