Four-time champion Pakistan and Olympic silver medalist South Korea have opened their field hockey World Cup campaigns with big wins on the first day of the tournament in Kuala Lumpur.

Pakistan shut down South Africa 5-0 Sunday, while South Korea came back from an early deficit to destroy Cuba 6-2. Reigning World Cup and Olympic champion Netherlands shut out New Zealand 4-0.

European champion Germany - one of the favorites - eased past Argentina 5-2, while Japan pulled off the surprise of the day, playing to a 2-2 draw with the strong Indian team after taking a two-goal lead.

Other winners were Spain, England and Australia. Spain scored once in each half while shutting out Belgium. England scored the only goal of its contest with Poland in the second half. And Australia beat Malaysia 3-0 after a scoreless first half.

Sixteen teams in two pools of eight are playing to decide who will play in the four contest semi-finals on March 7, heading to the gold medal field hockey game two days later.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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