News for 01 November 2015
All the news for Sunday 1 November 2015
Favoured by players, Hawgood returns as chief coach
Ahrens made strategy coach after discussion with players
Sabi Hussain
Neil Hawgood
New Delhi: In a sudden turn of events, Neil Hawgood has been appointed as the chief coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, while Mathias Ahrens has been made the strategy coach.
Hawgood, who was supposed to join as an assistant to Ahrens in the run-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, was handed over the reins of the national team after Hockey India (HI) consulted the players and support staff. Most of them favoured Hawgood’s appointment as the head coach as the 53-year-old Australian shared a good working relationship with the players during his previous stint with the team from July 2012 till November 2014.
Under his guidance, the Indian women won bronze medal in the 2013 Junior World Cup and silver in the Asian Champions Trophy. Before leaving India to work as a consultant with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, Hawgood had guided the team to a bronze-finish at the Incheon Asian Games.
The players had been finding it difficult to adjust to the coaching style of Ahrens, who joined the team in May this year ahead of the World League Semifinals. The decision was made after a meeting between Hawgood, Ahrens, men’s national team chief coach Roelant Oltmans and HI president Narinder Batra.
“We recently appointed Roger Van Gent as the strategy coach with the men’s team and we were looking for a person with a similar profile for the women’s team. After discussing it with the players and the support staff, we decided to make Ahrens the strategy coach. So, we started looking for a chief coach and later appointed Hawgood in that position,” Batra told The Tribune.
“The decision has not been forced upon anyone. Hawgood, Ahrens, Oltmans and HI all are comfortable with this arrangement. The women’s team has qualified for the Olympics after a long time and we don’t want to spoil its chances,” Batra added.
Batra informed that the contracts of the two coaches would run till December 2016.
Hawgood said Ahrens did not have any issue with the reshuffle and both were committed towards the betterment of Indian hockey.
“When I was told that I will be part of the coaching team again, I was not briefed about my exact position. Later, I was informed that I will be joining the team as the chief coach. I have known Ahrens since 2003 and everyone is happy with the arrangement,” Hawgood said.
The Tribune
Neil Hawgood to join Indian women hockey team as chief coach
NEW DELHI: Back to the country after exactly a year, former chief coach Neil Hawgood was supposed to join the Indian women's hockey team as an assistant to Matthias Ahrens this time but in a sudden turn of events, the Australian will now resume duties in his previous capacity.
Hawgood served as the Indian women's hockey team's chief coach for over two years before quitting in November last year citing personal reasons. A day back Hockey India, however, announced that the Australian will now return to the country only as a coach.
But things changed overnight as after detailed discussions with Sports Authority of India (SAI), Hawgood told PTI that he will join the team back as chief coach and not as an assistant.
"Hockey India approached me and enquired with me whether I was interested to join the women's team again. Once I got the offer I didn't have a second thought as I always maintained that I am open to return to the girls with whom I shared a special bonding," Hawgood told PTI in an interview.
Asked whether he had any apprehensions in joining the team in a much lower capacity offered to him this time, the Australian said: "They didn't mention any particular position. My original brief from Hockey India was that whether I am interested to be a part of the coaching team again. And I just yes.
"But things changed yesterday after discussions with SAI officials. I will now join the team back as chief coach. I have signed the contract and it is beyond December 2016. Matthias too didn't have any problem. I knew him for a long time and all parties are quite happy with the situation," he said.
Hawgood, who coached the Indian women's squad from July 2012 till November 2014, enjoyed a good stint with the side having led the girls to the bronze medal in the 2013 junior World Cup.
Under Hawgood's leadership, the Indian women's team showed a lot of progress. India won the bronze in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea besides a first-ever bronze medal in the junior World Cup.
It was also during Hawgood's reign that the team won the Hockey World League Round 2 in 2013, silver in the Asian Champions Trophy and also bagged the fifth position at 2014 Commonwealth Games.
But Hawgood's sudden resignation, which came on the heels of fellow Australian Terry Walsh's unceremonious ouster, without citing any reason created quite a flutter within the hockey circles.
The first assignment on return for Hawgood, who left India to work as a consultant with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC), will be a five-match Test series in Argentina from November 18-30.
