The Belgium Senior Women’s inline hockey team made their debut at the World Roller Games in Roccaraso, Italy, competing against 21 nations from five continents.
In their opening match against Japan, Belgium started nervously, but rookie Ans Van Hoof broke the tension by scoring their first-ever World Cup goal, assisted by captain Ellen Clincke, whose leadership on and off the rink kept the team focused and motivated. With additional goals from Lotte De Guchtenaere and Perrine Dumonceau, Belgium secured a 5-3 win, marking a historic moment for the team.
Belgium followed up with a resounding 13-0 victory against India, the highest score of the tournament. Lotte De Guchtenaere led with three goals, supported by a stellar defense that only allowed three shots. This win placed Belgium at the top of their group and set up a match against Germany.
Despite a strong effort and the encouragement of captain Clincke, Belgium was outmatched by Germany, losing 4-0 and missing out on a top-10 finish. In two intense games against Great Britain for the 11th-place ranking, Belgium lost the first 4-1 but battled hard in the second. Clincke's leadership was crucial, helping the team stay positive as they took the lead, though they eventually lost in a 2-1 shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Reflecting on the tournament, coach Imanol Cárcamo said, “Our goal was to gain experience at this stage and it was a very successful tournament. Many nations congratulated our players and staff for the level we showed. The future is looking bright for women’s inline hockey in Belgium and we couldn’t be more excited about it.”
Thanks to strong leadership and teamwork, Belgium finished 12th out of 21 teams—a remarkable achievement for a developing hockey nation.