An inexperienced German side started the match at the International Kalinga Stadium by putting the hosts under pressure by having a greater share of possession, including three penalty corners, to India's none.

Both Kaur Navneet of India and Germany’s Carlotta Sippel scored one after another early on in the match.

Navneet's goal followed a great build-up run by Sharmila Devi down the India left-side of the pitch, guiding her cross home in the fourth minute.

Germany responded immediately and, following two successive penalty corners, Sippel fired the ball into the India after it had rebounded and bounced around in front of the goalkeeper Savita Punia to conclude a few dramatic seconds. 

The final quarter saw India as the winner, but it was Germany, whose entire team only had 65 caps between them - or 135 less than Shushila Pukhrambam, making her 200th appearance for India - who largely controlled the match.

Navneet scored the only goal for India in the shootout, while Sharmila Devi, Neha Goyal, Laremsiami and Monika Malik missed theirs.

Pauline Heinz and Sara Strauss found the net in the shootout, enough to earn Germany a vital bonus point for winning it 2-1.

India's head coach Janneke Schopman will undoubtedly being looking for an improvement in tomorrow's second match. 

"Germany played a good game," said India's Punia.

"We also played a good game but although we made a lot of chances we couldn't score."

Sippel believed Germany can take plenty of positive aspects into tomorrow's return.

"I am very happy about the game," she said. 

"We did a great job. 

"We are looking forward to tomorrow's game.

"It was a great opportunity for us to play."

The women’s overall standings are currently led by Argentina followed by The Netherlands in second, while India remain in third position after today.

Germany are in fifth place, level on points with Spain but with an inferior goal difference.