The Times of India
Tredrea, Sheridan join Indian women hockey team support staff
NEW DELHI: Hockey India on Saturday announced the appointment of Matthew Tredrea and Kristie Sheridan as scientific advisors for Indian senior and junior women teams respectively.
Matthew has earlier served as the scientific advisor to the Indian women's programme in 2013 and 2014 and is re-joining the team at a critical period as the team prepares for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
28-year-old Matthew has a bachelor degree in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Newcastle and has strong credentials both as a coach and an academician with nearly 10 years of experience. Apart from being the scientific advisor to Hockey India he has been associated with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation as a consultant with the senior men's national programme from February-May 2015.
Sheridan, 29, will be focus on scientific approach towards fitness and the game. She is a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science (2011) from Newcastle University and masters in exercise physiology and rehabilitation (2012) from Charles Strut University.
Hockey India Secretary General Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said, "I am delighted that we have put together an extensive team support structure for the teams and now with Matthew and Kristie joining our Senior and Junior Women's teams it will only strengthen our campaign for 2016 Rio Olympics. Our athletes have shown tremendous results so far and I am confident the new additions to the coaching and support staff are only going to strengthen our team's performance for the future."
The Indian women's team will tour Argentina for a series from the November 18-30.
The Times of India
Spotlight on: Australia women
Between 1994 and 2000, Australia (FIH World Ranking: 2) were by far and away the best team on the planet, claiming two Olympic Gold medals and two World Cups as the team coached by Ric Charlesworth ruled the hockey world.
Many years have passed since that time, but the momentum that the current group is gathering under Head Coach Adam Commens suggests that a new period of dominance may well be on the horizon.
Following their fifth place finish at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Australia’s young guns have hit some seriously impressive form. Early signs of progress were seen in September 2012 when the team claimed the FIH Champions Challenge 1, a success which was quickly followed in 2013 by first place finishes at the Hockey World League Semi-Final (London) and Oceania Cup Continental Championship before claiming the silver medal at the Argentina Hockey World League Final in San Miguel de Tucumán later that year.
They took their sensational form into the Rabobank Hockey World Cup, where they finished as silver medallists behind host nation and world number 1 Netherlands.
Since then, the team has won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games (Glasgow, Scotland), silver at the 2014 Argentina Champions Trophy and confirmed their place at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by taking third place at the FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final in Antwerp.
Their last competition before the Hockey World League Final saw them successfully defend their Oceania Cup title against hosts New Zealand in Stratford in October.
There is little doubt that this current Australia team is once again a major force in world hockey and is more than capable of claiming the Hockey World League title in Rosario.
Key player: Madonna Blyth. Australia’s team captain
and star midfielder recently became the most capped Australian women of all time, overtaking Nikki Hudson’s 303-game record at the FINTRO Hockey World League Semi-Final in Antwerp earlier this year. Since making her senior international debut in 2004, the 29-year-old has represented her country at two Olympics, earning a reputation as a fearless player who thrives on the big occasion.
Notable honours:
3x Olympic Gold medallists (1988, 1996, 2000)
2x World Cup winners (1994, 1998)
3x World Cup Silver medallists (1990, 2006, 2014)
Hockey World League Silver medallists (2012-14 Edition)
6x FIH Champions Trophy Gold medallists (1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003)
4x Oceania Cup Gold medallists (1999, 2001, 2005, 2013)
4x Commonwealth Games Gold medallists (1998, 2006, 2010, 2014)
Additional information: Although Blyth is an inspirational figure, there are plenty of others who could make a big impact should they be selected for the event in Rosario. Defender and penalty corner expert Jodie Kenny finished as competition top goal-scorer at the HWL Semi-Final event in Antwerp with ten goals, while fellow defender Anna Flanagan – FIH’s Young Player of the Year in 2012 – is also capable of making her mark on the scoreboard at set plays.
Hockey Australia is working hard to ensure that the sport continues to grow throughout the country, aiming to increase the number of registered participants from 125,000 to 250,000 by 2018. As well as this, Hockey Australia’s strategic plan for 2014-2018 plans to drive up commercial revenue by 50%, set the highest standard of governance across all of Australian sport, and for the Australian national teams to achieve consistent performance and success at 14 benchmark events.
