News for 13 November 2016
All the news for Sunday 13 November 2016
India’s Dr Narinder Batra elected International Hockey Federation President
India’s Dr Narinder Batra was elected as International Hockey Federation (FIH) President at the 45th FIH Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, earlier today.
He is the first Indian to be elected President of an Olympic Sport's international governing body. His four-year term begins immediately, replacing predecessor Leandro Negre from Spain who was last night awarded the title of President of Honour by the FIH.
As President, Batra will be tasked with leading the sport through the next phase of the FIH’s 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy. A key part of this will be the delivery of the new Event Portfolio which begins in 2019.
Batra, who was until earlier an Ordinary Member of the FIH Executive Board, received 68 votes to defeat fellow presidential candidates David Balbrinie from Ireland (29 votes) and Australia's Ken Read (13 votes). Eight National Associations abstained from voting.
Besides his work with the FIH, Batra has been at the heart of hockey development in India. He has been a highly active member of Hockey India since he took up post as Treasurer in 2009. A year later, he became Secretary General and was elected as President of the National Association in 2014.
He has also worked closely with the Indian Olympic Association and was instrumental in the Indian Olympic Association being reinstated by the International Olympic Committee in 2013-14. Batra is also Chairman of the Hockey India League, the franchised league which is now entering its fifth season and which is doing much to raise the profile of hockey in India and the wider international hockey community.
His appointment as President frees up a position on the FIH Executive Board, which will be voted on later today. Batra’s successor on the Board will take up the position for the remainder of his previous two-year term, until 2018.
The new President will work very closely with outgoing CEO Kelly Fairweather over the next few weeks before the latter’s departure in early December. He will then continue to work with interim CEO David Luckes, FIH Director of Sport, before incoming CEO Jason McCracken officially takes up his new role on 1 February 2017.
FIH site
Batra wins the FIH election hands down
K. Arumugam
First time in the history of the Federation Internationale Hockey, a Non-European, Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra, has been elected as its president.
In the FIH Conference held in Dubai today, Hockey India presdient ND Batra won the confidence of the FIH electoral college in a big way cornering 68 of the 118 voters present. A simple majority was required to get elected.
Previously, MAM Ramasamy and Ashwini Kumar held the Indian flag in the FIH comity, becoming elected vice-Presidents.
Today, Dr Batra, who is now heading the Indian hockey and also the globally popular Hockey India League, went a step further to claim the coveted post in the FIH.
It’s a proud moment for India.
Dr. Batra came to hockey in 2000 with the organization of Sr Nationals in Jammu, his home state. Shortly later he was inducted into president of Indian Hockey Federation.
Due to nonadherence to many ethos that go with the sport, he protested and challenged the legitimacy and functioning of the IHF then headed by KPS Gill.
However, Indian not qualifying for the 2008 Olympics changed the things dramatically.
He was taken in as Treasurer of Adhoc Committee formed by the Indian Olympic Association to runt he sports.
With the active support of the FIH, Batra later on could take control of the newly formed Hockey India. He saw to it his nominee Vidya Stokes win the HI election putting in place Pargat Singh.
He was elected Secretary General of HI
He introduced Hockey India League on commercial launch pad, organized national championships every year, set up a professional Hockey India office.
He was elected unopposed President of Hockey India three years ago in its Delhi Congress.
Stick2Hockey.com
Narinder Batra is FIH president
Manuja Veerappa
VIZIANAGARAM: In a first for India, Hockey India chief, Narinder Batra was elected the International Hockey Federation (FIH) president at the FIH Congress in Dubai on Saturday. In the build-up to the elections, Batra, who is also the vice-president of the Asian Hockey Federation, spent 40 days campaigning and meeting national federation leaders in 78 countries across the globe. His efforts paid-off as he polled 68 off the 118 votes to win the majority over the other contenders - Australia's Ken Readovers (13 votes) and David Balbirnie of Ireland (29).
