IPOH, Malaysia: World number six Pakistan beat Malaysia 3-2 in their opening match of the 17th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament at the Azlan Shah Stadium here on Thursday.

The Malaysian side made a promising start when forward Kevinder Singh slammed home a loose ball in Pakistan’s D in the first minute but Pakistan scored their equaliser through Muhammad Ateeq from a penalty corner in the 22nd.

A minute later, Malaysia went in front again through penalty corner specialist Mohd Amin Rahim.

However, Pakistan levelled the score in the 28th through Rehan Butt who flicked home a cross and got the winner in the 60th when Mohammad Saqlain converted a short corner.

Earlier, New Zealand and Argentina registered their opening victories against India and Belgium respectively.

India’s Sandeep Singh’s hattrick went in vain as India squandered a 2-0 lead to go down 3-4 to New Zealand in their tournament opener.

Sandeep converted all three penalty corners but the resilient Kiwis scored twice in the first half and as many after the breather to walk away with full points.

For the winners Andrew Hayward, Simon Child, skipper Philip Burrows and Gareth Brooks scored.

India made a good start and were leading 2-0 with Sandeep converting both the penalty corners that came his way before Hayward reduced the margin from a penalty corner and Child deflected home a pass just in time to go into breather with the scores levelled at 2-2.

In the second half, Kiwis ruled the roost with Philip and Brooks slamming back-to-back goals to snatch lead.

Though field goals eluded them, India managed to win a penalty corner and Sandeep was again bang on target as his rasping shot beat Kiwi defence all ends up.

Indians did everything they could to find an equaliser but Kiwi defence did well to thwart their raids till the end.

In another match, Argentina made an upset by beating Belgium 2-1. Argentina scored first through Ezequiel Martin Sosa’s field goal in the 33rd but Belgium equalised through Jerome Truyens in the 54th. The winner came from a penalty corner by Tomas Argento Innocente in the 60th.

Today’s fixtures: Canada v Belgium, Pakistan v New Zealand, Argentina v India.