Rotterdam: India women's hockey team made a horrific start to their campaign in the FIH World League Round 3 as they were mauled 0-7 by higher-ranked New Zealand in the opening match of Pool B, here on Thursday.
Ranked third in the world, New Zealand entered the tournament as the second-highest-ranked squad in the eight-team field and the top team in Pool B. And expectedly, the Black Sticks had no problem against the 12th-ranked Indians, who looked completely out of sorts.
The Indians, though, looked impressive in the initial few minutes of the game but lost their way as the game progressed. Charlotte Harrison got things started eight minutes into action with a field goal and a few minutes later the Indians dug the hole deeper with an own-goal to double New Zealand's lead. Katie Glynn (26th minute) and Sian Fremaux (31st) added a goal each through field efforts to go into the breather with a comfortable 4-0 lead.
The second half was no different as New Zealand continued their attacking game and pumped in three more goals to hand India a humiliating defeat. Harrison (52nd) and Glynn (69th) scored two more goals in the second half, while Krystal Forgesson also shot in her first of the game in the 53rd minute to complete the rout.
With the exception of the own goal, all of the New Zealand goals came from field efforts. The Indian women, however, have a chance to get their campaign back on track as they take on 13th-ranked Belgium on Friday, while New Zealand will up against Germany.
The tournament also doubles up as qualifier for the 2014 FIH World Cup.
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