Women's hockey: Australia hit India for six

The Indian women's hockey team suffered a 1-6 humiliation from Australia in their third outing at the Rio Olympics on Wednesday.

Playing in the Olympics after 36 years, the Indians were outplayed by the higher-ranked Australians, who exposed the defensive frailties of their opponents in a lop-sided match.

Jodie Kenny struck twice (43rd and 46th minute) while Kathryn Slattery (5th), Georgina Morgan (9th), Jane Claxton (35th), Georgina Parker (36th) scored once each for the Aussies, while Thokchom Anuradha scored India’s lone goal with just 8.3 seconds left on the clock.

The Australians, losing finalists at the 2014 World Cup, laid seize on the Indian 25-yard live with waves of attacking runs and forced seven penalty-corners from which they scored four times.

India got just one penalty-corner which they failed to convert.

In fact, they could barely string a goal-bound attack in the whole match as they suffered their second consecutive defeat.

The Indian forwards were unable to make any noteworthy opening. The margin of defeat would have been bigger had goalkeeper Savita Punia not come up with some fine saves.

Following the defeat, India are at the bottom of Pool B with just the point earned from the drawn match against Japan in their tournament opener.

They lost to Great Britain 0-3 in their previous match.

India have two matches left in the six-team Pool B -- against higher-ranked Argentina and the United States.

Only the top four finishers advance to the quarter-finals.

Australia took a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter of 15 minutes before the Indians denied them any goal in the second. They scored three goals in the third quarter and then pumped in another in the final quarter.

• The Rio Olympics, on Rediff.com