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News for 23 October 2015

All the news for Friday 23 October 2015


Australia and New Zealand women reach Oceania Final while Fiji men pick up win


Photo: Courtesy of Planet Hockey Magazine | Planet Hockey Magazine Facebook

Women

Day Two of the Oceania Cup saw Australia women record a 25-0 victory against Samoa which guaranteed an Australia v New Zealand Oceania Cup final on Sunday 25 October.

This result meant that Japan, not involved in this continental championship, qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Japan's qualification was confirmed due to the fact that the winner of the Oceania Cup will qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games as Oceania continental champions, while the loser of the final, whether Australia or New Zealand, will qualify from their ranking at the Hockey World League Semi-Final.

As a result, this opened up a further qualification spot which Japan secure as the team who ranked highest at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals not already qualified.

Jodie Kenny opened the scoring for Australia's Hockeyroos in the fifth minute and then went on to score a hat trick – two penalty corners and a penalty stroke. Emily Smith scored four goals, while Brooke Peris and Ashleigh Nelson also scored hat tricks.

In an astounding period of play in the first quarter, the Hockeyroos scored three goals within a one minute time frame.

The match was a memorable one for Laura Barden, as she scored her first goal while wearing the green and gold since making her debut in September.

Australia Coach Adam Commens, said: “Its difficult playing a team like Samoa in terms of trying to play the way you want but trying to be respectful at the same time. I thought our girls did really well today.”

Men

Fiji and Samoa met in international competition during Hockey World League Round One, a match that Fiji won 13-1.

Today's match demonstrated Fiji’s improvement over the past two seasons as they put 20 goals past a Samoa team that worked hard but were unable to cope with Fiji's pace and intensity.

The Samoans weren’t helped by patches of ill-discipline, which meant they played a quarter of the game with only 10 men on the pitch.

Leevan Dutta was the architect of much of Samoa’s downfall as he hit eight goals past Taumaloto Tuiuli in the Samoa goal.

Adrian Smith scored a further four goals and there was a brace a piece for James Saqacala, Martin Fong and Jerome Edwards. Mark Tapusoa of Samoa received a green, followed by a yellow card in a match that was feisty and competitive.

Speaking after the Fiji game, Laijipa Naulivou, Secretary of the Fiji Hockey Federation and Team Manager at the Oceania Cup, told FIH: "It's a great experience being here and playing against the likes of Australia and New Zealand. For a small nation like Fiji, we can learn a lot from some of the world's top ranked teams (Australia and New Zealand). It is also important for us to earn (FIH) world ranking points."

The third match of the day, between the host nation and Australia, was a cagey affair with the Kookaburras claiming bragging rights as they emerged 3-1 winners and moved to the top of the table.

The match looked set to be a Kookaburra onslaught when Jamie Dwyer scored in the first 20 seconds of the game, but New Zealand's Black Sticks regrouped and there was no further score, although there was plenty of fast-paced action at both ends.

Australia finally broke the deadlock and doubled their lead through Tom Craig in the 51st minute – a well-taken field goal.

The Black Sticks fought back and Hugo Inglis reduced the deficit four minutes later, another fine field goal. As the host nation pushed for the equaliser, Australia were able to capitalise on some gaps in the defence and Glenn Turner put the game beyond doubt in the 57th minute.

With one pool match each remaining for the four men’s teams, New Zealand and Fiji will play in a winner takes all game, with a place in the final against Australia and one last shot at Olympic qualification awaiting the victors.

RESULTS
Men: Fiji 20, Samoa 0; New Zealand 1, Australia 3.
Women: Australia 25, Samoa 0

FIH site



Japan women qualify for Rio 2016 hockey event

Japan women confirm their place in the hockey event at Rio 2016 as Australia and New Zealand qualify for Oceania Cup final



The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed today that Japan women have qualified for the hockey event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Japan qualified after both Australia and New Zealand qualified for the Oceania Cup final which takes place on Sunday 25 October. The winner of the Oceania Cup will qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games as Oceania continental champions, while the loser of the final, whether Australia or New Zealand, will qualify from their ranking at the Hockey World League Semi-Final.

As a result, this opened up a further qualification spot which Japan secure as the team who ranked highest at the Hockey World League Semi-Finals not already qualified.

Japan finished sixth at the Hockey World League Semi-Final in Antwerp, Belgium, while Spain finished sixth in their homeland, in Valencia. However, Japan qualify ahead of Spain as they rank above them in the FIH world rankings.

