News for 11 March 2015
All the news for Wednesday 11 march 2015
SA hockey men make heavy weather of win
JONATHAN COOK at Hartleyvale
Maties WP n SA striker Pierre de Voux calls for ball v Swiss. ACTION PIX
It was their least impressive performance, but the South Africa men’s hockey team did enough to beat a spirited Switzerland 2-0 in the final Pool match of the Greenfields FIH World League Round 2 tournament at Hartleyvale in Cape Town Tuesday night.
A sizzling penalty corner strike by captain Austin Smith in the second minute and a quality field goal by Taine Paton four minutes after half-time (34th minute) ensured SA ended top of Pool A and booked a 6.30pm quarter-final date with Azerbaijan Thursday.
SA were increasingly better in first beating China and then Egypt over the weekend. The men in green and gold were disjointed for the most part against the Swiss and will be looking for far better in the Azerbaijan quarter-final Thursday.
After just 93 seconds in the match Julian Hykes fed Clint Panther who won a penalty corner. Paton injected from the baseline, Tim Drummond trapped the white nut at the top of the strike zone and Smith flashed his drag-flick into the net.
In the eighth minute Natius Malgraff set free a flying Shannon Boucher down the left wing and the striker was upended in the strike zone, earning SA another PC, but Matt Guise-Brown’s effort was superbly glove-saved by brilliant keeper Flavio Beuggert.
The keeper’s effort set the tone and he denied Smith at PC time on a number of occasions in the match, as well as Hykes and his fellow frontrunners from field play.
The Swiss had their chances, but SA keeper Rassie Pieterse was outstanding in stopping efforts from Jan Hodle and Florian Feller, while the Swiss suffered the frustration of seeing two PC efforts fly just wide of each post.
It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the men in green and gold can now look forward to the business end of the tournament, which starts Thursday. Friday afternoon features the semi-finals with the medal matches on Sunday afternoon.
SA TEAM
Rassie Pieterse (GK), Dylan Swanepoel, Austin Smith (capt), Rhett Halkett, Matt Guise-Brown, Jet Eustice, Clint Panther, Tim Drummond, Taine Paton, Pierre de Voux, Julian Hykes. Rolling subs: Gowan Jones (GK), Dan Bell, Robin Jones, Dan Sibbald, Natius Malgraff, Keenan Horne, Shannon Boucher.
TUESDAY RESULTS
Pool B:
France 3 Belarus 0
Azerbaijan 1 Czech Republic 1 (penalty shootout) Azerbaijan 3 Czech Republic 1
Pool A:
Egypt 4 China 1
South Africa 2 Switzerland 0.
FINAL LOGS –
Pool A:
1 South Africa 8pts (goal difference 3)
2 Egypt 6pts (GD4)
3 China 4pts (GD1)
4 Switzerland 0pts (GD -10).
Pool B:
1 France 9pts (GD11)
2 Czech Republic 4pts (GD-2)
3 Belarus 3pts (GD-4)
4 Azerbaijan 2pts (GD-5).
THURSDAY QUARTER-FINALS
11h45 Czech Republic vs China; 14h00 Egypt vs Belarus; 16h15 France vs Switzerland; 18h30 South Africa vs Azerbaijan.
SA Hockey Association media release
India & Malaysia dazzle in Delhi
India’s Eves top Pool A while Malaysians dominate Pool B at women’s Hockey World League event
(Photo: FIH)
Host nation India and Malaysia have dominated the early stages of the women’s Hero Hockey World League Round 2 event in New Delhi, with the Asian nations both topping their respective Pools ahead of Thursday’s quarter-finals.
The two highest finishers in the eight team tournament, which began on Saturday 7th March and concludes on Sunday 15th March, will each be guaranteed a place in the HWL Semi-Finals, where the coveted berths at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro are on offer.
Top ranked India (FIH World Ranking: 13) more than justified their status as tournament favourites by recording wins against Ghana (WR: 30), Poland (WR: 26) and Thailand (WR: 45) to guarantee top spot in Pool A. Striker Vandana Katariya has been one of the stars of the India line-up, netting six goals to make herself an early frontrunner for tournament top scorer. Poland finished in second place with two wins, ahead of third placed Thailand and Ghana, who finished fourth.
In Pool B, Malaysia (WR: 21) have written all of the headlines by defeating Kazakhstan (WR: 32), Singapore (WR:43) and Russia (WR: 23) to finish top of the standings. A hat-trick from Fazilla Sylvester Silin in a 5-0 win against bottom of the table Singapore secured a first place finish for the Malaysians, while a treble from Kazakhstan captain Vatalya Gataulina gave her side a stunning 3-2 triumph over Russia to seal second place ahead of their higher-ranked opponents.
