Bhubaneswar, Jan. 14 -- Defending champions Belgium started their FIH Odisha Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 campaign on a positive note by trouncing lower-ranked Korea 5-0 in a Pool B game at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

Determined Korea gave a stern reply to the defending champions in the first quarter. However, Belgium came back strongly in the next quarter and earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 19th minute, but Korea defenders were agile enough to thwart both the scoring opportunities. The first half went goalless despite some ruthless attack by Belgium.

Belgium upped the ante at the start of the second half. They earned back to back penalty corners again in the 30th minute. They grabbed the opportunity in both th...