Rio de Janeiro: The Indian women's hockey team showed tremendous fighting spirit as it came back from a two-goal deficit to hold Japan 2-2 in its opening encounter here yesterday.

Indian players celebrate a goal against Japan during their Pool 'B' hockey match in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. Pic/PTI

For Japan, Nishikhori Emi (15th minute) opened the scoring and then Mie Nakashima (28th minute) stretched the lead, while for India, Rani Rampal (31st minute) and Lilima Minz (40th minute) were the goal-scorers.

Both teams started off on an attacking note but it was Japan though who were dominant throughout the early exchanges and as a result Japan's Nishikhori Emi fired first goal in the closing minutes of the first quarter to take a 1-0. The same story was repeated in the second half as Japan's Mie Nakashima scored with a reverse hit to extend their lead at the Olympic hockey centre.