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News 02 January 2014

All the news for Thursday 2 January 2014


Ticket sale for World Hockey League Final begins

NEW DELHI: The ticket sale for the Hero Hockey World League Final to be held at Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium from January 10 to 18 began on Wednesday.

The tickets can be booked online at www.ticketgenie.in which is the official ticketing partner of the Hero Hockey World League Final.

The prices of the tickets will be Rs 50 for General Admission and Rs 1000 for VIP seating. Each ticket entitles the spectator to watch all the matches being held on each day, Hockey India said.

The stadium has the capacity of accommodating 16,000 spectators.

Fans can also buy their tickets from 16 Twenty Four Seven Retail Stores and 14 The Mobile Stores across Delhi/NCR.

The nine-day tournament will feature eight teams and 24 matches.

Placed in Pool A, India will open their campaign against England on January 10, followed by New Zealand on January 11 and Germany on January 13. All India matches in the pool stage will be played at 2000 hrs.

FIH World League will replace the qualifying tournaments for Olympic Games and FIH World Cup. This tournament will be used to decide which teams qualify alongside the continental champions and hosts for future Olympic Games and FIH World Cups. All teams playing in FIH World League will also gain world ranking points.

The Times of India



Acid test for new coach Walsh

Recently-appointed India hockey coach Terence Walsh may not have anything to do with the 10th place finish of the junior team at the Hockey World Cup held in early December in New Delhi. But he sure knows what he has at hand when these boys turn men in time to come.

With Asian Games (Incheon), Commonwealth Games (Glasgow) and the World Cup ( The Hague) slated for 2014, all eyes will be focussed not only on the seniors, but simultaneously on Aussie Walsh. His countryman and predecessor Michael Nobbs took ill (high blood pressure) perhaps with the high demands from India.

On the other hand, Hockey India has stepped up to provide a solid support staff at Walsh's service and all it asks is performance.

With three major tournaments taking place in 2014, no sane hockey fan will ask for gold in all, leave out cynics please. But yes, in order of reality, gold at Asian Games, top-six in World Cup and podium finish at Glasgow is not only achievable but a logical demand.

The Times of India



Stuck’ PHF hopes for Asian Games go-ahead

By Fawad Hussain


We are desperate to send the team to the Asian Games, says PHF President Akhtar Rasool. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) defied the December 31, 2013 deadline to confirm the country’s participation at this year’s Asian Games where the greenshirts are supposed to defend their gold medal.

The PHF’s failure to send an expression of interest to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), headed by Arif Hasan, has brought the defending champions on the verge of exclusion from the mega event which is scheduled to be held in South Korea in September.

Hasan’s body has authorisation by the International Olympics Committee (IOC), whereas Akram Sahi, who heads the parallel POA, is backed by the government. The national contingent can only go through the channel that is endorsed by the IOC.

The PHF, who are ‘stuck’ in the tussle between the rival POA bodies, are keeping their fingers crossed over the national team’s participation.

“We are desperate to send the team to the Asian Games,” PHF President Akhtar Rasool told The Express Tribune, while confirming that his federation had still not contacted Hasan.

“Before contacting Arif Hasan’s POA, we require the government’s approval because they provide us the funds and other assistance needed for the game’s promotion.”

A similar situation was faced by the PHF at the time of confirmation for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2014 when the government refused permission to contact Hasan.

“I had meetings with top sports government officials. I explained in detail what happened at the time of CWG confirmation and requested them to find a solution at the earliest. After my meetings, I am hopeful that the issue will be resolved.”

Meanwhile, an official close to Hasan’s POA revealed that  Pakistan can participate in the games — but a long delay from the PHF to submit an expression of interest ‘will end all hopes’.

The Express Tribune



Pakistan's National Championships: Eight of the Ten sides included Dar Academy boys

By Ijaz Chaudhry

The supply of hockey talent from the reservoir called Dar Hockey Academy is increasing all the time.

10 teams contested the final round of the just concluded 60th National Championships of Pakistan. The Dar HA boys figured in no less than eight sides; 20 of them.

In these depressing times for Pakistan hockey, Dar HA presents a ray of hope.

