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All the news for Sunday 2 November 2014

Champions Trophy preparations: Imran Butt focused on improving body block

By Nabil Tahir


“The keeper has to read the striker, who in turn has to pass the keeper and stick it in,” Butt told The Express Tribune. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: National hockey goalkeeper Imran Butt has said he is working on improving his body block in the ongoing camp at the Karachi Club of Pakistan, as Pakistan prepare for the Hero Champions Trophy scheduled to take place from December 6 to December 14 in Bhubaneswar, India.

According to the 26-year-old, the previous penalty format in hockey was ‘99% at the striker’s end’, but in the new setup introduced a year back, both the keeper and the striker have equal responsibility. “The keeper has to read the striker, who in turn has to pass the keeper and stick it in,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “This competition [The Champions Trophy] has more chances to see matches being taken to a penalty shootout as top teams from around the world will be taking part. I have to work more on my body block and learn to read the dodges better.”

Pakistan have been placed in Pool A along with Australia, Belgium and England, while Pool B comprises hosts India, Argentina, Netherlands and Germany.

Butt believes the exposure in India while playing against the world’s top teams will help them in next year’s qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics.  “Playing more with the European countries will help us in doing our best to qualify for the Olympics,” he said.

Pakistan is the lowest ranked side in the competition, and currently occupy the 11th spot in the world standings. The Greenshirts are going into the competition off the back of a silver medal at the Asian games, where they lost the final in dramatic fashion after a shootout with India.

“Pakistan went into the final at the Asian Games after being out of international hockey for almost a year,” Butt added, before claiming that he feels that the side have a chance to win the trophy. “We can do anything, we came third in the last edition [of the Champions Trophy] and now we are aiming for the top of the board.”

The Express Tribune

HI announces junior women's team for New Zealand Tour

NEW DELHI: Defender Deep Grace Ekka will lead an 18-member junior Indian women's hockey team for a training-cum-competition trip to New Zealand from November 3 to 15.

"Hockey India today announced its Indian Junior Women Hockey Team for training and a Test Series scheduled to be held against New Zealand from November 3 to 15. This tour will be in preparations for the Junior Women Asia Cup to be held next year," Hockey India said in a statement.

The 18-member team was selected by Hockey India selectors B P Govinda, Dr R P Singh and Mamta Kharb alongwith Director High Performance Roelant Oltmans, coach N S Saini and Physiotherapist Chitrangana Modi on the basis of their selection trials conducted at SAI Centre, Bhopal on October 20.

Speaking on the team structure, Hockey India secretary general, Md. Mushtaque Ahmad said, "The Junior Women Asia Cup is an important tournament as a win there will secure qualification for the 2016 Junior Women World Cup.

"Keeping the importance of the tournament in mind we decided to send the junior team to New Zealand for this test series as they will have expose to play outside the country and in a completely different climatic conditions. The team selected has the right combination and will give a tough time to the opponents."

Scheduled to depart for New Zealand tomorrow, the preparatory camp is already underway at SAI Centre, Bhopal from October 13 and will continue till the departure.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sonal Miz, Inderpreet Kaur.

Defenders: Priya, Pooja Rani, Karishma Yadav, Deep Grace Ekka (Captain), Jaspreet Kaur, Manjit Kaur.

Midfielders: Sonika, Preeti Dubey, Lilima Minz, Navneet Kaur, Namita Toppo.

Forwards: Priyanka, Navpreet Kaur, Navjot Kaur (Vice-Captain), Poonam Barla, Anupa Barla.

The Times of India

Terengganu aiming to zap Tenaga next

By S. Ramaguru


Tenaga Nasional player Muhammad Shahril Saabah (right) fights for the ball with a KLHC player in the opening match of the Malaysia Hockey League on Wednesday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu Hockey Team are ready to turn off the power in Tenaga Nasional.

After pulverising Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) 7-0 in their opening Premier Division match of the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL), the east coast side are ready for more of the same against Tenaga at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

Tenaga lost their opening tie 5-3 to Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) on Wednesday.

But Terengganu will have to face Tenaga without defender Engku Abdul Malek, who was injured against UniKL. He is expected to be out for two weeks.

However, Ismail Abu, who did not feature in the opening match, might get to play.

“Ismail was down with suspected dengue. He has recovered. Other than that, all our players are in good shape,” said Terengganu team manager Mohd Sabri Salleh.

The two teams met three times last year. In the preliminary rounds, they drew 4-4. In the quarter-finals, Tenaga won both legs 3-2 and 5-1 respectively.

“Last year, Tenaga had the better of us. So, it is time for us to beat them,” said Sabri.

Like Tenaga, UniKL are also ready to put their opening defeat behind them and try to get points on board when they meet Sapura on Sunday.

UniKL coach A. Arulselvaraj took responsibility for the heavy defeat, saying “it is a lesson we must learn from”.

“I don’t want to look back ... I will try to get the team to focus on the next match. It was a demoralising defeat and we must make sure it doesn’t affect the team too much. A good showing against Sapura will help them regain their confidence,” he said.

The third match of the day is between defending champions KLHC and Maybank. The champions are big favourites to bag all three points.

The Star of Malaysia

Selangor beat defending champs in U-14 hockey opener

By S. Ramaguru

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor and Penang got off to winning starts in Group A of the 1MAS-MHC-Milo Under-14 hockey championships.