In the process, Batra also became the first Indian to lead a world Olympic sports governing body. A little after the elections, an elated Batra told TOI, "I feel honoured to have been elected. I would be lying if I say it is not a matter of pride to get this kind of endorsement from the hockey fraternity. I know I have more responsibilities now. I will do everything I can to live up to those expectations. I want to take hockey to greater heights."
Asked on his primary agenda as the new chief, Batra pointed out his main focus will be on extending the reach of the sport and increasing the revenue.
"For hockey to grow, the boundaries too have to grow. Currently, we have about 12-14 countries playing competitively and we want broaden that base. We also want to work on generating revenue. We want to take tournaments at different venues. That's important because it helps the members grow. That will help players believe they can make a career out of hockey. To increase reach of the sport, we plan to use social media."
On Friday, Batra met Pakistan Hockey Federation officials to resolve issues. PHF has been skating on thin ice with the Indian federation after the 2014 Champions Trophy in India.
The Times of India
Batra sweeps FIH election
Becomes first non-European to head the world hockey body
Indervir Grewal
Chandigarh: Narinder Batra today created history by becoming the first Indian president of the world hockey federation (FIH). Batra, elected FIH’s 12th president at the 45th FIH Congress in Dubai today, replaces Spaniard Leandro Negre.
Batra will have to relinquish the post of Hockey India president post with immediate effect as his four-year tenure begins right away. Batra beat Ireland’s David Balbirnie and Australia’s Ken Read to FIH’s top post in a secret ballot. He got 68 votes while Balbirnie and Read managed 29 and 13 votes, respectively. Out of 118 voters, 110 voted while eight abstained.
Batra’s win heralds a possible change in the power structure of world hockey, which for long has been dominated by the Europeans. In fact, the 59-year-old becomes the first Asian president of FIH in the world body’s 92-year history.
The overwhelming margin of his win shows that FIH’s member units, especially the non-European nations, wanted change and felt that Batra was the right person to deliver it. What worked in his favour was the growing economic stature of India and the growing respect for the vastly-improved Indian teams. Batra’s election comes just days after the Indian men’s and women’s teams won the titles at the Asian Champions Trophy tournaments.
Expanding game’s reach
As president, Batra will be tasked with leading the sport through the next phase of FIH’s 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy. A key part of this will be the delivery of the new Event Portfolio which begins in 2019.
“I feel extremely honoured and I look forward to lead the FIH global hockey revolution,” Batra said after his win. “I want to take hockey across the globe because nowadays everything is calculated by reach and revenue. My priority will be to widen the base and extend geographical boundaries.”
“To achieve that we can’t restrict hockey to just 10-12 nations. Hockey has to spread, hockey has to grow across the globe,” he added.
Revenue push
Apart from spreading the game, the main point of Batra’s campaign had been to increase the revenues of FIH. “While China, India and USA drive the world’s economy, we also need to accept that these are potential markets for sports and it’s important to make the sport popular in these key markets,” Batra said. “It is my firm belief that this innovation will lead to better commerce for hockey.”
Batra has played a big part in changing the fortunes of Indian hockey, so he has the credentials to improve the economic status of FIH. Batra became Hockey India’s treasurer in 2009, the secretary in 2010 before winning the presidential election in 2014. He brought in big sponsors into the game. During his reign, the Hockey India League was started. The league has helped bring economic stability to the lives of the Indian hockey players. It also helped them rub shoulders with some of the top players in the world.
According to reports, under Batra’s leadership Hockey India’s yearly income has grown from $500,000 to $14 million over the last six years. This economic growth has led to more and more international tournaments being held in India. India hosted the 2010 World Cup, the 2013 Junior World Cup, the 2014 Champions Trophy and the 2015 World League Finals, and will host the Junior World Cup this year and the World Cup in 2018.
It is expected that with Batra’s win, India and Asia will get a greater say in aspects such as rule changes and hosting rights for premier tournaments. However, with so much of his support coming from African and Central American nations too, it will be crucial for Batra to not ignore the interests of FIH’s weaker member units.