The academy boys and their teams:

National Bank (won the national crown for the third time): Arsalan Qadir and Faisal Qadir (brothers also played for Pakistan in the junior World Cup last month)

PIA (runner up): Imran Butt (Goal keeper of Pakistan’s national team)

WAPDA (bronze medal): Khalid Bhatti, Aleem Bilal, Suleman Hussain and Saleem Sui

Southern Gas (4th position): Adeel, Adnan and M.Rizwan

Navy: M.Asif and Asad

Police: Aamir Yaqoob, Aamir Ali, Awais, Nasir Shahzad and Abid Bhatti
 
Port Qasim Authority: Ahad
 
Higher Education: Hassan Obaid and Sikander Mustafa
 
Many among them have played for Pakistan’s different age group sides and four have also donned the national senior colours

www.darhockeyacademy.com

Ijaz Chaudhry writes on hockey and other sports. For more about him and his work, visit www.sportscorrespondent.info

Fieldhockey.com



Fallen BJSS aim to make waves again

By Aftar Singh


Filepic shows BJSS players in 2011. The former five-time Malaysian Junior Hockey League double champions, are now playing in Div 2 of the league which begins on Jan 10.
   
KUALA LUMPUR: The Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), once the all-conquering team in the MHC-Milo-NSC Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) and the provider of several stars for the national junior and senior team, are now in the doldrums.

BJSS, who have won a total of 12 titles, including five doubles – league and overall crowns – in the MHJL, are now struggling to make an impact in the Under-19 league which was inaugurated in 1995.

Last year the sports school had their worst outing in Division One, finishing a disappointing seventh out of eight teams and this season they face the unfamiliar scenario of playing in Division Two.

Among the BJSS players, who are now in the national senior team are defender and penalty corner specialist Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim, midfielders Mohd Sukri Abdul Mutalib and Nabil Fiqri Mohd Noor and forward Tengku Ahmad Tajudin.

A total of 30 teams will feature in this season’s MJHL which begins on Jan 10. Seven teams will play in Division One while the remaining 23 teams have been divided into three groups in Division Two.

BJSS are drawn in Group C with SMK Tunku Besar of Tampin, SMK Datuk Mohd Taha of Gemencheh, BJSS Juniors, SMK Datuk Bentara Luar Batu Pahat, SM Sains Johor and Polytechnic-KPM of Johor.

BJSS coach S. Prakash said that they are struggling because they don’t have experienced players like the BJSS pre-university players.

“The other teams have roped in the pre-university players as they have offered them money,” said the school’s teacher-cum-coach Prakash.

“We cannot stop the pre-university players from playing for other teams. In their absence, we have to rely on our Form Four and Five students with the average age of 17, to play in the MJHL.

“The other teams have more depth as they have experienced players to lead their challenge,” said Prakash.

Prakash said their mission this year is to fight their way back to Division One in 2015.

“However, it is not going to be easy, as the teams in our group are stronger. We need to finish top two in our group to play in the second round playoffs for promotion,” said Prakash.

The top two teams in each of the three groups will be divided into two groups in the second round. And the teams who qualify for the semi-finals will also feature in the knockout stage together with the top four teams from Division One for the overall title.

The top two teams after the second round of the Division Two will be promoted to Division One in 2015.

The Star of Malaysia



Top scorers of the Maxinutrition Hockey 5s so far


Simon Mantell for Reading at the Maxifuel Super Sixes Finals 2013

Ahead of the second weekend of the Maxinutrition Hockey 5s Championships, we take a look at the top 10 scorers from the first weekend of action.

The 2 days saw 361 goals in 36 games across both men's and women's divisions, with Simon Mantell (Reading) and Nikki Kidd (Canterbury) taking the top spots with 14 and 11 goals respectively.