Japan women join the ten teams already qualified for Rio 2016. In addition to Australia and New Zealand, Korea qualified as Asian Games champions, USA as Pan Am Games champions, Great Britain as European champions (qualification through England’s victory at the EuroHockey Championships 2015) and China, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands and India through the Hockey World League Semi-Finals.

The remaining Olympic berth (women) will not be finalised until after the African Hockey Championships, which take place from 23 October to 1 November 2015.

Information about the Olympic qualifying process will be updated on the FIH website shortly to show Japan women's qualification.

FIH site



Long wait almost over for Black Sticks men


Black Sticks striker Stephen Jenness has been waiting a log time for Sunday's Olympic qualifier. Joel Ford

The Black Sticks men's hockey team's long wait is almost over.

While there's a game against Fiji on Saturday to deal with first, the focus is on their transtasman showdown with Australia at the Oceania Cup tournament in Stratford on Sunday. 

"Sunday has been a long time coming," said Black Sticks striker Stephen Jenness. "Since we played in Argentina in June, it's all we've been thinking about . . . this one game."

New Zealand missed their chance to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics when they finished sixth in the World League tournament in Argentina in June.

"The top three qualified for Rio, even fourth or fifth would probably have got us through. But we finished sixth and the Oceania Cup is our last chance. We have to win. If we don't, I really don't want to know. It's probably the biggest game most of us will play."

Jenness said the preparation for the match had gone well.

"There was a lot of disappointment early on after we missed qualifying. But now our focus is on beating Australia and qualifying for Rio," he said.

"We played well against them on Thursday even though we lost 3-1. We were holding a few things back for Sunday. I think the boys will take a lot out of that game. Everyone's excited and ready to book their that ticket to Rio. We need to start well and if we do that we'll be fine."

Jenness, who has played 139 games for his country, is no stranger to Taranaki.

"I lived in New Plymouth for four or five years and went to St Pius X School. I played hockey for Spotswood Primary but then we moved back to Wellington."

The feature game on Saturday is the transtasman clash between the Blacks Sticks women and Australia.

Both teams have already qualified for Rio, but there's still plenty to play for with world ranking points up for grabs. It's also an important part of the New Zealand team's buildup to the World League final in Argentina in December.

AT  A GLANCE

Saturday's draw

8am, NZ Invitational women v Samoa
10am, Australia men v Samoa
Midday, Blacks Sticks men v Fiji
2pm, Blacks Sticks women v Australia

Sunday's draw

Finals days

9.15am, 3 v 4 playoff women
11.30am, 3 v 4 playoff men
1.45pm, 1 v 2 final women
4pm, 1 v 2 final men

Stuff



Anxious Olympic wait for Oceania Cup outcome


The Irish men’s team prior to their third fixture against Argentina last week. Pic: Adrian Boehm

The Irish senior men’s panel will gather together in Dublin at the early hours of Sunday morning to watch online their Rio 2016 fate decided by Australia and, more than likely, New Zealand in the Oceania Cup final.

The Irish senior men’s panel will gather together in Dublin at the early hours of Sunday morning to watch online their Rio 2016 fate decided by Australia and, more than likely, New Zealand in the Oceania Cup final.

Should the world number one Kookaburra side win the tournament, it will hand Ireland their first Olympic hockey berth since 1908 and will be the first team sport from the island confirmed for the Games since 1948.

It makes for a tense few days for Craig Fulton. His side did all they could to affect their chances earlier this year, crucially finishing fifth at World League Round 3 in Antwerp in July, beating higher ranked Pakistan and Malaysia.

That outcome saw Ireland miss out on one of the three automatic tickets to Rio but they were placed third on a list of lucky losers.

Since then, they have been playing the waiting game for each continental championship to play out. Each tournament offers one Olympic place but if the continental winner has already qualified via the World League, the next ticket goes to a lucky loser.

As such, Ireland moved up to first reserve following favourable results at the European and Pan-American Championships, leaving them requiring one more favour. It means all eyes will be on the live streams starting at 4am on Sunday morning when the final tips off.

At this stage, Australia have qualified for the final while New Zealand are expected to join them with only Fiji – a side they will expect to run up double figures against – standing in their way after an earlier 37-0 win over Samoa this week.

Coach Craig Fulton said of the situation: “There is nothing more we can do to qualify for Rio2016. As Australia has already qualified, we’re relying on them to beat New Zealand in the Oceania Cup final.