The two Pool winners will face the sides that finished bottom of the other Pool, with India’s Eves squaring up against Singapore while Malaysia face Ghana. Poland versus Russia and Kazakhstan versus Thailand completes Thursday’s quarter-final line-up. To see all tournament fixtures and results, please click here.
In the women’s Hockey World League, a total of seven qualification places for the HWL Semi-Finals are available from the Round 2 events in Montevideo (URU), New Delhi (IND) and Dublin (IRL). The reason for seven rather nine qualifiers is because both Spain and Belgium, two nations ranked between 12-19 at the time of seeking entries, are hosting Semi-Final tournaments later this year and have therefore already qualified.
The top two finishers from Montevideo, New Delhi and Dublin are certain to qualify for the Semi-Finals, being joined by the highest ranked of the third placed finishers from those three events. Italy and Uruguay recently confirmed their places in the Semi-Finals with a top two finish at the event in Montevideo, while Azerbaijan face a nervous wait until the end of the Round 2 events before knowing if they are the highest ranked of the third placed finishers. To learn more about how the teams progress through the competition in the hope of reaching the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, click here.
You can keep track of the tournament in New Delhi on the official tournament microsite.
FIH site
With 6-0 against Thailand, India tops its pool
K. Arumugam
With two goals in the last minute and three in the third quarter compared to a solitary strike in the first 30 minutes of play India put out a 6-0 victory over lowest ranked Thailand in the third and last pool match and with three wins in as many as matches made it to the Thursday Quartefinal of the Hockey World League Round 2 (women) in Delhi. India, despite total domination, failed to strike as it would have desired in the first half, but three goals in the third quarter, and two in the last minute of the game changed the complexion of the game.
Rani Ramphal and Jaspreet Kaur scored a brace each while Amandeep Kaur and Vandana accounted for the rest.
undefined As an irony of sort the quarterfinal line up is like this: India which did not concede a goal will meet Singapore which could not score single goal in three matches.
Braving bulwark kind of defence that least ranked Thailand put up in the first half, India struck three goals in the third quarter to add a solitary early goal of Amandeep Kaur to provide one-sided looking 4-0 lead at the end of third quarter.
Thailand girls put up a great defence almost 35 minutes, with their goalie excelling in whatever did, and denied dominating host any elbow room in the scoreboard. India in fact had to waste a whopping ten penalty corners, half of them ending empty at the alert goalie.
The deadlock was broken when captain Ritu Rani sent a strong pass from 25-yard line, picked up by Soundarya Yandala, whose parallel pass was tapped in by Amandeep Kaur to the left of otherwise reflexive goalie. The 1-0 lead obtained in the 26th minute gave a big relief to India which was all over the place but could not move the scoreboard.
The third quarter of course was a different two goals coming in a short spell, first by Jaspreet who bounced on to a rebound of her own shot to put the ball above goalie's head. A minute later experienced Rani Ramphal, who just missed a sitter, and on whom a penalty stroke was given only to be overruled by another umpire, came up with a stunner in a melee to give India 3-0 lead.
Next goal for India came from ever-green forward Vandana, who knelt low to divert a long shot from the centre of D (4-0).
Hardworking Anupa Barla did all the spade work for the fifth goal, aided by Amandeep who sent a slow parallel bemusing the goalie who was covering the acute angle, all the experienced Rani had to do was to just deflect it into the open goal mouth.
India's sixth goal, a straight conversion by Jaspreet came after hooter, and it was a consolation since it could at least convert a token penalty corner out of 14.
Wednesday is rest. All the teams will play quarterfinal on Thursday
Quarter Final Match schedule:
13:15 QF1 Malaysia v Ghana
15:30 QF2 Kazakhstan v Thailand
17:45 QF3 Poland v Russia
20:00 QF4 India v Singapore
All timings IST
Stick2Hockey.com
India thrashes Thailand
Uthra Ganesan
Indian women missed more than a dozen chances before finding their scoring touch to thrash Thailand 6-0 in their last league match of the Hero Hockey World League Round 2 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Tuesday.
The Indians scored just one goal in the first 30 minutes against the World No. 45 side, but made up in the last two quarters to finish on top of Group A.
The margin could have been bigger had the host converted the opportunities into goals.
India will now play Singapore in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Coach Roelant Oltmans had expressed unhappiness over India managing just one penalty corner against Poland despite penetrating the circle 26 times.
On Tuesday, India set that record right, earning 13 penalty corners. But it converted only once with Jaspreet Kaur scoring on the rebound in the 38th minute.
