The Indian women's team put up a brilliant performance to overcome a fighting Malaysia 3-1 and register their first victory in the Lanco International Super Series, the new Hockey 9s format, at the Perth Hockey Stadium on Thursday.
Ritu Rani opened the scoring, guiding the ball into the net off India's first long corner, in the 10th minute.
However, Malaysia's captain Abdul Rahman Nadia capitalized on a sloppy Indian defence to level the scoreline within minutes.
India then produced a brief spell of attack that yielded two more goals, the first of which was scored by Sushila Chauhan in the 20th minute, and the second by Vandana Katariya, three minutes from the hooter.
The game did not see a penalty-corner or stroke for which the new rules have been devised, and the pace also did not match the projected one.
If the idea behind Hockey 9s is 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 feature 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 Australia's Defence Minister Kevin Smith.