“If they can’t beat them then all credit to New Zealand on the day for their victory. We will be watching in the early hours of Sunday morning hoping the result goes our way.”

Striker Peter Caruth said it has been an anxious few months: “You want to not think about it but you can’t help but think about it! [Waiting] is the hardest thing to do. We’re all very excited and very nervous at the same time.”

“It’s been hard to stay focussed on our training and it will be hard to watch when it comes to Sunday, knowing we need just one result to take us to Rio and the dream.”

In the normal run of things, Australia should have too much for the Black Sticks. The world champions won 3-1 in the preliminary stages on Thursday morning and have won the last eight editions of the Oceania Cup.

New Zealand’s need, however, is much greater and, on home soil, they are sensing some blood against their biggest rivals.

The Aussies have rested several of their 2014 World Cup winning panel while head coach Graham Reid did not travel with the side, leaving assistant Paul Gaudoin in charge.

Indeed, the system set up by the International Hockey Federation that sees a qualified nation able to use tournaments as a testing ground against nations still to qualify has drawn widespread criticism.

Many top coaches have called for the continental championships to be played prior to the World League Round 3.

The suggestion would eliminate the waiting period and give sides direct targets for qualification, allowing players to enjoy the moment on the pitch rather than, hopefully,12 time zones away in the early hours of the morning.

If Australia do not win, then it comes down to an even more muddy path. The African championships offers the final place to the Olympics; South Africa are the favourites but their Olympic committee have previously stated they would not send the side on this basis.

Should they not take up an Olympic invitation from the FIH, the next best placed side on the World League list would take the spot.

However, there have been a number of behind the scenes discussions and so it is not likely to be a cut and dried case. The African championships runs until November 1st in Randburg.

The Hook



Drummond to lead SA hockey men

JONATHAN COOK at Randburg Hockey Stadium


​ Quality midfielder Tim Drummond captains South Africa in their Greenfields Africa Hockey Championships opener against Zimbabwe at the Randburg Hockey Stadium at 7pm Friday night. Photo: ACTION PIX

The South Africa men’s hockey team take on Zimbabwe on day one of the Greenfields Africa Hockey Championships Friday.

The 7pm start will see reigning continental champions SA under the leadership of Tim Drummond of Western Province.

The classy midfielder first made a name for himself in the colours of KZN Coastal Raiders but is now bracketed under the Western Province banner.

A solid start, which focuses more on cohesiveness and quality of play than the final scorecard, will be a useful launch pad for the South Africans in this 10-day event but the men in green and gold are still expected to score a hatful of goals against an exceptionally inexperienced Zimbabwe line-up.

The Zimbabweans have just 21 Test match appearances between them while the South Africans’ collective tally runs into the hundreds.

Captain and midfielder Tendai Maredza and defender Tapiwa Mafi have played five Test matches each, while midfielder Rowland Rixon-Fuller has represented the Zimbabwe national team on 11 occasions.

This leaves 15 of the 18 players who will take to the Randburg turf Friday making their debut appearances and this alone gives the South Africans a massive advantage.

Rixon-Fuller plays for the Glennane club in Ireland and he will have his hands full alongside skipper Maredza in the tussle for dominance in the middle of the park.

SA will be missing central defender Rhett Halkett, who has to fulfil a match commitment with his German club Mannheimer HC before making his way back home.

Friday’s first of five matches kicks off at 12.15pm when the Ghana Black Sticks women tackle Nigeria. The SA women open their campaign against Nigeria at 2.30pm Saturday.

TEAMS
South Africa: Rassie Pieterse, Jethro Eustice, Miguel da Graca, Julian Hykes, Brandon Panther (Southern Gauteng); Jacques le Roux, Daniel Bell, Wade Paton, Tim Drummond (capt), Dylan Swanepoel, Pierre de Voux, Lloyd Norris-Jones (Western Province); Matt Guise-Brown, Richard Pautz (Northern Blues); Dan Sibbald, Jonty Robinson (KZN Coastal Raiders); (Natius Malgraff (Eastern Province).
Not available for this Test: Rhett Halkett (WP).

Zimbabwe: William Richards, Tinavo Mushavi, Arnold Mpofu, Rangarirai Mungwiniri, Cydreck Starch, Edwin Tholanah, Takudzwa Mangwendeza, Pritchard Matambo, Tapiwa Mafi, Tendai Maredza (capt), Warwick Ullrich, Rowland Rixon-Fuller, Peter Trethowan, Matt Williams, Neil Davidson, Don Matupo, Dom Ashley, Takunda Chipumha.