Selangor crushed defending champions Perak 4-2 while Penang overcame Malacca 3-2 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.

In the first match, Selangor shot ahead through Almatin Danial Ramzi (fourth minute) and Mohd Firdaus Jaafar (19th).

A minute later, Perak reduced the deficit through Mohd Syazwan Syafiq.

Mohd Alif Irfan got Selangor’s third goal in the 30th minute before Mohd Halif Fadzli scored the fourth in the 67th minute.

Iqbal Nafis got a second goal for Perak in the 69th minute but it was too little too late.

Penang also shot into a two-goal lead in their match against Malacca, thanks to Badrul Hamizan Uzrizan (13th minute) and Mohd Amirul Hamizan (17th).

Malacca drew level with a Mohd Muhibuddin Muharam brace in the 31st and 33rd minutes but Amirul got his second and Penang’s winner in the 45th minute.

In the girls’ category, defending champions Selangor got the ball rolling in Group A with a 7-2 trouncing of Kelantan.

Kedah also started off on a winning note when they defeated Terengganu 3-1 in another Group A match.

In Group B, Sabah hammered Johor 6-1.

The Star of Malaysia

Lynx & Tigers U16 Champions at Futures Cup


Futures Cup 2014 Day 3

Saxon Tigers were crowed champions of the Boys U16 Futures Cup in dramatic fashion after the final match of the tournament between Pennine Pumas and Mercia Lynx ended in a 2-2 draw. Tigers had earlier put in a solid performance to beat Leopards 4-2 to set up a fascinating final match between Pumas & Lynx, which would see the winner of that match crowned champions, with a draw meaning the cup would go to Tigers. Pumas lead at half time but a strong come back from Lynx in the second half saw them come back to 2-2. And it all came down to the last play of the match with Lynx winning a Penalty Corner, but they were unable to convert sending the anxious watching Tigers team into raptures.

The all or nothing match in the Girls U16 tournament went the way of the Mercia Lynx as they got the better of the 2013 champions, putting in a fine performance to beat Pennine Pumas 3-1.  There was another 2-2 draw in what was effectively a third place play off between the Saxon Tigers and Wessex Leopards which meant the Tigers claimed third place.

In the final pool games of the Boys U18 tournament, Saxon Tigers continued their strong form with a 4-0 win over the Wessex Leopards. The Boys Final will be tomorrow at 13:15  and will see a re-run of this game. The other game of the day saw a thrilling finish as the Pennine Pumas came back from 3-1 down to beat the Mercia Lynx 5-3 in what will also be tomorrows third place play off, taking place at 11:00.

The Mercia Lynx Girls U18s cemented their place in the final with a 2-1 victory over the Pennine Pumas. The Wessex Leopards needed a draw against the Saxon Tigers to make the final and they lead 1-0 at half time but two goals from Anna Baker took the score to 2-1 in favour of the Tigers and secured them a place in the final tomorrow at 11:00.  The Leopards and Pumas will play for third place at 13:15.

The final U16 tables can be found below. Click HERE to find out all of the up to date information from this year's Futures Cup, including results, tables and scorers.

England Hockey Board Media release

FIH concludes successful 2014 Congress in Marrakesh


(Photo: YAPASPHOTO)

The FIH concluded its 2014 Ordinary Congress today in Marrakesh. The well-attended two day event was titled the ‘Hockey Revolution Congress’ and delegates learnt about the Hockey Revolution – FIH’s new ten year strategy set to deliver a global sport, inspiring the next generation. The FIH laid out ambitious goals for the next ten years for hockey around entertainment, professionalism, image and following.  A clear strategy was outlined for hockey focusing on five key initiatives; fan-focused entertainment portfolio; world-class content creation and distribution; joined-up global marketing; commercial partners who share our vision and educate and empower programmes. 

The 44th Congress welcomed five new National Associations from three continents. From Africa - Burundi, Cameroon and Sierra Leone all become Sole Governing Member National Associations.  Vietnam join from Asia and Haïti join from Pan-America, meaning FIH now has 132 National Associations.

Voting for Ordinary Members of the FIH Executive Board also took place for the positions of two female members, one male member and two open positions.  Of the two open positions, one is for the duration of two years only, to replace H.R.H. Prince Abdullah Shah following his appointment as the President of the Asian Hockey Federation, thereby automatically having a position on the Board.

The voting for the new Executive Board members began with the female vote. Maureen Craig-Rousseau from Trinidad and Tobago was elected and Pamela Stuper from the USA was re-elected to the Board. The male place went to Dr Narinder Batra from India.  The two open positions saw the re-election of Marc Coudron from Belgium and Qasim Zia from Pakistan.

FIH President, Leandro Negre said, “I am delighted that we have welcomed new National Associations to the FIH family.  The addition of these new members from all over the world, supports our new ambition, goals and strategy and ultimately, will help to raise the global status and popularity of hockey.  My congratulations to the new Executive Board members and thanks to the members stepping down for their tireless effort and dedication.  I am looking forward to the next two years of my tenure as FIH President, as we create a Hockey Revolution.”


The FIH team introducing the Hockey Revolution – FIH’s new ten year strategy

FIH site