FIH site
Greenfield African Hockey Championship 2015 Day 9
South Africa and Egypt men qualify for African Hockey Championship final
SA Hockey Men’s semifinal v Kenya
Rio dreams up in smoke
Lucky South Africa win tight semi-final
SASCOC explain why SA hockey teams won't be at Rio Olympics
Pietie Coetzee of South Africa during the Olympic Womens Hockey match between South Africa and New Zealand at the Olympic Park in London on 31 July 2012. Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
JOHANNESBURG – The South African men’s and women’s hockey team will not be going to the Rio Olympics next year after failing to reach the necessary qualifying criteria, says the country’s governing body SASCOC.
SASCOC has responded to media reports about the unhappiness of the South African teams and said in a statement they wished to reiterate that the Continental Qualification route will not be considered.
The SASCOC board agreed on the Rio 2016 Olympics qualification criteria in May this year, where all participating sports codes signed the policies in agreement with the relevant standards.
In light of this, even if the South African hockey teams win the African Championships currently being held in Johannesburg and ending this weekend, the status remains as is – they will not be able to qualify for next year’s Rio Olympics.
Says SASCOC CEO, Tubby Reddy: “We commend the SA men’s and women’s teams participating in the African Championships being held in Johannesburg, giving their best and competing for world ranking points.
“However, the SASCOC Board firmly believes that the qualification criteria, which have been agreed between the international sporting federations and the International Olympic Committee and based on World Olympic Qualification, is in line with SASCOC’s policy of producing world class athletes who will compete at the highest levels.”
eNCA
Pruyser's last minute strike retains unbeaten run
Mirco Pruyser’s last minute goal saw Amsterdam continue their unbeaten start to the Dutch season as they salvaged a 2-2 draw against Rotterdam.
Kenny Bain had given Amsterdam the lead before Johan Björkman equalised from a corner. Timmo Kranstauber looked to have given Rotterdam the win when he struck from another set piece with five minutes left but Pruyser snatched the draw.
Amsterdam remain top by a single point ahead of HGC who were 4-3 winners over Den Bosch. With two minutes remaining, Den Bosch were leading but goals from Ben Arnold and Gonzalo Peillat saw the Hague side grab a dramatic late win.
Things looked on course for a smooth win when Peillat and Tom Hiebendaal scored early on for HGC But responses from Bram van Groesen, a Milan van Baal stroke and a Bas Scheer goal had Den Bosch 3-2 ahead with 22 minutes to go before HGC’s late show.
Kampong dropped to sixth in the table as this season’s surprise package Hurley landed a big 3-1 win to move up to fourth in the division after nine rounds.
It was the youngest of the Collot d'Escury brothers, Niek, who put Hurley ahead before half-time. Sjoerd de Wert repaired the damage only for Collot d’Escury to put Hurley back in front and Martin Genestet killed the game with a third goal in the 63rd minute.
Oranje Zwart came from 2-1 down to beat Pinoké 3-2 to stay in third place while SCHC and Schaerweijde drew 1-1 in their derby.
Roel Bovendeert struck four times for Bloemendaal in a comfortable 7-0 win over Voordaan to move into fifth place.
Euro Hockey League media release
Wapda thrash police
LAHORE: A hat-trick by Mohammad Usman helped Wapda earn a crushing 6-1 win against Police in the 1st PT Yaqoob Memorial Hockey Tournament in Gojra, Pakistan.
According to the information received here on Saturday, Usman struck in the 51st, 58th and 60th minute to complete his hat-trick while Rana Umair (12th), Fareed Amjad (49th) and Abdul Ghaffar (53rd) added one goal each with Malik Shafqat scored the solitary goal for Police in the 33rd minute.
PIA also registered an impressive 3-1 win against Lahore Customs which saw Aamir Shahzad (10th), M Zubair (40th) and Inyatullah (48th) net one goal each with Arslan Qadir (53rd) being the lone scorer for Customs.
Sunday’s fixtures:
Gojra Star v SSGC, Lahore Customs v Tahir Zaman Academy, PIA v Aslam Roda Academy.
Dawn
Pakistan Hockey squad named for Junior Asia Cup
LAHORE: The national selection committee headed by Abdul Rasheed Junior announced on Saturday hockey squad for the junior Asia Cup scheduled to be held from Nov 14 to 22 in Kuantan, Malaysia.