Amandeep Kaur opened the scoring with a deflection off a Soundarya Yendala pass in the 25th minute. India had, in fact, been awarded its first goal 30 seconds into the game when Vandana Katariya seemingly sent the ball flying in from the top of the striking circle.
However, the teams had already re-started play before the umpires realised there had been no touch to the ball inside the striking circle and reversed the decision.
Thailand goalkeeper Jesdaporn Tongsun was the most impressive performer, bringing off repeated saves to thwart the Indian strikers. The host changed the gameplan in the second half, aiming for the net instead of ground shots into the goal to get past Jesdaporn, and succeeded too.
Rani scored twice for the host, as did Jaspreet, while Vandana finally got her name on the scoresheet with a legitimate goal in the 45th minute, deflecting a long pass from Sunita Lakra into the goal.
Poland finished second in Group A with a 4-0 win over Ghana, which finished without a win, in its last league match.
In Group B, Malaysia expectedly won its last league match against Singapore 5-0 to finish on top, Fazilla Sylvester Silin scoring thrice for the winner. It will now play Ghana, which finished at the bottom of Group A, in the quarterfinals.
In another match, Kazakhstan captain Natalya Gataulina scored all three goals to upset higher-ranked Russia 3-2.
The results:
Group A: India 6 (Jaspreet Kaur 2, Rani 2, Vandana Katariya, Amandeep Kaur) bt Thailand 0; Poland 4 (Magdalena Zagajska, Amelia Katerla, Oriana Walasek, Paula Slawinska) bt Ghana 0.
Group B: Kazakhstan 3 (Natalya Gataulina 3) bt Russia 2 (Margarita Drepenkina, Kristina Shumilina); Malaysia 5 (Fazilla Sylvester Silin 3, Rabiatul Mohamed, Nurul Mansur) bt Singapore 0.
Quarterfinal line-up: Ghana vs Malaysia (1.15 p.m.), Thailand vs Kazakhstan (3.30 p.m.), Poland vs Russia (5.45 p.m.), India vs Singapore (8 p.m.).
The Hindu
India blank Thailand 6-0 to top group in HWL Round 2
NEW DELHI: Indian women's team thrashed Thailand 6-0 to top Pool A and enter the quarterfinals of Women's Hockey World League Round 2 at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium on Tuesday.
Jaspreet Kaur (38 min, 60 min) and Rani Rani (40, 60) scored two goals each for the home team while the remaining came from the sticks of Amandeep Kaur (25) and Vandana Katariya (45).
India now meet Singapore in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The hosts had hammered Ghana 13-0 before eking out a 2-0 win over Poland in earlier matches.
The other quarterfinals will be played between Malaysia and Ghana, Kazakhstan and Thailand, while Poland take on Russia.
While the game started with a nervous start from the Thailand defence, the Indian eves were constant in attacking from both the flanks throughout the game.
The Indian team was seen high in their fighting spirits and was awarded with three penalty corners in the early minutes of the game but failed to convert any of them. With neither of the teams able to open their score card, the goal tally stood nil at the end of first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Indian eves were looking to pierce the defence of Thailand.
Amandeep Kaur finally managed to break the defence of the opponents and pierced in the ball from the right flank to score the opening goal of the match for India in the 25th minute through a field effort.
Thailand team's goalie Jesdaporn Tongsun showed superb agility and excellent reflexes and placed herself perfectly at the goal mouth disallowing the Indian team to score from penalty corners.
Unable to open their score card, Thailand made a dry run and the scores stood 1-0 in favour of India by the end of the second quarter.
After a much entertaining first half, the high- voltage game in the third quarter went full throttle where the hosts continued to build pressure on Thailand.
It was through the stick of Jaspreet Kaur who slightly lifted the ball from the ground and struck goal post in the 38th minute with the strength of a penalty corner conversion.
Within two minutes, the goal post struck the third time when Rani Rani surged ahead and notched a field goal in the 40th minute advancing the lead to 3-0.
In the dying minutes of the quarter, India scored through Vandana Katariya who added another goal to her tally in the 45th minute through a field effort.
Failing to gather the ball and hitting the target, Thailand failed to score any goals leaving a score of 4-0 in favor of India on the board.
Continuing with the same momentum, India picked up the pace in the last stages of the match but was denied a number of goals from penalty corner opportunities.
On the other hand, keeping the score line out of the mind, Thailand focused on restricting the opponents to score further goals. This was short-lived as the last minute of the game yielded two goals in favour of India coming each from penalty corner and a field effort which were very well responded by Rani Rani and Jaspreet Kaur in the 60th minute respectively.
