It was a game of two halves with India dominating the opening 30 minutes, before China turned the tables to assert why it is ranked five places above its Asian rival.

India had eight World Cup debutants on show, who played with youthful zest but the inexperience ultimately hurt it in its 2-2 draw against China in its Women’s World Cup Pool D opener here at the Wagener Stadion on Sunday.

India deservedly went 2-1 ahead at the break after goals from Navneet Kaur and Deepika. India’s vertical approach, through the wings, troubled China’s backline as Deepika and Lalremsiami, in particular, looked dangerous with their dribbling and close control.

The opening goal came in the seventh minute when Neha fired in a pass to Navneet, which she deftly guided past several feet into the bottom corner of the goal.

But a poor foul inside the circle by defender Shilpi Dabas, playing only her sixth senior game, in the dying seconds of the first quarter, allowed China to get on the scoresheet from a Ying Zhang penalty stroke.

At the end of the first quarter tactical team talk, India responded to Sjoerd Marijne’s animated instructions by outplaying China.

Every time China looked to play out of its own half, the Indian players swarmed around them, snapping at them, to win the ball and force a turnover. In the 24th minute, Deepika’s mazy run into the circle, earned India its third Penalty Corner, from which she converted.

But early in the second half, the warning signs started to ring for the Indian team. China cut out India’s outlet of playing the ball out from the flanks and pinned it in its own half.

China’s gangly midfielder Li Hong asserted herself, dictating play, before it restored parity for the second time from a rasping dragflick from Ma Ning.

In the last two quarters, China had 13 circle penetrations to India’s three, while adding four PC opportunities to restrict India to none. Savita Punia made crucial interventions as India hung for a valuable point.

The Indian men’s team will take on England in its second Pool D game on Monday.

The result: China 2 (Ying Zhang 14, Ma Ning 38) drew with India 2 (Navneet Kaur 7, Deepika 24).