The squad to be captained by Ammad Shakeel was selected at the end of one-day trials held at the Johar Town Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohammad Talal Khalid, Ali Haider; Full-backs: Mubashir Ali, M. Atif Mushtaq; Half-backs: Abu Bakar Mahmood, Ammad Shakeel Butt (captain), Junaid Kamal, Mohammad Adnan, Mohammad Qasim and Faizan; Forwards: Shan Irshad, Azfar Yaqoob, M. Dilber (vice-captain), Rana Suhail Riaz, Mohammad Atiq, Bilal Qadir, Mohammad Adnan Anwar and Mohsin Sabir; Stand-byes: Hafiz Ali Umair, Shah Faisal Shah, Zahidullah, Mohammad Naveed, Mohammad Rizwan, Sikandar Mustafa and Fahadullah.
Dawn
Futures Cup: Day 3 Round-Up
Futures Cup Day 3
Mercia Lynx boys and Saxon Tigers girls triumphed in the U16 Futures Cup competition after final day victories.
Mercia Lynx won the Under 16 boys competition finishing off in style, beating the Saxon Tigers 5-3. The goals came from Elliot Killington, Murray Whitaker, Joseph Allnutt, Josh Dent and Oscar Kay.
Murray Whitaker, who captained the Lynx today, said: “To captain the final game and to get three wins was a great feeling.
“I enjoyed the tournament because you are playing with people your own age and there’s a really high quality of hockey.”
Wessex Leopards and Pennine Pumas played out an enthralling 2-2 draw to end the day’s play. Greg Johnson and Ben Jones put the Pumas ahead but a brace from Hantian Wong levelled the scoring.
The Under 16 Saxon Tigers girls rounded off their brilliant campaign by overcoming the Lynx 2-0. Zoe Allchurch and Georgina Post found the net to ensure their side finished in first place.
Madeline Wray, the Tigers captain said: “I am really proud of my team, we really worked together. We had some great opposition and there were some really hard games.
“It was a great event. It was the best experience and I really enjoyed it.”
Futures Cup Day 3
In the other game in their group, two goals from Emma Manton helped the Leopards secure a 3-2 victory against the Pumas.
In the Under 18s boys competition, Saxon Tigers yet again produced another superb display of hockey. They defeated Mercia Lynx 7-1, with Sam Barrett picking up his second hat trick in two days.
The Tigers will face Wessex Leopards in tomorrow’s final after they cruised to a 6-1 victory against Pennine Pumas. Goals from Evan Kimber, Tom Brooks, Dan Bowden, Ben Park, Sam Hooper and Ben Stevenson ensured the Leopards preserved their winning formula.
In the Under 18 girls competition, the Leopards and the Pumas were locked in a hard fought stalemate, with the final score finishing 1-1. Amy Stout put the Pumas ahead before Sophie Shakespeare equalised for the Leopards.
Even though final spots were guaranteed, the Lynx and the Tigers had to fight it out for top spot. Goals from Jodie Beddow and Esme Burge confirmed the Lynx finished top of the table, after a 2-1 win.
The Under 18 finals both take place tomorrow with the titles up for grabs in both boys and girls' competitions.
England Hockey Board Media release
U14: Kelantan beat KL 2-1
By Jugjet Singh
KELANTAN boys beat Kuala Lumpur 2-1 in the National Under-14 hockey tournament in Malacca Saturday.
Kelantan's Asrulhisyam Abdullah Pakri scored a field goal in the 25th minute and Muhammad Syahmi increased the lead with another field attempt in the 32nd minute.
Zulhafizi Aiman scored in the 44th minute to narrow the socore, but Kelantan held on for three points.
Sunday, boys defending champions Pahang will play against Johor, while the girls gold medallists Sabah will open accounts against Selangor.
RESULTS -- BOYS': Group A: Perak 1 Johor 0, Kedah 1 Terengganu 3; Group B: Kelantan 2 Kuala Lumpur 1, Selangor 4 Negri Sembilan 3; Sabah x Singapore x, Malacca x Perlis x.
GIRLS': Group B: Johor 6 Terenggnau 0, Negri 0 Penang 2.
