Megan Hull of the Black Sticks. Photo: Photosport
The Black Sticks' hopes of qualifying for the Olympics are teetering following a 3-1 loss to hosts India at the women's hockey qualifying tournament in Ranchi.
Following their opening 3-0 win over Italy, New Zealand's poor execution of basic skills let them down in game two, leaving them level with India in their four-nation pool.
It places the Black Sticks under pressure to beat pool leaders the United States in their final game on Wednesday morning, if they are to finish in the top two and advance to the semi-finals.
If they draw or lose, New Zealand will be vulnerable to be eclipsed by India, who meet winless Italy in the later match.
A failure to advance will end any hope of qualifying for the Paris Games, while the two finalists and the winners of the third-fourth playoff will book Olympic tickets.
India took command of the match in the opening quarter, when all four goals were scored, capitalising on multiple New Zealand turnovers.
The crowd burst to life just 40 seconds in when Sangita Kumari scored from a well executed field goal.
The Black Sticks found their equaliser 10 minutes in when Megan Hull nailed a penalty corner goal, however the Indians struck with a rapid-fire double before the first break to take control.
New Zealand mounted some sustained periods of pressure but couldn't crack the Indian defence, with some poorly executive penalty corner attempts letting the home side off the hook.
The Black Sticks men open their Olympic qualifying tournament campaign in Muscat, Oman on Tuesday morning when they play Chile.
