Reigning world champions the Netherlands edged South Korea 3-2 in the Olympic women's field hockey tournament on Tuesday.

Maartje Paumen opened the scoring for the Netherlands in the third minute, but no more than one minute, South Korea leveled the score by a penalty corner from Captain Lee Seon Ok. Janneke Schopman added a goal and gave the Dutch 2-1 lead at the half time.

A penalty stroke by the captain in the 39th minute made South Korea tie again with Holland 2-2. With the overwhelming cheers of the Dutch spectators, Paumen scored his second penalty corner in the 55th minute. South Korea, 10th-ranked in the world, finally could not crack down the Dutch defense and had to accept the 3-2 loss.

The Netherlands next meet hosts China and South Korea play Spain on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)