SUNDAY: BOYS': Group A: Johor v Pahang (MBMB Pitch I, 4.45pm), Perak v Kedah (MBMB Pitch I, 8.15pm); Group B: Negri v Penang (MBMB Pitch I, 3pm), Selangor v Kelantan (MBMB Pitch II, 3pm); Group C: Perlis v Sabah (MBMB Pitch II, 4.45pm), Malacca v Singapore (MBMB Pitch I, 6.30pm).
GIRLS': Group A: Perak v Kedah (STM, 7.30am), Sabah v Selangor (MBMB Pitch II, 9.15am); Group B: Terengganu v K Lumpur (MBMB Pitch I, 7.30am), Johor v Negri, (MBMB Picth II, 7.30am); Group C: Perlis v Singapore (STM, 9.15am), Malacca v Pahang (MBMB Pitch I, 9.15am);
Note: All matches in Malacca.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Kelantan upset fancied Kuala Lumpur in junior hockey meet
by Percy D'Cruz
MALACCA: The Kelantan boys’ team stole the show with an upset 2-1 win over the much-fancied Kuala Lumpur on the opening day of the MHC-1MAS-Milo National Under-14 tournaments at the Bukit Serendit City Council Stadium.
Goals by Asrulhisham Abdullah Pakri (25th minute) and Muhammad Syahmi Aiman Mat Jusoh (32nd) were enough to give the east coast side a flying 2-0 first-half lead.
Although KL hit back through Zulhafizi Aiman Zulkaifli in the 44th minute, but the determined Kelantan side managed to hang on for all three points.
The Johor girls and Selangor boys also shared the limelight by registering opening wins.
While the Johor girls trounced Terengganu 6-0, the Selangor boys had to fight for a 4-3 win over gritty Negri Sembilan.
A brace each from Nur Husna Hazinah Hafizal (17th, 64th) and Unmit Syazwina Abdul Kamal (29th, 44th), and one apiece from Nureen Natasya Rohani (41st) and Nurul Ain Saiful Azmi (56th) inspired Johor to a comprehensive win over Terengganu.
The Selangor-Negri Sembilan boys’ match was more closely contested.
Negri took the lead through Raja Amirul Aiman Raja Abdul Rahman in the 24th minute.
But four field goals on the trot – all through the dashing Muhammad Faizan Mohammad in the 34th, 42nd, 46th and 64th minutes – gave Selangor a comfortable 4-1 lead.
Negri, however, fought back to net two more goals – through Muhd Aiman Badrulhisham (65th) and Muhd Noor Syahmi Noor Azmi (66th) – to reduce the deficit. But Selangor held on for the slimmest of victories.
The Star of Malaysia
Test match at hockey ground
D J Walter Scott
BLUE EXPANSE:Trial match being played at the new AstroTurf hockey ground in Ramanathapuram on Saturday.— Photo: L. BALACHANDAR
After France-based Labosport, one of the accredited laboratories of International Hockey Federation (FIH), evaluated facilities at the new blue and pink AstroTurf hockey stadium here for according certification to host international tournaments, the District Hockey Association held a trial match on Saturday as part of the certification process.
Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare S. Sundararaj inaugurated the match as players of the hostel team of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and district hockey (town) team enjoyed playing on the new turf, laid to match international standards at a cost of about Rs. 6 crore.
A. Chelladurai Abdullah, who was unanimously elected president of hockey unit of Tamil Nadu in the election held on October 27, told The Hindu that the video clippings of the match would be sent to . Zhou, a technical engineer from Labosport, who inspected the ground on October 27 and 28 and carried out detailed studies on the profile and dimensions of the ground, ball movement and impact and friction on the turf, under playing conditions.
The video clippings of the trial match would help him further analyse the conditions, he said.
B. Palanivel Rajan, Project Manager of the firm that laid the turf, said that Mr. Zhou was impressed with the quality of the ground and was totally satisfied with the playing conditions, sprinklers and draining facilities. After Labosport submitted its report, FIH would scrutinise it and accord the certification in three to four weeks.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdullah said that the hockey unit of Tamil Nadu would identify talents in all the districts and provide opportunities to the best players. “The players would be selected in a transparent manner to play at various levels,” he said.
Zhou, a technical engineer from Labosport, carried out detailed studies on profile and dimensions of the ground, ball movement, impact and friction on turf under playing conditions
The Hindu