With no goals scored in favour of Thailand, the match ended with India defeating Thailand 6-0.
Excited on winning the match, Hockey India's High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans said, "It was a good and one sided match. We scored brilliantly and the team coordination was up to the mark. With this victory the confidence level is high. For me the performance was more than satisfactory and we are now gearing up for the next level of competition."
Thailand coach Young Wook Bae said, "It was a good game though we could not defend well. We will ensure we come back strong in the next match. We have to work on our defence and conversions."
The Times of India
Malaysia top Pool A, Kazakhstan finish second
NEW DELHI: Malaysia spanked Singapore 5-0 to maintain a clean slate and top Pool B while Kazakhstan eked out a 3-2 win over Russia to finish second in the group at the Hero FIH Women's Hockey World League Round 2, here on Tuesday.
With an all-win record, Malaysia finished their pool engagements with nine points ahead of Kazakhstan (6), Russia (3) and Singapore.
In the first match of Pool B on Tuesday at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Fazilla Sylvester Silin (24th minute, 32nd, 45th) scored a hat-trick for Malaysia while Rabiatul Mohamed (26th) and Nurul Mansur (41st) were the other goal getters.
Later in the day, Kazakhstan rode on Natalya Gataulina's (21st minute, 28th, 38th) hat-trick to get the better of the Russian girls.
For Russia, Margarita Drepenkina (35th) and Kristina Shumilina (44th) were the goal scorers.
Malaysia will now face the bottom placed team of Pool A, which is all likelihood would be Ghana, in the quarterfinals while Singapore will take on hosts India.
The Times of India
World League: Malaysia 5 Singapore 0
By Jugjet Singh
AS Expected, the Malaysian women's hockey team beat Singapore 5-0 to finish tops in Group B of the World League Round Two in New Delhi yesterday.
After beating Kazakhstan 8-0, the Malaysian women went on to beat Russia 3-0 and then Singapore to enter the quarter-finals stage on a high.
Malaysian will play winless Ghana in the last eight, and are expected to breeze into the semis where they are expected to face their toughest hurdle in Poland to lay their hands on one of the two tickets to the World League Semi-finals.
For the record, the women have never qualified for the World League Semi-finals before.
Yesterday, Fazilla Sylvester Silin started the Singapore rout with a field goal in the 24th minute, and she went on to notch a hat-trick with goals in the 32nd and 45th minutes. The other goals were scored by Rabiatul Mohamed (26th) and Nurul Mansur (41st).
Malaysia had whacked Singapore 10-0 in WL Round One, so naturally coach Nasihin Nubli was a little worried: "We missed many scoring chances in the first quarter and our penalty corneers were also not very sharp today (yesterday). We can't afford this in the knock-out stages, so I will use the rest day before the quarters to re-drill these areas."
The stakes are very high in New Delhi as only the finalists get another shot at qualifying for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro, while one more spot will be made available to the highest ranked team which finishes third in the World League Round Two tournaments around the world.
"We should beat Ghana, and our likely semi-finals opponents are Poland going by the form of teams in Group A. We did play a friendly against Poland before the tournament and won 1-0, so nothing is impossible for my charges if they put their hear in the game," said Nasihin.
NOTE: Malaysian men lost 6-0 to Australia national side in their Down Under Tour.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Fazilla had a monster game against S’pore in Delhi
By Aftar Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: Forward Fazilla Sylvester Silin has kept true to her word.
The Sarawakian, who promised to score in every match, netted a hat-trick to steer Malaysia to a 5-0 win over Singapore for their third consecutive win to top Group B in the women’s World League Second Round at the Major Dhyan Chand national Stadium in New Delhi yesterday.
Fazilla was on target in the 24th, 32nd and 45th minutes. She has five goals thus far.
Ribiatul Adawiyah Mohamed (26th) and Nurul Nabiha Mansur (41st) contributed the other goals.
In the first two matches, world No. 21 and second-seeded Malaysia beat Kazakhstan 8-0 and Russia 3-0.
Malaysia will take on Group A basement side and winless Ghana in the quarter-finals on Thursday.
Singapore, who lost all their three group matches without scoring a single goal, face a daunting task against favourites and Group A champions India in the last eight.
The 27-year-old Fazilla, who scored a goal each against Kazakhstan and Russia, was thrilled to score her first hat-trick in the tournament.
“I’m happy that I have scored in all three matches. I’m looking forward to scoring more goals in the knockout stage against Ghana,” she said.
National coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli, however, wasn’t too pleased with his forwards for missing several chances.
“We also wasted a number of penalty corner set pieces. We’ll work on it to make sure we get it right against Ghana,” he said.
