The German side are the favourites to progress from Pool A but were not at their best on the opening day of the tournament at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Elisa Grave netted the game's only goal in the 42nd minute to ensure Germany began with victory at the event, where qualification for the 2018 World Cup is at stake.

It proved to be a low-scoring day across all four matches on the first day of action, with the other Pool A contest between Japan and Ireland ending all-square at 1-1.

Ireland edged ahead on the 44th-minute mark thanks to Roisin Upton but her effort was cancelled out by Japan's Shihori Oikawa seven minutes later.

Neither side were able to find a winner in the dying stages as both teams settled for a draw.

In Pool B, the United States, who finished fifth at last year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, also started with a win as they beat Chile 1-0.

Jill Witmer was the match-winner for the American team as her 35th-minute effort proved enough to guide her side to victory.

Hosts South Africa, who were denied entry to Rio 2016 by their National Olympic Committee, drew 0-0 with India.

A top-four finish in the women’s competition will guarantee a place in the World League Finals in Auckland in New Zealand at the end of the year.

They will join China, The Netherlands, New Zealand and South Korea, who occupied the top-four places at the recent Hockey World League Semi-Final in Brussels in Belgium.

A top-five placement at this event will ensure a place at next year’s Hockey World Cup in London alongside the top five from Brussels, the winners of the upcoming continental championships and hosts England.

The men's tournament begins tomorrow as New Zealand play France and Spain face Japan in Pool A.

Belgium take on Egypt and South Africa go up against Ireland in Pool B.