India paid the penalty for a lethargic start as six-time champions Holland sneaked home 3-2 in the opening match of the women's field hockey World Cup in Madrid on Wednesday.

Holland caught the Indians napping, pumping in two goals in the first half and then another early in the second half.

Surinder Kaur scored a brace to narrow the margin as India turned on the heat on the last edition's runners-up at Perth, but the horse had bolted by then.

India could have snatched a point from the Orange team had Deepika effected a clean hit after a collecting long pass on top of the circle in the 54th minute.

The referee allowed the goal but the television umpire over-ruled it after replays showed it came of the player's feet.

The Indians were clearly outplayed in the first period and the initial phase of the second by the Dutch, who caught them off guard with their pace and efficient stickwork.

Maartje Paumen opened up the scoring for the Netherlands as early as in the third minute when she scored from a penalty-corner.

Holland dominated ball possession and the action was very much restricted to the Indian half.

Sylvia Karres rode on the momentum to find the net in the 31st minute and double the lead.

The lead was tripled soon resumption before the Indians pulled their socks up.

The Indian eves, led by Jyoti Kullu, had not had a shot at the Holland goal till then. And they forced no penalty-corner, of course.

But a slice of luck changed the complexion of the game.

The Indians won their first penalty-corner of the game in the 48th minute when television replays showed the referee might have erred in awarding it.

But it did not matter as Surinder Kaur scored with a neat deflection from the shot.

Kullu's team then began to play with renewed vigour and suddenly they were finding gaps in the Dutch defence which had looked impregnable till then.

They changed the speed of the game and forced their rivals to play at their pace.

Then came Deepika's disallowed goal, which showed the Dutch were merely focussing on survival.

But if any one expected a counter-attack from the world number one team, it never came.

Less than four minutes to go, Kaur beat the Dutch goalie for her second goal.

The Indians, however, could not score that much-wanted equaliser.

India and Holland are placed in Pool 'A' with China, Germany, Spain and England.

Defending champions Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the USA, Japan and Korea are in Pool 'B'.

Top two teams from each pool advance to the semi-finals.

India coach M K Kaushik said he was proud of his team which, despite being ranked 13th, fought back strongly and came close to turning tables on the No 1 team in the world.

"We should have got at least a draw. But it was not to be," Kaushik said.

He rued the disallowed goal.

"They said it (the ball) hit the foot. But they did not show the camera recording," he said.

The former India player added, "The team should finish within the top six. That is the target for us."

India next take on Germany on Friday.

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