Belgium's Red Lions script history as Kalinga announces its arrival

Bhubaneswar has staked its claim to be the country's hockey capital, and the world cup showed why

European derbies, in any sport, bring out the best of contests. With regional supremacy and a historic element to the rivalry, these match-ups, more often than not, evoke sentiments unmatched by even the best of fairy tales. 

It wasn’t expected to be any different in the final of the Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup, which saw two European powerhouses go head-to-head for the ultimate glory. For Belgium, it was a chance to script history by winning their first ever WC; for the Dutch, it was a chance to win their fourth in eight final appearances, matching Pakistan’s record of four