Defending champions China seized the opportunities to overpower an erratic India 3-1 in the women's hockey match at the Asian Games in Doha on Tuesday.
World number five China had beaten 13th ranked India 1-0 in the Madrid World Cup in September.
For China, who led 1-0 at half time, the goal scorers were Fu Baorong (2) and Ren Ye (1) while Surinder Kaur reduced the margin for India.
The defeat has put a question mark on India's medal prospects.
India will have to play much better and consistent hockey against Japan and Korea to hope for a podium finish.
''In the first session, we conceded too much space to the rivals,'' rued coach M K Kaushik.
''We improved a lot in the second session but that shows that we were not consistent. The girls will have to give an improved performance to stay on the course for a podium finish,'' he added.
The Chinese played a very attacking game in the first session and the Indians, in comparison, looked a lethargic lot. Their moves hardly posed any serious threat to the defending champions.
The Indians were lucky to have conceded only one goal in the first session in which they were overran by the Chinese and they have to thank their goalkeeper Dipika Murthy who brought off some stunning saves.