The Star of Malaysia
Stairs' scoring prowess a key to Women's National Team success
World League Round 2 begins Saturday in Dublin, Ireland
Shaheed Devji
Brienne Stairs - 2014 Commonwealth Games
In hockey, there’s nothing quite like scoring goals.
The build-up, the anticipation, the adrenaline, the key moment of execution, and the resulting the euphoria, it doesn’t compare to anything else in the game.
But you would think for someone who scores as much as Canadian Women’s National Field Hockey Team forward Brienne Stairs it might get old.
Think again.
“It feels so good,” says the twenty-five year-old native of Kitchener, Ontario. “When we play at those multisport events like the Commonwealth and Pan Am Games, it (scoring) is an amazing feeling.”
Stairs is coming off a monumental year with the Women’s National Team during which she scored twelve times to lead the team and was among the top ten goal scorers worldwide.
Having scored six goals in her first major tournament with the Women’s National team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Gudalajara, Mexico, filling the back of the net is something she’s gotten used to.
But it’s not something she takes for granted.
“You’ve got to want it, that’s for sure,” she says, as the Women’s National Team prepares to begin World League Round 2 in Dublin, Ireland this weekend.
“I definitely think it’s a team effort,” she humbly adds about her goal-scoring prowess. “Most of my goals are scored in close so it’s mostly those last touches. So everyone pretty much is doing the hard work for me and I’m just in the right position.”
That’s one way of looking at it. The other would be that Stairs has made herself into one of the world’s biggest threats offensively against many odds.
Coming from an ice hockey background and only taking up the sport of field hockey late in high school, Stairs’ style has been dubbed as different. But it’s anything but ineffective.
“It’s pretty special to watch her in full flight,” says Women’s National Team head coach Ian Rutledge. “I’m sure it has got a lot to do with her ice hockey background, which makes her somewhat unorthodox as a striker in the traditional sense of the word.”
She has excelled in a variety of sports including basketball, baseball, tennis and swimming, before making field hockey her priority.
The oldest of three sisters and one of five siblings, Stairs will likely have a chance to play in front of family and friends this summer in Toronto at the Pan American Games, where – if Canada has not already done so through the World League tournament – the Women’s National Team will be attempting to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games by winning gold.
If they’re able to reach the top of the podium, you can count on Stairs having a big hand in getting them there.
Brienne Stairs - 2014 Commonwealth Games
“I want to top what I did last year so there is a bit of pressure,” she says. “It’s going to be amazing to have home field advantage.”
Home turf or not, Stairs has proven that she’s a threat anywhere she plays. And having not missed a match for the last two years, her durability is as impressive as her finesse, that combined with her relatively young age makes her a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.
“I just hope she realizes how good she could be,” says Rutledge. “She’s doing really well and she has room for growth. It’s quite scary to think how good she could be if she continues on the same trajectory.”
Canada opens World League Round 2 against Turkey on Saturday, March 14 before facing host Ireland on Sunday.
The top two finishers at World League 2 gain an entry into World League Round 3 in Spain in June, where the top three teams will earn a spot at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Black Sticks head to Gisborne for first time
Hockey New Zealand today confirmed that the Black Sticks Women will take on Argentina in two games at the new turf at the Harry Barker Reserve in early April.
It will be the first time that an international hockey game has been played in Gisborne - and furthermore, it is perhaps the first time that any international sporting fixture has been held in the region.
“We were holding off announcing this until all funders and sponsors were onboard, and we are pleased to say that we now have the required level of funding to proceed. I have no doubt that this is going to be a tremendous event for a region which is so deserving of their new world-class turf,” said Hockey New Zealand chief executive Malcolm Harris.
A fortnight ago, the Gisborne District Council voted in favour of providing some of the funding required to host the two official test matches, with Poverty Bay Hockey Association, Eastland Community Trust (ECT), Polytan STI, Musco Lighting, D W Dentice and Civil Project Solutions also investing in the event.
General manager of ECT and chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Sports Facility Trust Leighton Evans said the development of the new turf has been a lot of hard work for a lot of people, but it’s extremely pleasing to see the benefits so early on.
“To have the Black Sticks down in Gisborne is validation that the new turf is going to be a valuable community asset. The simple fact is that without the turf they [Argentina and Black Sticks Women] wouldn’t be coming. Events like this help put Gisborne on the map as a city that can host international tests,” said Evans.
Evans said although Poverty Bay Hockey Association is the cornerstone tenants of the turf, other sporting codes will also have access to it throughout the year.
With over 850 registered hockey players in Gisborne, Poverty Bay Hockey Association has a strong history and will be working with Hockey New Zealand to deliver the games in April.
