SALTA (Argentina): V Raghunath twice sounded the board as the Indian hockey team beat South Africa 3-1 in a warm-up match prior to their campaign in the Champions Challenge Tournament on Thursday.
The team coached by Jose Brasa took the lead in the 19th minute through Gurvinder Chandi and went into the breather with a 1-0 cushion.
Chandi was set up by Roshan Minz who had snatched the ball from a South African defender.
When play resumed, Raghunath sank a penalty corner to make it 2-0 in the 45th minute before the South Africans reduced the margin shortly after from their third corner.
Raghunath was on target again in the 60th minute and his strike rounded off the tally for the Indians.
Apart from India and South Africa, Belgium, New Zealand, Argentina, Pakistan, Canada and China are participating in the event, the winner of which qualify for the next year’s Champions Trophy.