Perth: Indian girls put up a brilliant performance to overcome a fighting Malaysia 3-1 to register the first win of the international played in the new Hockey 9s format here at the Perth Hockey Stadium.
Ritu Rani, guided the ball into the net off India's first long corner in the 10th minute to score the first international goal of the Lanco International Super Series.
However, the goal did not last long as Malaysian captain Abdul Rahman Nadia capitalised on a loose Indian defence to soon score the equalised.
India then came out with a brief spell of attack that yielded two more goals. First one was hit by Sushila Chauhan in the 20th minute and second by Vandana Katariya three minutes from the hooter.
The game did not see penalty corner or stroke for which new rules have been devised, and the pace also did not match the projected one. If the idea behind Hockey 9s was to have more goals, it was not witnessed in the first match, at least.
As it was a friendly international, the umpires were from both playing countries, another new thing in hockey where normally neutral umpires officiate.
The match was played on two 15-minute halves, with a goal caged a meter wider than the traditional one.
Earlier in the day, the tournament was inaugurated by Australian Defence Minister Kevin Smith.
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