To help celebrate the new turf and to ensure that everyone gets to experience the speed and skill of international hockey, volunteers will be asking for a koha from spectators on the day.
“We don’t want ticket prices to be a reason for families not to come – the aim is to fill the ground both days and really get behind our Black Sticks so that they come back to Gisborne in the future,” said Wade Manson from Poverty Bay Hockey.
Argentina, ranked third, are in New Zealand and are one of eight nations competing in the Hawke’s Bay Cup which is a major hockey event in Hastings from the 11-19 April. For more information go to www.hockeyfestival.nz
The times of the games have been confirmed as 3.30pm on the 7th and 8th April.
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Changes to Junior Squad
Nine incoming faces to the women’s National Junior Squad
Nine young athletes have been selected for the Hockey Australia women’s National Junior Squad following the recent promotion of athletes from that squad into the National Development and National Senior squads.
The athletes coming into the National Junior Squad are Aimee Clark (WA), Olivia Colasurdo (VIC), Talei Forrest (ACT), Rebecca Greiner (QLD), Georgia Hillas (QLD), Tina Taseska (ACT), Mikalea Patterson (NSW), Sophie Taylor (VIC) and Shanea Tonkin (WA).
The primary focus of the National Junior Squad is to ensure that there is a progressively increasing level of depth within women’s hockey to ensure the sustainable future for the Australian women’s senior squad for years to come.
The National Junior Squad has a shifting priority based on the date of the next Junior World Cup. In the two years preceding the Junior World Cup, the focus will be on an under 21 age group, while the rest of the cycle, the National Junior Squad will support athletes at an under 23 age group. Thus, in preparation for the 2016 Junior World Cup, athletes born in 1994 or later are eligible for selection in 2015, and athletes born in 1995 or later are eligible for selection in 2016.
The Australian national junior team, the Jillaroos, will be aiming to compete at the Junior World Cup in Santiago in November and December 2016.
2015 Women’s National Junior Squad
Name (Hometown, State)
Hannah Astbury (West End, QLD)
Kristina Bates (Port Melbourne, VIC)
Lily Brazel (Baulkum Hills, NSW)
Aimee Clark (Attadale, WA)
Olivia Colasurdo (East Keilor, VIC)
Talei Forrest (Oxley, ACT)
Andrea Gillard (Lithgow, NSW)
Laura Gray (Goulburn, NSW)
Rebecca Greiner (Bundaberg, QLD)
Greta Hayes (Maroubra, NSW)
Georgia Hillas (Wishart, QLD)
Ambrosia Malone (Molendinar, QLD)
Madeline Murphy (Hobart, TAS)
Tina Taseska (Palmerston, ACT)
Kaitlin Nobbs (Newington, NSW)
Mikaela Patterson (Blackbutt, NSW)
Aleisha Power (Clackline, WA)
Madi Ratcliffe (Warrnambool, VIC)
Michaela Spano (Toorak Gardens, SA)
Grace Stewart (Gerringong, NSW)
Sophie Taylor (Camberwell, VIC)
Shanea Tonkin (Darch, WA)
Jessica Watterson (The Lagoon, NSW)
Leah Welstead (Taperoo, SA)
Georgia Wilson (Mahogany Creek, WA)
Hockey Australia media release
Egara host special "Road to Bloemendaal" event
In preparation for the Euro Hockey League, last week Club Egara held a special “Road to Bloemendaal” event with 120 hockey kids from the club.
The event, organised by the players, saw the kids given a unique chance to play against their senior team heroes.
The tournament was divided in two categories, under 10-12 and under 14-16. Every team in the tournament was named after one of the 16 teams who will participate in this year’s edition of the KO16.
At the same time, every team had at least one player of Club Egara’s first team who played and was in charge of coaching his team.
“Road to Bloemendaal” also had a number of other activities during the day. Particularly popular with the kids was a shoot-out contest where around 70 kids had the chance to score a goal against the two goalkeepers of the team, Quico Cortès and Albert Pérez.
Fans and players alike shared a great breakfast with delicious hot chocolate, lunch and finally the event finished with a draw for sports equipment which included shirts, jerseys and shorts from the club’s internationals players.
Euro Hockey League media release
Pidaus the UniKL advantage
By Jugjet Singh
UniKL Young Guns skipper Zul Pidaus Mizun is eager to face his former club Petaling Jaya City Council (PJCC) in the MHC-Milo-NSC Milo Cup semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil Wednesday .
Last season, the 19-year-old skippered PJCC to a third place finish in the Milo Cup, and he is now looking to lead UniKL into the final.
