Athens: India paid the price for some costly defensive lapses as they launched their quest for an Olympic hockey medal with a demoralising 1-3 defeat against defending champions Holland in a group-B league match in Athens today (Aug 15, 2004).

The Indians never really recovered from an early jolt and lacked the finishing to be able to pose much of a threat against their formidable opponents in a floodlit encounter at the Helliniko hockey ground.

The defending champions fired the first salvo as early as the second minute of the contest through Marten Eikelboom and then fired in two more goals through Teun de Nooijer (50th) and penalty corner specialist Taeke Taekema (54th) to race to 3-0 lead.

Gagan Ajit Singh scored a consolation goal for India just a minute before the hooter in a match, which seldom rose to great heights.

Though the eight-time gold medallists lost the match, they did show some signs of finding their rhythm at times but could not sustain those inspired spells for long.

India will now take on South Africa in their next league match on Tuesday (Aug 17) while Netherlands will play against New Zealand.