FRIDAY FIXTURES
Women (Pitch 1 unless stated): Ghana vs Nigeria (12h15); Tanzania vs Zimbabwe (Pitch 2); Kenya vs Namibia (14h30).
Men (Pitch 1): South Africa vs Zimbabwe (19h00).

SA Hockey Association media release



Kenya tackle Namibia in Olympics qualifier

By BRIAN YONGA


Tracy Karanja trains with the national women’s hockey team at City Park Stadium on February 7, 2015. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

The national women’s hockey team launches its qualification campaign for the 2016 Olympic Games against Namibia Friday afternoon in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The women’s team alongside their men’s counterpart left the country on Wednesday morning ahead of the week-long African Cup of Nations which has attracted nine men’s teams and seven women’s teams.

This is the final opportunity for both teams to qualify for the Olympics after they were eliminated in the World League series.

It will be the first meeting between the two sides and Kenyan ladies will be aiming for a good start in the clash set to be staged at the Randburg Hockey Stadium as they seek to qualify for their maiden Olympic Games.

The women’s event will played in a round-robin format where the team with the highest points will lift the African title and also claim the sole ticket to Rio.

Kenya, ranked 37th in the world, will start as favourites against the unranked Namibians who are making their debut in the continental event.

Women’s coach Jos Openda has however warned his charges against underestimating their opponents.

“We know very little about our opponents and that makes the match very unpredictable but we are up to the task. We want to start the competition with a win. We are here to win the cup and get the ticket to Brazil,” Openda told Daily Nation Sport on Thursday on phone from Johannesburg.

OKUMU TO START

Openda could hand debuts to a number of players including Strathmore forwards Gilly Okumu and Yvonne Karanja - who have impressed for the university side this season.

In the absence of veteran strikers Jackline Wangeci and Hellen Chemtai, who were dropped from the squad, the lanky forward will be relied upon to bag the goals.

“Our strikers are relatively young but I have confidence that they will be able to get the job done because we have a very experienced midfield that will create chances for them,” the coach added.

Tracy Karanja will captain Kenya for the first time having taken the armband from team-mate Betsy Ommalla who looks set to partner Terry Juma at the heart of defence. Karanja is looking to inspire the side to its first African title and Olympic appearance.

Kenya finished third during the last edition which was held in Nairobi in 2013 behind winners South Africa and runners-up Ghana.

“We have trained hard and the task is now upon us to rise to the occasion and make our country proud,” the skipper said. The men’s team launch their campaign on Sunday against Nigeria.

FIXTURES

Women: Ghana v Nigeria - 1.15pm, Tanzania v Zimbabwe – 3pm, Kenya v Namibia – 3.30pm

Men: Zimbabwe v South Africa – 8pm

The Standard Online



Women's MHL final Saturday

By Jugjet Singh

THE postponed women's Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) final has been scheduled for Saturday, but haze might derail it again.

While the men completed their fixtures on schedule, the women's tournament was first shelved for 10 days to allow players to compete in the Junior Asia Cup in China from Sept 5-13.

Then, the haze Air Pollutant Index reading in Bukit Jalil was 279.17 on Oct 3, and the final and bronze match had to be cancelled.

Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) competitions secretary Hashim Yusoff is keeping his fingers crossed that Saturday will be a sunny day.

"After four days of bad weather, today (THURSDAY) was much better and hopefully it rains or the wind shifts direction and the final and third-fourth matches can be completed," said Hashim.

SSTMI Thunderbolts and PKS-KPM will play in the final while, ATM Pernama and Penang Juniors for the bronze.

Both the finalists are form Group B, while the placing match will be between Group A teams.

In the group stages, PKS KPM beat Thunderbolts 3-1, while ATM hammered Penang 7-3.

The aces in PKS KPM are league top-scorer Fatin Naimah, nine goals, and Nuraini Rashid with eight goals -- both are national senior players.

And the players to watch in Thunderbolts are Hanis Nadiah and Nurul Safiqah who each have scored four goals for their team.

SATURDAY: Final: SSTMI Thunderbolts v PKS-KPM (6pm); Third-Fourth: ATM Pernama v Penang Juniors (4pm).

