A lacklustre India began their campaign in the 21st Azlan Shah Cup hockey with an embarrassing 1-5 defeat at the hands of a speedy New Zealand in Ipoh on Thursday.

Veteran penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas celebrated his captaincy debut with a rasping drag-flick into the net as Pakistan defeated Argentina 4-2 in the opening match of the 21st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh on Thursday.

India will open their campaign in the 2012 Olympics hockey competition in London with a game against the Netherlands July 30, according to the schedule released by the International Hockey Federation (IHF) on Tuesday.

Eyeing their sixth title, erstwhile heavyweights of the game India on Monday arrived here for the 21st Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament to be played from May 24 to June 3.

Australia will defend their men's Champions Trophy field hockey crown on home soil this year with Melbourne named as the host city on Tuesday.

An elite field hockey player died after being hit in the head by a ball in a weekend club match in Australia, Hockey Australia said on Monday.

Indian men's hockey team ended its London tour without a win as they lost the bronze medal match 1-2 to Great Britain in the four-nation test event ahead of the upcoming London Olympics, here on Sunday.

South Africa earned the 12th and last berth in the Olympic men's field hockey tournament by beating Japan 2-1 in the final of the qualifying competition on Sunday.

The India men's hockey team put up a brave fight before going down 1-2 against reigning Olympic champions Germany to slump to their third consecutive defeat in the four-nation test event ahead of the upcoming London Olympics in London on Sunday.

Great Britain coach Jason Lee seems to be getting vicarious pleasure seeing the Indians, who are here to play in the four-nation hockey tournament to test the 2012 London Olympic facilities, shiver in the cold, blustery conditions.