Ipoh (Malaysia), May 8: Sandeep Singh's hat-trick went in vain as India squandered a 2-0 lead to go down 3-4 to New Zealand in their first match of the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here on Thursday.

Comeback man Sandeep converted all three penalty corners but the resilient Kiwis scored twice in the first half and as many after the breather to walk away with full points.

For the winners, Andrew Hayward, Simon Child, Phillip Burrows and Gareth Brooks sounded the board.

India made a good start and were leading 2-0 with Sandeep converting both the penalty corners that came his way before Hayward first reduced the margin from a penalty corner and Child deflected home a pass just in time to go into the breather at 2-2.

In the second half, the Kiwis ruled the roost with Philip and Brooks slamming back-to-back goals to snatch the lead.

Though a field goal eluded them, India managed to win a penalty corner in this session and Sandeep was again bang on target as his rasping shot beat the Kiwi defence all ends up.

The Indians did everything they could for the equaliser but the Kiwi defence did well to thwart the raids till the end.

I did not ask players to skip Azlan Shah: Carvalho

Chennai, May 8: Joaquim Carvalho on Thursday reiterated that he was not involved in any conspiracy and did not ask three players and the team manager to skip the Azlan Shah hockey tournament.

Talking to PTI over phone from Mumbai, Carvalho, who returned from Australia after leading the team as coach in two four-nation meets, said, "No sportsman will work against the nation's interest for his selfish motives. Right from the time when I played for my country I have stayed away from controversies.

"The selection committee members should check the facts before accusing me of having prevented players from playing in the Azlan Shah tournament."

Earlier, media reports claimed Carvalho had asked Tushar Khandekar, Baljit Singh and Samir Baxla and team manager R K Shetty to return home from Australia instead of departing for the Azlan Shah tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Reacting to yesterday's statement by Aslam Sher Khan, chairman of the ad hoc selection committee, that Carvalho did not want things to run smoothly, he said "I have not hesitated in calling a spade a spade. I appeal to Aslam to refrain from creating unnecessary confusion."

Carvalho said as per the original plan the team to Azlan Shah tournament was selected in tune with the strategies of rebuilding the side for the Asia Cup (under-21) and the 2010 Commonwealth Games.