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey



Bloemendaal part company with Garcia

Bloemendaal have parted company with head coach Russell Garcia following a difficult start to the Dutch Hoofdklasse season that has seen the club sit in eighth place in the rankings after seven rounds of matches.

Club board member Pepijn Post said of the decision: "It is a dramatic decision but we saw that the chemistry between the team and the coach was not working any more.

“A club like Bloemendaal is ambitious. With seven internationals, three former internationals and several young talents we want to be involved at the top of the league. "

Laurence Docherty, who was acting as assistant coach, will take over as head coach while former Bloemendaal man Thomas Tichelman has been added to the coaching staff. Current assistant coach Remco van Wijk will remain in his role.

Floris Jan Bovelander, who is involved in high performance at the club, added: "This is a big disappointment for all of us and especially for Russell who brought his drive and professionalism to us for more than three years. We are grateful for all his work.”

Euro Hockey League media release



Campo pull off strong win over Egara

Club de Campo picked off an important 3-1 win over Club Egara in the early race for the EHL places in Spain, getting one over on the KO16 bound Catalan club.

Lucas Martinez gave Campo the early lead only for Xavier Aguilar to equalise in the second quarter. Former Nurnburg player Philip Foerster, though, restored the advantage in the third quarter and Martinez closed out the win for the Madrid side.

Campo sit in third place at this early stage in the competition on seven points ahead of a tie against Pozuelo on Sunday. Egara are in sixth place but have a game in hand over their rivals.

Already, a gap of five points has developed between the chasers and the leading pair Atletic Terrassa and Real Club de Polo who have won all four of their games so far.

Atletic came back from a goal down against San Sebastian in round four, winning out 3-1 with Dani Malgosa scoring both the goals.

Maximo Kiernan had given San Sebastian the led in just the seventh minute from a corner but Atletic took little time to equalise via Malgosa before Albert Beltran handed them the lead. Malgosa killed off the tie in the second half.

Polo continue to lead the way thanks to a 7-0 win over RS Tenis with Salva Piera and Manu Bordas both scoring twice while there were also goals from Borja Llorens, David Alegre and Xavi Lleonart.

Euro Hockey League media release



QPCC tops Mixed Veterans qualifiers

Nigel Simon

Defending champions Queen’s Park will enter the T&T Hockey Board National Indoor Championship Mixed Veterans Division semifinal against Courts Malvern as top qualifiers on November 1 at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo.

This after the Parkites outgunned Defence Force 5-3 for a fourth win from five matches when the round-robin phase of the competition ended at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, Woodbrook on Sunday last.

Jerry Bell netted a double for the Parkites in the seventh and 36th while team-mates Gary Chin (2nd), Raphael Govia (24th) and Richard Thomas (29th) added a goal each for the winners who ended with 13 points from five matches, four more than second placed Notre Dame.

For Defence Force, which suffered a third straight loss after a 2-0 start, Anthony Morales (6th), former National Security Minister, Gary Griffith (15th) and Neil Lashley (23rd) as they ended with six points to miss the semifinal playoffs after Courts Malvern (seven points) sneaked in via its 6-4 defeat of Notre Dame.

Anthony Morales led the way for Malvern with two goals (2nd, 24th) while Cecile Wren, Marlon Jackson, Darius Nathaniel and Damian Gordon chipped in with one each to cancel out Keith De Peza’s treble and one from Selwyn King for the Dames. The Dames will come up against third placed Fatima, which ended with nine points as well, but with an inferior goal-difference after the latter blanked Police 2-0 and followed up with a 3-2 defeat of Malvern.

In the win over Police, Rolph Young and Neil Pitchery got a goal each while Brian Gracia, Derek Lee and Wayne Nieves netted against Malvern which had Darius Nathaniel and Damian Gordon on target. The tournament resumes on Saturday October 31 and November 1 before concluding on November 7 and 8.

