A determined Ghana men's team held their own against Asian Champions Korea but eventually succumbed 0-3 in a tight match on the opening day of the hockey competition of the Afro-Asian Games,

The Ghanaians surprised the Asian champions with some good marking in midfield and defence and had the Koreans struggling to find their rhythm. It took the Koreans 26 minutes to find their way around the Ghanaian defence and eventually got the first goal when the defenceline made a careless mistake on top of the scoring circle. The Korean attackers were quick to react under the circumstance and punished the Ghanaians with a well taken goal.

The goal appeared to have broken the resolve of the Ghanaians who committed some unpardonable mistakes in the spate of minutes. Indeed, one of such mistakes resulted in a penalty corner in the 31st minute which was converted by the Koreans to end the half 2-0 in their favour.

The second half was fiercely contested and although the Koreans dominated, the Ghanaians were resolute in defence and midfield with goalie Gideon Amegavie standing tall. The Korean dominance however broke the defenceline once more in the 47th minute to create a penalty corner which was converted to take the tally to 3. The Ghanains hardly troubled the Korean defence but were able to hold their attack in check till the end of the match.

In one of the other matches, Nigeria gave a good account of themselves when they matched world hockey power Pakistan for the better part of 65 minutes but conceeded a late goal to lose 3-4.

India Whitewash Ghana Women

Hosts, India, reciprocated a below standard performance of the Ghanaian women's team with a 8-0 mauling in the opening match of the women's category of the hockey competition at the Afro-Asian Games. The Ghanaians appeared not to have recovered from their gruellinig encounter in Abuja where they placed 4th and hardly did anything right on the day. They failed to match the skill of the youthful Indian side who delighted the home crowd with an avalanche of goals, 4 from penalty corners and the other 4 from field action.

Korea showed no mercy on African Games Bronze medalist Kenya who they pummelled 5-0, while South Africa saved the African misery with a 12-0 thomping of Kazarksthan.