Pidaus missed out on the league encounter with his former club which ended in a 1-1 draw as he was suspended, and hopes his presence will see a better result for UniKL.
“It was frustrating to watch the league match (against PJCC) from the stands. But here is another chance for me to go up against my former team-mates.
“I know every player in PJCC personally and probably that can be considered as an added advantage for us," said Pidaus.
However, it won't be easy for the university side as they will be missing the services of two key players for the first leg of the semis as Hafif Elkan is out due to injury while Norsyafiq Sumantri is suspended.
Pidaus added: “Both of them play vital roles in the squad, so we will have to find a way to deal with the first leg without them.”
PJCC will have their full squad, and head coach Azlansaufi Ahmad Sufian is aiming to make the final: “They (UniKL) have a very strong squad with the backing of eight national juniors and with that stat alone it clearly shows that they have the upper hand against us.
“However, on a positive note we held them to a 1-1 draw in the league and my players are now more confident than before and that is the plus point I hope will take us into the final."
WEDNESDAY: Semi-finals first leg: SSTMI Thunderbolts v SSP-MSP Thunderbolts (National Stadium I, 5.30pm); Petaling Jaya City Council v UniKL Young Guns (National Stadium II, 5.30pm).
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
UniKL’s Pidaus relishes meeting old team in Milo Cup
By Aftar Singh
UniKL captain Zul Pidaus Bin Mizun (right) in action against Nurinsafi in the Malaysian Junior Hockey League quarter-final match last week. - filepic
KUALA LUMPUR: Last year, Zul Pidaus Mizun skippered Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to a third placing in the Milo Cup.
On Wednesday, he will be leading Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) against his former club in the first leg of the Milo Cup semi-finals at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The 19-year-old Pidaus knows MBPJ’s strengths and weaknesses and will be crucial to UniKL’s hopes of making the final.
The other semi-final pits defending champions SSTMI-Thunderbolt against their juniors Pahang SS-Thunderbolt.
The return leg of the semi-finals will be held on Friday.
Pidaus is determined to lead UniKL against MBPJ as he missed their league clash last month through suspension.
“It was frustrating watching the league match from the stands. Luckily, I’ve been given another chance to play against my former team,” said the teenager.
“I know every player in the their squad (MBPJ) ... hopefully, that’ll be an advantage for us.”
UniKL will miss the services of two key players for the match – defender Mohd Hafif Elkan (ankle injury) and midfielder Norsyafiq Sumantri (one-match suspension for collecting eight demerit points).
But Pidaus is not concerned as he believes that they have able replacements.
MBPJ will have their full squad available and head coach Azlansaufi Ahmad Sufian will be looking to do better than last year’s third placing.
“UniKL have a very strong squad, especially with the backing of eight national juniors. They clearly have the upperhand against us,” saud Azlansaufi.
“But we did hold them to a 1-1 draw in the league. The boys are now more confident and I hope that will translate into a good result for us and a place in the final.”
The Star of Malaysia
Ric’s signs off in style
2014 Coach of the Year was the icing on the cake for the man who won every major trophy going
(Photo: FIH)
Ric Charlesworth has been a central player on the global stage of hockey for decades, as a player and then coach, and no-one epitomises Australian sporting aspirations better than the feisty coach. But, following the Kookaburra’s victory at the Hockey World Cup, Ric swiftly announced his retirement.
It was only right that the man who led both Australia’s men’s and women’s teams to Olympic and World Cup glory should go out on the highest possible note, and winning FIH’s Coach of the Year Award provided a fitting finale to Ric’s last season.
What were your feelings on receiving the FIH Coach of the Year Award?
RC: I am very proud to be recognised and for the team to be recognised. It is important that all my assistants and support people who played a role are also recognised. This is not only about the head coach.
Since your retirement from international hockey coaching what have you been doing?
RC: I plan to write another book (Ric is already a published author of a number of highly acclaimed books on coaching) and I have been able to spend more time at one and with my family. So far I haven’t relaxed enough, but I think it is slowly happening.
Will you remain part of the hockey coaching set up in the future, in an advisory/consultancy role?
RC: I only really see that happening at the junior level where I can help out and assist other coaches
When you look back, what has been the standout moment for you in your coaching career?
RC: Every day something new came along but I was very fortunate to be able to work with gifted players and we won a lot. Four World Cups, eight Champions Trophies, two Olympics and two Commonwealth Games, plus numerous other events. All in their time were special and I cannot differentiate.
And what has been the time of greatest disappointment?
RC: That’s easier. London 2012 in the semifinal, we led with about 10 minutes to play and let ourselves down. In 25 major games as a coach – and by that I mean World Cups, Champions Trophies, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games – that was my only loss.
