Alexander ‘Jimi’ Hendrickx is within one more hat-trick of equalling the all-time Olympic goalscoring record after Belgium kept up their bid for a first title.

Hendrickx, who turns 27 the day after the Olympic final, moved on to 14 for the competition with a hat-trick against India and is now three behind Ties Kruize, the Dutchman who scored 17 at the 1972 Games.

At Rio 2016, Belgium recorded the worst penalty corner conversion rate as Shane McLeod’s side finished second behind Argentina. The rise of Hendrickx, a Rio reserve player, is another embellished in the remarkable Red Lion story.

“Alex said he’s never going to be on the outside ever again,” McLeod said. “And over the last four or five years, he’s committed a massive amount of his time to developing his craft, and you can see it now.

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