India lose to New Zealand in women's hockey

The Indian women's hockey team's chances of semi-final berth suffered a setback after it went down 1-3 to strong contenders New Zealand in a Pool B league match of the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.

The Indians, desperately looking for their first ever medal in the Commonwealth Games, failed to counter their much faster opponents in what turned out to be a rather one-sided contest.

It was the Indians who fired the first salvo in the early stages of the match through Jyoti Kullu, but thereafter they failed to keep the momentum going and conceded three goals following defensive lapses.

The hard-working Jyoti Kullu raised hopes of a dream Indian victory by putting her team into the lead as early as the 16th minute. But the euphoria was shortlived as the Kiwis staged a brilliant comeback to take the game away from the Indians, with Suzie Pearce (25th), Colleen Gubb-Suddaby (40th) and Moira Senior (70th) scoring for them.

The Indians, who won their opening encounter against Canada by a solitry goal, have no option but to win their last league match against England on Monday to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

New Zealand, who had held England to a 2-2 draw in their opening league match, are now in a strong position to make it to the semi-finals as the champion team from Pool B.

Kullu put India ahead with a gem of a goal. She outwitted as many as five defenders before beating the rival goalkeeper. But midfielder Suzio Suzie Pearce restored parity within nine minutes with a brilliant field goal, capitalising on a defensive lapse.

With the score tied 1-1 at the interval, the Kiwis stepped up the pace in the second session and kept the Indian defenders on tenterhooks with a flurry of attacks from both the flanks.

Colleen Gubb Suddaby and Moira Senior converted penalty-corners in the second session to seal India's fate.

A victory today would have assured India a semi-final berth, but they squandered all the seven penalty-corners that came their way, again exposing their weakness in this department of the game.

In another match, England beat Canada 6-1 after being held goalless at the breather.

Jane Smith (3), Anna Bennett, Rachel Walker and Kate Walsh scored for the hosts while Meggan Hunt got Canada's lone goal.