India draw Proteas in women's hockey

Melbourne: Defending champions India rallied after conceding two early goals to hold South Africa 2-2 in a pool A league match of women's hockey at the XVIII Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

Having started their title defence on the wrong note with a 2-4 loss to Australia, India seemed headed for another embarrassment as Henriette D Buisson struck in the eighth and 12th minute for South Africa at the State Netball Hockey Centre.

However, Subhadra Pradhan found the mark once in each half to save the day for Indians and fetch her team its maiden point.

The South Africans began with a flourish and 23-year-old Henriette exhibited her talent by converting a penalty corner besides striking a field goal to leave a tentative Indian side gasping.

With their backs to the wall, the Indians launched a counter attack, carrying out constant raids into the opponent territory and earning penalty corners one after another.

They pulled one back just six minutes before the half time when Subhadra converted a penalty stroke in the 29th minute.

The easiest of set pieces came India's way after a South African defender deliberately stopped the ball following a penalty corner.

India were then playing with 10 members as their skipper Sumrai Tete was sent out temporarily for arguing with the umpire after Rajwinder Kaur's strike was disallowed as a goal.

The Indians secured four penaly corners in the first half but lack of finishing proved their undoing as the match rolled into the half time with the South Africans ahead 2-1.

Indians returned after the breather with a mission as they put South Africa on the backfoot, launching relentless forays.

They, however, failed to convert the brilliant moves from the flanks, choking at the goalpost.

The Indians forced six more penalty corners but had to wait till the 69th minute to draw level.

Subhadra again stole the limelight as she displayed fine stickwork to fox the South African defenders before finishing off with a spectacular reverse flick, that went in to the right of custodian Caroline Jack, who otherwise put up a confident display.

The Indian eves had themselves to blame for not pocketing full points despite domintaing the entire second session as they muffed up several chances.

The post also stood in the way of the Indians in the 41st minute, with Mamta Kharab being the victim.

India have two more games to play in their Pool against Malaysia and Nigeria.