India [ Images ] blanked New Zealand [ Images ] 2-0 to start their campaign in the four-nation Punjab [ Images ] Gold Cup hockey tournament on a winning note.

Skipper Sandeep Singh put the hosts ahead, converting a penalty-corner in the 18th minute and forward Shivendra Singh sealed victory with six minutes remaining.

In the second match of the day, Holland defeated World and Olympic [ Images ] champions Germany [ Images ] by an identical margin thanks to a field goal from Lucas Judge and a penalty-corner conversion by Jeroen Hertzberger.