With more indoor action just around the corner, these tables could change a lot after the weekend is over, but here's the top 10 (plus a few extra) as it stands going into week 2:

Women's Premier Division

 

Player Club F PC PS Total

Nikki Kidd

Canterbury

8

3

0

11

Alex Scott

Slough

5

3

2

10

Sally Walton

Bowdon Hightown

4

2

3

9

Helen Richardson-Walsh

Reading

7

0

0

7

Tina Cullen

Bowdon Hightown

6

0

0

6

Sarah Parkinson-Mills

Sutton Coldfield

5

1

0

6

Emma Lee-Smith

Harleston Magpies

3

3

0

6

Nikki Lloyd

Canterbury

4

0

0

4

Ruth Gordon

East Grinstead

4

0

0

4

Susie Rowe

Canterbury

3

1

0

4

Emma Thomas

Reading

3

1

0

4

Laura Puddle

Slough

3

1

0

4

Jen Parkinson-Mills

Sutton Coldfield

1

1

2

4

Emily Maguire

Reading

0

4

0

4

Men's Premier Division

Player Club F PC PS Total

Simon Mantell

Reading

11

2

1

14

Simon Egerton

Bowdon

6

6

0

12

Tom Carson

Reading

8

0

0

8

Kwan Browne

Canterbury

1

6

1

8

Hardeep Jawanda

Canterbury

2

5

0

7

Niall Stott

East Grinstead

2

5

0

7

Sam Ward

Beeston

5

1

0

6

Adam Dixon

Beeston

3

2

1

6

Bart Zywicka

Bowdon

1

5

0

6

Ben Allberry

Canterbury

5

0

0

5

Mickel Pierre

Canterbury

5

0

0

5

Dom Bowden

Loughborough Stu

5

0

0

5

Chris Griffiths

Loughborough Stu

3

2

0

5

Nick Catlin

Reading

3

2

0

5

George Torry

Sevenoaks

2

3

0

5

England Hockey Board Media release



Clubhouse: The inside line


Mark Gleghorne in action for England NOW Pensions

The Clubhouse, the new England Hockey Magazine insert, delivers interviews, tips and coaching guides straight to your letterbox or perhaps even your clubhouse. For the most recent issue, we asked England's best and brightest to share their favourite tips.

Michael Hoare - When marking your opponent, always try to front/side mark so you know where your opponent is but you can also be on the front foot to intercept any pass that is played in to them.

Mark Gleghorne - When trapping a ball that is in the air or bouncing up off the surface, try to keep your head as still as possible and cushion the ball with your stick. Don’t ‘snatch’ at the ball when it’s in the air as this minimizes your chances of making a good contact.

Alex Danson - If you’re looking to get the ball in to the air with more control, try bending your knees and lower your knuckles towards the ground. This allows your stick to lift under the ball and get it airborne.

Henry Weir - For a more consistent ball stopping technique, trap the ball inside your right foot while keeping it in line with your head. This will make!coordinating your hands and eyes much, much easier.

Patrick Smith - Keep asking questions and learning – knowledge is power!

Joanna Leigh - When in the attacking 25 or around the circle, try incorporating lifted skills into your dribbling – it helps avoid flat stick tackles and makes it much more difficult for the defender to time their challenges.

Shona McCallin - When eliminating somebody don’t always focus on what you do with the ball, focus on what you do with you body. Look to use your body movement to fool your marker by shifting your weight and faking to go the opposite way to where you want to go – remember it’s easier to control your body than the ball!

Helen Richardson-Walsh - When you’re trying to sell a dummy to beat a player, along with stick stills you can also use your body. Even looking in a different direction to where you want to go can often convince a defender to sell themselves early.

Sally Walton - By getting into position early, you are able to receive the ball under less pressure and will have a better idea of what’s around you. Work hard early, it will pay dividends.

Simon Mantell - When deflecting the ball as a shot on goal, keep your feet facing towards the target in order to be able to extend and dive if ball ends up being played in front of you. When shooting using a reverse stick, make sure the face of the stick is facing directly up. This will enable you to get a clean connection with the ball on the leading edge.

Kate Richardson-Walsh - When making a 1-v-1 tackle on the run, make absolutely sure you don’t get square on to the attacker. Instead, work hard to get your feet going in the direction you want the attacker to go as early as possible and shepherd them away from danger.

Got Game?

Got a brilliant shooting technique you think people should know about? Got a video of your teammate effortlessly eliminating their marker? Why not share it with the Hockey Nation? Tweet us your tips @EnglandHockey using the hashtag #THECLUBHOUSE or let us know about them via Facebook and we'll get the word out to the world!

England Hockey Board Media release

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