Current T&THB Mixed Veterans standings

Mixed Veterans:
Malvern 6 (Anthony Marcano 2nd, 24th, Cecile Wren 4th, Marlon Jackson 8th, Darius Nathaniel 10th, Damian Gordon 20th) vs Notre Dame 4 (Keith De Peza 10th, 19th, 20th, Selwyn King 6th)
Fatima 2 (Rolph Young 21st, Neil Pitchery 29th) vs Police 0
QPCC 5 (Jerry Bell 7th, 36th, Gary Chin 2nd, Raphael Govia 24th, Richard Thomas 29th) vs Defence Force 3 (Anthony Morales 6th, Gary Griffith 15th, Neil Lashley 23rd)
Fatima 3 (Brian Garcia 8th, Derek Lee 13th, Wayne Nieves 25th) vs Malvern 2 (Darius Nathaniel 4th, Damian Gordon 21st)

Teams    P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
QPCC    5    4    1    0    29    15    13
Notre Dame    5    3    0    2    25    19    9
Fatima    5    3    0    2    17    15    9
Malvern    5    2    1    2    20    17    7
Defence Force    5    2    0    3    19    23    6
Police    5    0    0    5    5    26    0

The Trinidad Guardian



PHF invites Juniors, Whites probables for camps

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has called 36 probables for the national junior camp in connection with the eighth Asia Cup while 14 other probables have also been summoned to attend Pakistan Whites’ camp.

Both the camps starting simultaneously on Oct 25 will be held here but at different grounds with the PHF not specifying what assignment Pakistan Whites camp being held for.

The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Kuantan, Malaysia from Nov 14 to 22.

The juniors will practice at the Johar Town Stadium while Whites will have practice sessions at the National Hockey Stadium.

When contacted head coach Tahir Zaman clarified that the Whites were invited to play a short three-match series against the Juniors to give them practice.

He said a local tournament in Gojra would also be held from Oct 30, meaning that the Whites will most probably play the three matches on Oct 27, 28 and 29.

On the other hand, several of the Whites probables are bound to represent their departments in the Gojra event about which Tahir said that he hoped that all probables of Whites will assemble here.

Junior probables:

Goalkeepers: Yasir Khan (Wapda), Talal Khalid (Wapda), Ali Raza (NBP), Ali Haider (PIA), Hafiz Ali Umair(Pakistan Boards) and Munib-ur-Rehman (Pakistan Railways).

Full-backs: Mubasshir Ali (NBP), Shah Faisal Shah (Punjab), Hassan Mohammad Anwar (Punjab), Mohammad Atif Mushtaq (PIA).

Halves: Sikandar Mustafa (NBP), Faizan (NBP), Mohammad Qasim (Wapda), Zahid Ullah (PAF), Mohammad Junaid Kamal (NBP), Abu Bakar Mahmood (PIA), Ghazanfar Ali (Wapda), Ammad Shakeel Butt (NBP) & Mohammad Adnan (SSGC).

Forwards: Mohammad Atiq (NBP), Shan Irshad (NBP), Mohammad Dilber (NBP), Muhammad Adnan Anwar (WAPDA), Muhammad Naveed (Wapda), Rana Suhail Riaz (PIA), Mohammad Rizwan (SSGC), Mohammad Bilal Qadir (NBP), Mohsin Sabir (Navy), Sohail Anjum (Wapda), Waseem Akram (PIA), Umar Hamdi (Wapda), Nohaiz Zahid Malik (PIA), Mohammad Bilal Mahmood (Wapda), Awais-ur-Rehman (PIA) Mohammad Azfar Yaqoob (PIA) and Fahadullah (PAF).

Team officials: Tahir Zaman (head coach/camp commandant) retired Brig Khalid Mukhtar Farani (manager), Zeeshan Ashraf, Mohammad Irfan (assistant coaches), Zahid Ali (video analyst) and Mohammad Adnan (doctor) Whites’ probables: Mohammad Irfan, Syed Kashif Shah, Tasawar Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan Junior, Mohammad Toseeq Arshad, Mohammad Arslan Qadir, Shafqat Rasool, Mohammad Umar Bhutta, Ali Shan, Amjad Ali (goal keeper), Fareed Ahmad, Haseem Khan, Shakeel Abbasi and Mohammad Zubair.

Camp officials: Mohammad Rasheed, Mansoor Ahmad and Mohammad Saqlain.

Dawn



PHF invites 36 probables for national training camp

LAHORE: A training camp of national junior probables for participation in the 8th Junior Asia Cup to be played in Kuantan, Malaysia from November 14-22 will start at Johar Town Hockey Stadium here from October 25. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Thursday invited 36 players for the training camp. The players have been directed to report to Olympian Tahir Zaman, chief coach and camp commandant.

