KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian women's hockey team had a jittery start but managed to limit the damage to a 4-0 loss by India in the Junior World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa, yesterday.
Having endured a 10-0 drubbing by Germany, coach Nasihin Nubli's charges held Wales 3-3 and India were expeced to hand Malaysia another drubbing.
And India were even stronger than Germany, taking into consideration India's 2-1 win over Germany to top Group D.
India's early goals by Mumtaz Khan (10th) and Sangita Kumari (11th) rattled the Malaysian side who, however, defended gallantly.
Lalrindiki scored India's third goal in the 26th minute and Mumtaz nailed a brace with a 59th minute strike.
Malaysia will either play Uruguay or Austria in the 9th-15th classification, depending on the outcome of the last Group D match between Germany and Wales.
Germany need to score goals in double digit figures for Malaysia to finish third, if not they will end up last in the four-team group.