Goalkeeper Savita Punia's heroics -- and a timely video referral -- played the starring role as India began their hockey World League Semi-finals campaign with a goalless draw against hosts South Africa in a Pool B encounter in Johannesburg on Saturday.
India began the match brightly, but were pegged back to their defensive half through the first two quarters, with South Africa managing 18 circle penetrations to India's five, and the hosts outshooting India 4-0 at half-time. Savita was eventually beaten by Sulette Damons in the 34th minute, but India referred the decision, and replays showed that the ball had come off the body of South Africa's Bernadette Coston before coming to Damons.
India got their first shot at the South African goal only in the 44th minute, but Anupa Barla's reverse-stick attempt was comfortably stopped by Nicole la Fleur.
India were able to keep their defensive shape through most of the game, and appeared to buckle in the last five minutes, when Gurjit Kaur picked up a green card for her foul on Tarryn Glasby. Savita, however, stood firm in goal and kept India in the hunt for a point that they were made to work hard for.
India ranked 12, must finish among the top six in the ten-team tournament to qualify for next year's World Cup in England. They next play world number 6 USA, who beat Chile 1-0 in their opening encounter. South Africa, ranked 13, face 3rd-ranked Argentina on July 12.