‘India, Pak will have to play in international events’
Dubai: Rising political tension has adversely affected the bilateral sporting ties between India and Pakistan but newly-elected FIH chief Narinder Batra today said the two nations will have to honour their international commitments. “There is no doubt that there are political tensions between India and Pakistan. But in international competitions both India and Pakistan will have to play each other anywhere,” Batra said. He said both the nations’ hockey federations have settled their differences which had cropped up following Pakistani players wild and indecent celebrations after victory over India in the 2014 Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar. “Delegates of the Indian and Pakistani federations met here yesterday and all teh old issues have been sorted.”
The Tribune
Hockey revolution
Hockey India president Dr Narinder Batra becomes first Asian to head the international body, FIH.
By Mufeed Mahdi Rizvi
Hockey India supremo Narinder Batra defeated competition from David Belbirnie (Ireland) and Ken Read (Australia) by securing 68 of the 110 votes cast through e-ballot
It was an emotional day at the Festival City of Dubai. If the outgoing International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre choked on his departure after an eight-year rule, the newly-elected president, Dr Narinder Batra, created history by becoming the first Asian to head hockey’s international body.
On the concluding day of the Hockey Revolution Conference, Hockey India supremo Dr Batra defeated competition from David Belbirnie (Ireland) and Ken Read (Australia) by securing 68 of the 110 votes cast through e-ballot. Berlbirnie got 29 votes, while Read settled for 13.
A beaming Dr Batra received the Chain of Office from Negre at the end of the day. “It is definitely an honour to be the first Indian to be president of any Olympic sport,” said Dr Batra, who became the first Indian to assume office of an non-cricket international body.
The veteran Indian hockey administrator wants to take the FIH ahead on simple principle, ‘reach and revenue’.
“My priority is to expand the geographical boundaries. When you see the Olympics or any other major hockey events, you only see the top eight-nine teams qualify for these tournaments. Until these boundaries are not stretched across continents, the game will not develop. I believe there are at least 30 countries that play hockey at par with others,” an elated Dr Batra said in the post-election conference.
According to Dr Batra, the expansion will also help popularise the game. He felt technology needs to be used to increase the viewership base. “We have to focus on popularising the game among the audience — through web, television and social media platforms. There is also lack of understanding of the rules. People often complain to me that there are too many stoppages in the game.”
The new FIH chief however made it clear that one shouldn’t expect a miracle. “Of course, the plan in mind of reach and revenue will not take off immediately. I will need time to set the things,” he added.
With 137 national associations – five new added yesterday — there are only 31 nations that have FIH-certified artificial surface.
“The smaller nations need to grow too. There are ways to promote hockey in least popular countries. I think the Hockey 5s is the best format to spread the game. It’s like the Twenty20 of hockey,” Dr Batra said.
One more area that Dr Batra said he’d like to focus is to make the sport a career option is countries where it is popular.
“We have to bring hockey to the level of cricket and football. Unlike football or cricket, hockey players are professionals from various fields who manage their time to play the sport. They can’t make it a career. Players from big hockey-playing countries like the Netherlands, New Zealands, Argentina and Germany don’t get paid for playing for their country. These are some of the problems I want to address when I say I want to increase the reach and revenue of world hockey. FIH should have enough money to support the associations. Players should feel secured and believe that they can make a career purely out of hockey,” he told Mirror.
All this doesn’t come from nowhere, he said. “I have thought about it, made a blueprint and successfully carried out experiments in India. I love taking challenges,” the new FIH president signed off.
Mumbai Mirror
Hockey India congratulates Batra on becoming FIH president
DUBAI: Hockey India today congratulated its president Narinder Batra, who has been elected as the new President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the 45th FIH Congress in Dubai on Saturday.
Batra, who was an Executive Board Member of FIH as well as the Vice-President of the Asian Hockey Federation, will replace outgoing FIH President Leandro Negre, for a four-year term at the helm.
The win was basis a largely unanimous decision, Dr Batra secured 68 votes out of 118 to edge past tough opponents in Australia's Ken Read and Ireland's David Balbirnie, the two other candidates for the FIH Presidency at the Congress.