Probables
Goal-keepers: Yasir Khan (WAPDA), Talal Khalid (WAPDA), Ali Raza (NBP), Ali Haider (PIA), Hafiz Ali Umair(Pak Boards) and Munib-ur-Rehman (Railways). Fullbacks: Mubasshir Ali (NBP), Shah Faisal Shah (Punjab), Hassan Muhammad Anwar (Punjab) & M. Atif Mushtaq (PIA). Half-backs: Sikandar Mustafa (NBP), Faizan (NBP), Muhammad Qasim (WAPDA), Zahid Ullah (PAF), Muhammad Junaid Kamal (NBP), Abu Bakar Mahmood (PIA), Ghazanfar Ali (WAPDA), Ammad Shakeel Butt (NBP) and Muhammad Adnan (SSGC). Forwards: Muhammad Atiq (NBP), Shan Irshad (NBP), Muhammad Dilber (NBP), Muhammad Adnan Anwar (WAPDA), Muhammad Naveed (WAPDA), Rana Suhail Riaz (PIA), Muhammad Rizwan (SSGC), Muhammad Bilal Qadir (NBP), Mohsin Sabir (Navy), Sohail Anjum (WAPDA), Waseem Akram (PIA), Umar Hamdi (WAPDA), Nohaiz Zahid Malik (PIA), Muhammad Bilal Mahmood (WAPDA), Awais-ur-Rehman (PIA) Muhammad Azfar Yaqoob (PIA) & Fahad Ullah (PAF).

The Daily Times



Weekend College Games

USA Field Hockey highlights some of the top college games in Division I, II and III each week.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23

DI: Indiana vs. No. 6 Maryland
The game between Indiana and Maryland should be a good Big Ten match-up this weekend. Maryland heads into the game undefeated in conference play while Indiana heads into the game with two narrow losses to Michigan and Michigan State. Will Maryland continue to dominate the Big Ten or will Indiana earn the upset?

DIII: Vassar vs. Union
The match-up between these two Liberty League teams should be a good one to follow. Union will be looking for their first conference win while Vassar will be searching for a spot in post-season play. So far this season Vassar has done well against conference opponents, including an upset over William Smith. Will Vassar move up in the conference rankings after this match-up?

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

DI: No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 4 Duke
The game between Syracuse and Duke will be the big Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC0 game of the weekend. Duke will be looking to earn the upset as they want to climb up in conference standings. However, Syracuse has yet to be beaten in conference play (and non-conference play for that matter). Will Duke be the first ACC team to take down Syracuse or will Syracuse head into post-season play undefeated?

DII: No. 1 East Stroudsburg vs. No. 4 Kutztown
The game between East Stroudsburg and Kutztown should be a great Division II game to follow in Pennsylvania. East Stroudsburg has emerged as the new No. 1 team in Division II  after defeating Millersville and West Chester this season. Although it is undeniable that East Stroudsburg heads into the game with great momentum, Kutztown should not be seen as the underdog as they also managed to defeat West Chester this season. Both teams met earlier this year with East Stroudsburg getting a 1-0 victory. This game should be a close one!

DIII: No. 11 Lynchburg vs. Shenandoah
The game between Lynchburg and Shenandoah is the Division III field hockey game to watch if you’re in Virginia. The longtime powerhouse of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, Lynchburg, will be looking to secure a win against Shenandoah. Currently, Shenandoah is undefeated in conference play (5-0) while Lynchburg has suffered a loss to Washington and Lee. Head to the game to see who will come out on top in this match-up.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25

DI: Drexel vs. Hofstra
The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) match-up between Hofstra and Drexel should be an exciting game this weekend. Drexel heads into the game with confidence from their past two wins against Temple and William & Mary. Hofstra heads into the game coming off of a 9-0 win against Towson. So far this season, Hofstra has only fallen to Top 20 teams. Will Hofstra secure their spot in the CAA Championship Tournament?

DIII: No. 7 William Smith vs. No. 8 Skidmore
The showdown between William Smith and Skidmore should be full of good action by the Liberty League. So far, Skidmore is undefeated in conference play while William Smith has suffered a loss to Vassar College. Could the game show a shift in the rankings next week?

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27

DII& DIII: Centre vs. Bellarmine
Bellarmine and Centre will meet for a second time this season. In the first match-up, Bellarmine narrowly escaped Centre with a 2-1 overtime win. The match-up between the Division II and Division III Field Hockey schools should be another close one. Can Centre get the upset?

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28

DI: Pacific vs. California
Pacific heads into their second game against California with much confidence. Pacific is coming off back-to-back wins against in-state foes, UC Davis and No. 13 Stanford. California heads into the game looking for redemption after facing a tough loss against Stanford. This game is one to catch!

