New Delhi: Indian women's hockey team
started their World Cup preparatory campaign on a
disappointing note, going down 0-3 to Japan in the first match
of the four-Test series at the Gifu Green Stadium in
Kakamigahara today.
Aaki Yamada (55th minute) and Shiho Sakai (61st and 69th)
scored the goals for the home team, according to information
received here.
Irrespective of the result, India managed to keep a
cleran slate in the opening half even though the Japanese were
the dominant side.
Japan's dominance in the match can be gauged from the
fact that they earned as many as seven penalty corners as
against India's none.
The second Test of the series will be played at the same
venue on Sunday.
The Indian eves are presently on a tour to Japan and
China in preparation for the World Cup in Rosario, Argentina
in August-September, followed by the Delhi Commonwealth Games
and the Asian Games at Guangzhou later this year.
PTI
First Published: Friday, March 19, 2010, 21:30