When you started out, you obviously had your own ideas and philosophies - did you find these ideas changed radically over time - if so, in what ways?
RC: There is, and was, continuous change and one’s philosophy and ideas are continuously being renovated, but I always wanted us to try and make the game and create goals. Interestingly, that made us very good defensively as we had the ball a lot and were good at getting it back when we lost it!
Do you have die hard rules that you live by as a hockey coach and that you would pass on to young, aspiring coaches?
RC: Be yourself and always insist on quality, don’t accept second best and always keep learning because there is constant change
What words would you use to sum up your time spent on the international hockey scene?
RC: It has been immensely satisfying to work with gifted and ambitious players and to face the challenges of competition at that level.
FIH site
Hockey player to star in People's Strictly on the BBC
Peoples Stricly Trishna Bharadia and her dance partner on the hockey field
The Hockey Family often throws up some incredible characters and some amazing role models. The country is packed with different stories of different people, all doing something great in their own way. Trishna Bharadia certainly falls into that category. You may have seen her on the television lately, as Trishna, a keen hockey player, Multiple Sclerosis fundraiser and awareness campaigner has been selected to compete on the BBC’s People’s Strictly show for Comic Relief.
As a massive fan of the programme, the 35-year-old from Buckinghamshire is understandably delighted at the opportunity:
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of rehearsals. I was really apprehensive when they gave me the jive as it’s a really high energy dance. I was a bit worried about how I’d cope with it, but Aljaz Skorjanec [her dance partner] has been amazing in terms of pacing my training. There have been days where we’ve been training for six hours and it hasn’t felt like that at all. I’ve had so much fun I don’t want it to end.”
Trishna has been a keen hockey player for as long as she can remember, with her father’s love and passion for the game translating to her and her two sisters who have all played, and continue to play, plenty of hockey:
“Ever since I can remember I’ve had a hockey stick in my hand. At the time it was wooden sticks and my dad used to cut his down so my sisters and me had our own. I lived in Holland for two years and so I played in a competitive league over there and then when we moved back to England I played, school, county and club, pretty much anywhere I could get a game! Now I play for Indian Gymkhana. Our whole family loves hockey. My two sisters and my Dad play and my Mum comes and watches. You can’t get away from the game with us. We’re a hockey family born and bred!”
As well has her involvement in hockey, Trishna is also heavily involved in raising funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. She was diagnosed with MS back in 2008 and has spent the time since then tirelessly working with, amongst others, the MS Society, Asian MS and the MS Trust. She was named volunteer of the year in 2013 at the MS Society Awards. Despite the limitations one might perceive her condition would place on her, Trishna’s attitude and approach to life, and indeed her hockey are admirable:
“When I was diagnosed I was training twice a week and often playing twice in a weekend, but gradually it became too much because I was so fatigued. I feel it’s important to focus on what you can do, not what you can’t. Obviously you have to make adjustments, and when I was first diagnosed I tried to keep doing everything I always had but my body couldn’t cope. You accept that there are limits but if you stay positive and focus on what is possible, you can keep going and enjoy yourself. I can’t play twice in a weekend now but I still play one game and I always I give everything.” She adds: “I used to be a forward and it meant I was doing a lot of running, so since the diagnosis I’ve moved back and now play centre back. Things like that have allowed me to cope and continue playing. If I hadn’t adjusted I wouldn’t be able to play a full game. My teammates have been great. They never question me or complain they always support me and make it so much easier.”
Trishna and Aljaz in the Strictly studio
Attention now turns to Wednesday’s live show and her jive routine on the BBC. She is keen not to give too much of the surprise away beforehand:
“I can’t say too much, but what I will say is the routine is a lot of fun. It’s happy and I hope people who see it see how happy I feel when I’m dancing. Lots of people would love to be where I am so I want to show people I don’t take it for granted. I’ve had the time of my life and want people to be able to see that.”
As you’d expect, being such a keen competitor, the question of whether she can win, inevitably crops up. Despite her competitive spirit the warm, enthusiastic and humble Trishna shines through in her response:
“I feel like I’ve already won just to have the chance to do this. All I can do is give it my all and see how it goes. I just want to make people proud and see where it ends up. It’s up to the public, really but I’ll do my best.”
To find out a little more about Trishna, watch the video on the BBC Website here or visit her official Facebook page.
If you’d like to see more of Trishna’s appearances on People’s Strictly visit the BBC Website or tune in on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One and keep an eye out for when the voting opens.
On behalf of the whole of the Hockey Family England Hockey wishes Trishna the best of luck!
England Hockey Board Media release