New Delhi, Dec 3 : Indian hockey team beat South Africa 3-1 in their first warm-up game before the Champions Challenge tournament at Salta, Argentina, Thursday.

V. Raghunath scored a brace while Gurvinder Chandi struck one goal.

India led 1-0 at half time after Chandi, set up by Roshan Minz who snatched the ball from a South African defender, sounded the board in the 19th minute.

After the break, Raghunath sank a penalty corner in the 45th minute to make it 2-0, but South Africa reduced the margin from their third corner.

Raghunath found the target again in the 60th minute.(IANS)