Ipoh (Malaysia), April 9: The Indian hockey team finally earned their first win of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup defeating Canada 5-3 at the Azlan Shah Stadium here on Thursday.

Drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh opened the scoring for India in the 13th minute followed by V.R. Raghunath (32nd minute). Then Forward Ramandeep Singh scored a brace (46th, 47th) while Satbir Singh (49th) pushed in the final goal.

The three goals for World No.15 Canada came through Oliver Scholfield (43rd), Jagdish Gill (49th) and David Jameson (52nd).

India, who are already out of the title race, will play their final league match against reigning World Champions Australia on Saturday.

They had earlier drawn 2-2 against South Korea, lost 1-2 to New Zealand and gone down 2-3 to Malaysia.

IANS