This is the first time an Indian has been elected to head a global sports governing body of an Olympic sport. Batra will also be the first Indian to take on the role as FIH Chief.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Rajeev Mehta congratulated Batra for becoming the FIH chief.
"I would like to congratulate my elder brother Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra for being elected as a President of FIH. He is the first Asian elected in the international body, his victory is result of his hard work, commitment and passion in the last few years towards sports.
"I have seen him working hard towards development of Indian hockey in the last five years and we are now getting results with our men's and women's teams winning various international tournaments. I wish him all the best for this new innings."
Indian hockey team coach Roelant Oltmans and BCCI vice president C K Khanna also congratulated Batra.
"Congratulations Dr. Batra, President of FIH!!" Oltmans wrote on his twitter handle.
Khanna said, "He was my colleague at DDCA and I am delighted with this development. I wish him all the best for future."
The Times of India
I want to take hockey across the globe: Narinder Batra
DUBAI: "Reach and revenue" has been Narinder Batra's agenda going into the polls and soon after becoming the first non-European President of the International Hockey Federation, the veteran Indian sports administrator vowed to take the game across the globe.
Batra, who is the Hockey India President, defeated David Balbirnie of Ireland and Australia's Ken Read to become the 12th FIH President -- the first Asian to grab the post in the world body's 92-year-old history.
Batra got 68 votes in his favour while Balbirnie and Read managed 29 and 13 votes respectively. Out of 118 voters, only 110 voted while eight abstained.
"I feel extremely honoured and I look forward to lead the FIH global hockey revolution," he said addressing the media after his victory.
"My commitment is to hockey because I love the sport. I want to take hockey across the globe because now-a-days everything is calculated by reach and revenue. My priority will be to widen the base and extend geographical boundaries.
"To achieve that we can't restrict hockey to just 10-12 nations. Hockey has to spread, hockey has to grow across the globe," Batra said.
Besides taking the game to newer audiences, the new FIH chief also plans to make the game popular in economically rich countries.
"While China, India and USA drive the world's economy, we also need to accept that these are potential markets for sports and it's important to make the sport popular in these key markets," Batra said.
"It is my firm belief that this innovation will lead to better commerce for hockey."
A firm believer of FIH's Hockey Revolution programme, Batra also knows the importance of digital media in making a game popular.
"We must also need to engage with a younger audience via various digital platforms. It is something which will take smart and strategic planning, and I look forward to the challenge," he said.
"We need to ensure that we strike a right balance between the use of digital platforms for promotional purposes and television for reach and revenue growth," the 59-year-old Indian said.
"If we want to create a hockey revolution, we first need to think about our players and give them nothing but the best. They are the custodians of our future," he added.
Batra is also the first Indian to be elected as chief of an Olympic Sport's international governing body. His win means the power centre of the sport will now move to Asia from Europe, which had been ruling international hockey for decades.
Batra, who became president of Hockey India in October 2014 after serving as its secretary, succeeds Spaniard Leandro Negre, who has been the FIH chief since 2008.
Other Europeans to have headed the FIH in the past were Rene Frank, Etienne Glichitch, Juan Antonio Calzado, Els van Breda Vriesman besides Negre.
The Times of India
India, Pakistan will have to play in international hockey events: Narinder Batra
DUBAI: Rising political tension has adversely affected the bilateral sporting ties between India and Pakistan but newly-elected FIH chief Narinder Batra on Saturday said the two nations will have to honour their international commitments.
The tension at the border has casts a shadow over Pakistan's participation in the next month's FIH Junior World Cup in Lucknow but Batra's comments make it clear that the two neighbours are set to clash against each other on Indian soil.
"There is no doubt that there are political tensions between India and Pakistan and no one can ignore that. But in international competitions both India and Pakistan will have to play each other anywhere," Batra said soon after becoming the first non-European president of FIH.
