Hockey: Indian women seek first win over NZ

By Terry Maddaford

Unbeaten in three warm-up games, the Indian women's hockey team will be looking for more of the same in their bid for a breakthrough first win over New Zealand when the three-test series starts tonight in Wellington.

Both teams are using the series as vital lead-up play for important internationals. The Indians are determined to make the most of their better preparation after matches against the New Zealand Maori side and two against the New Zealand Academy Xl in the past five days.

The two sides last met in the bronze medal playoff at the 1998 Commonwealth Games when New Zealand won 3-0.

There have been changes in the New Zealand team since Kuala Lumpur, with Lisa Walton and Tina Bell-Kake, two of the goalscorers, missing, although Walton did play for the Academy side and scored in the 1-1 draw in Levin on Monday.

New Zealand forward Mandy Smith should go to within one game of the coveted 100 for her country during the series and reach that milestone in Dunedin on September 8 in the first of three Oceania Cup Olympic qualifiers against Australia.

The Indians, ranked 12th in the world (New Zealand are sixth), are using this tour - the remaining internationals will be played in Levin on Saturday and Wellington on Sunday - as preparation for December's Asia Cup and the final Olympic qualifying tournament in England in March.