SA face India in WC playoff

Johannesburg - For the first time in the 2010 Hockey World Cup in Rosario, Argentina, the South African women's hockey team will meet a country ranked below them when they face India on Friday night in a playoff for ninth place.

South Africa are 12th in the world and India 13th - the lowest ranked team in Rosario.

The South Africans ended fifth in Group B, ahead of world No 8 Spain, while India were fifth in Group A in the 12-nation tournament.

Both teams have punched above their weight, and South Africa will hope for another sterling performance from 20-year-old Sulette Damons.

The Indians also have a fresh look with an astonishing four teenagers, aged between 15 and 18, and only three players over 25.