DIII: No. 1 Bowdoin vs. No. 15 Tufts
Here's a great New England Small College Athletic Conference match-up. So far this season, Bowdoin is undefeated in regular season play. Although Bowdoin has earned great results, Tufts heads into the game sitting at No. 3 in the conference standings. Could Tufts pull off an upset?

USFHA media release



Former Women's National Team coach becomes first field hockey inductee in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame

Shaheed Devji, fieldhockey.ca



Former Canadian Women’s National Team coach Marina van der Merwe became the first individual representing the sport of field hockey named to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame when she was inducted to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Van der Merwe, who was named to the inaugural Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame Class in 2014 and inducted in a ceremony in Toronto this past summer,  will also be entering Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame as a builder.

“Being named made me re-live the best years of my life,” she told fieldhockey.ca after her inclusion in the Class of 2015 was announced earlier this year. “It was just a very emotional, happy, surprising award.”

For nearly twenty years, van der Merwe coached the Canadian Women’s National Team, overseeing a tenure that is widely regarded as the pinnacle of field hockey for Canada on an international level.

During her time at the helm of the Women’s National Team, Canada’s women competed in three Olympic Games, six World Cups, and three Pan American Games.

It was at the 1983 Women’s World Cup of Hockey where van der Merwe and her athletes were rewarded for being one of the emerging international powerhouses of field hockey at the time, by taking home a silver medal.

“It was the best years of my life and I look back and I think of the lessons learned, how I grew through the sport, and how we were able to make the sport grow,” she adds. “It wasn’t the Olympics that was the grind and the wonderful part, it was getting to the Olympics which was a huge effort on the athletes’ part. And that was where the growth had to occur.”

The South African-born coach was a long-time leader in the Canadian University ranks, presiding over six silver and two bronze medals at the National level. She will be officially inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony on October 21, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta.

Van der Merwe enters the Hall alongside speed skater Susan Auch, ice hockey players Paul Coffey and Daniel Goyette, para-swimmer Michael Edgson, judoka Nicolas Gill, cross-country skiers Sharon and Shirley Firth, freestyle skier Jennifer Heil, soccer player Craig Forrest, cyclist Lori-Ann Meunzer, and golfer Jocelyne Bourassa.

“I just had the opportunity to meet and mingle with them,” she says. “It’s funny we all talk the same language, although we are different sports, we all talk the same language about what it takes to make it.”

Field Hockey Canada media release



Former FIH Vice-President Ashwini Kumar passes away

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of former FIH Vice-President Ashwini Kumar at the age of 94.

Kumar was Vice-President of FIH for 15 years whilst also serving as President of the Indian Hockey Federation for a 16 year period, which included leading the Indian hockey delegation at the Tokyo 1964 and Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games.

Kumar was a huge sports fan, and in addition to his services to hockey, he was President of the Indian Basketball Federation and President of the Punjab Olympic Association for 12 years. On a personal level, he enjoyed boxing and rowing whilst he also competed in track and field at state and national levels.

His passion for sport led him into the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1973. He became a Member of the Executive Board (1980-1987, 1992-1996), Vice-President of the IOC (1983- 1987) and Member of the following Commissions: Olympic Solidarity (1980-1984), Olympic Movement (1983-1987, 1992-1996), Mass Media (1983-1989), preparation of the XII Olympic Congress – Congress of Unity (1985-1987), Radio (1983-1987) and Council of the Olympic Order (1983-1987). After 27 years, his dedication to the IOC was recognised as he became an Honorary Member of the organisation in 2000.

As well as the IOC, Kumar made his mark at the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Asian Games Federation, and was elected Life President of the Indian Olympic Association.

Away from sport, Kumar was a high-ranking policeman in India, serving for 36 years and retiring as director general of the Border Security Force in 1978. He later served as a security delegate for several Olympic Games, including Moscow in 1980.

Speaking of his death, FIH President Leandro Negre said: “Ashwini Kumar will be a huge loss to the hockey world. Our sport will always have a special place in his heart having been involved in the game for so many years, both as a player and behind the scenes. Ashwini played a significant role in the development of the sport both within India and around the world and it would certainly not be where it is today without his determination and energy. The hockey family will miss this great man and on behalf of everyone at FIH and all of our National Associations, I would like to offer our deepest sympathy to his family and close friends at this difficult time.”

FIH site

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