India squander lead to lose opener

India were off to a disappointing start at the Lanco International Super Series hockey tournament as they squandered a one-goal lead to lose 1-2 to England in their opening match here on Thursday.

It was Gurvinder Singh Chandi who gave India the lead before England bounced back through goals from Daniel Fox and David Condon to seal the match in their favour.

India will play hosts Australia on Friday before locking horns with arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday in their last round-robin match of the improvised nine-a-side format of the game, better known as Hockey 9s.

Australia win

Meanwhile, in the other round-robin match, Australia defeated Pakistan 4-2 at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Bentley.

For Australia, veteran Jamie Dwyer struck twice while Liam de Young and Beale Daniel scored a goal each.

Abdul Haseem Khan and Muhammad Rizwan Sr were the goal scorers for the Pakistanis.
The Lanco International Super Series, which concludes on Sunday, will be followed by the prestigious FIH Champions Trophy in Melbourne from December 1 to 9 at the State Netball Hockey Centre.

Apart from hosts Australia, the other competing nations in the Champions Trophy are Olympic champions Germany, Australia, England, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium, India and Pakistan.