Batra, who is the Hockey India president, defeated David Balbirnie of Ireland and Australia's Ken Read to become the 12th FIH President -- the first Asian to grab the post in the world body's 92-year-old history.
Batra said both India and Pakistan hockey federations have settled their differences which had cropped up following Pakistani players wild and indecent celebrations after victory over India in the 2014 Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar.
"Delegates of India and Pakistan hockey federations have met here yesterday on the sidelines of the FIH Congress and all old issues between the two federations have been sorted," he said.
Hoping for the resumption of Indo-Pak hockey ties, the FIH chief said, "Any India-Pakistan encounter is always of high intensity and attracts great viewership which in turns translates into revenue."
The Times of India
Five Ordinary Members elected to International Hockey Executive Board
Five new Ordinary Board Members were elected to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Executive Board at the 45th FIH Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, earlier today.
All five candidates were elected in the afternoon session following the election of new FIH President Dr Narinder Batra from India.
It follows member National Association’s decision to accept FIH Executive Board recommendations to change the gender structure of the Board which sees four men and four women now represented as Ordinary Board Members.
Danae Andrada from Uruguay, a Pan-American Hockey Federation Executive Board Director, President of Uruguayan Hockey Federation and Director of the Uruguayan Sports Confederation, was the first of two female positions to be elected.
Zambia’s Hazel Kennedy was the other. The Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia; President of the Zambia Hockey Association and former Executive Board Member of the African Hockey Federation defeated outgoing Executive Board Member Sue Catton (England) in the second ballot for the remaining position.
Delegates were then asked to vote on three vacant men's positions following the election of Dr Batra as President.
Macau’s Tayyab Ikram, a member of the International Olympic Committee Sport and Active Society Commission, CEO of the Asian Hockey Federation and Secretary General of Macau Hockey Association, was the first to be elected.
He was joined by President of the Royal Dutch Hockey Federation (KNHB), Member of the FIH Risk and Compliance Committee and Board Member of Topsport Amsterdam, Erik Cornelissen of the Netherlands.
The third candidate to be elected was former FIH Athletes’ Committee Chair and 2002 FIH Player of the Year Michael Green from Germany. He takes over the remaining two years of Dr Batra’s term as an Ordinary Member following the latter’s election as President while all others elected will be in office for four years.
The new Board Members join the FIH President Dr Narinder Batra, CEO Kelly Fairweather, Continental Presidents Seif El Dine Ahmed (Africa); HRH Prince Abdullah Shah (Asia); Marijke Fleuren (Europe); Pam Elgar (Oceania) and Alberto Budeisky (Pan-America), Ordinary Board Members Marc Coudron (Belgium); Maureen Craig-Rousseau (Trinidad and Tobago) and Pamela Stuper (USA), as well as Joint-Chair of the FIH Athletes’ Committee Annie Panter.
To read about all the latest news from the Hockey Revolution Part 2 Conference, featuring the 45th FIH Congress, visit the official event website by clicking here.
#HockeyRevolution
FIH site
International Hockey Federation welcomes five new National Associations
Five national associations were granted full membership of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the 45th FIH Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, earlier today.
Current member National Associations voted to approve full membership rights to Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Swaziland, Nicaragua and Colombia following substantial development of the sport in those nations in recent years.
This news comes following updates to delegates on FIH’s 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy. With an aim of reaching 152 National Associations by 2024, FIH are well on their way to achieving this target, with these new nations taking the total membership to 137.
Out-going President Leandro Negre congratulated each of the Associations joining today. He said: “Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Swaziland, Nicaragua and Colombia have all shown an incredible desire to develop hockey in their nations over the last couple of years. Each of them are fully engaged with our 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy and as such are helping us achieve our aim of making hockey a global game that inspires the next generation. Hockey certainly has an exciting future with more and more nations engaging with our sport as it continues to grow.”
To read about all the latest news from the Hockey Revolution Part 2 Conference, featuring the 45th FIH Congress, visit the official event website by clicking here.
#HockeyRevolution
FIH site
Glut of EHL KO16-bound stars up for world player awards
A trio of EHL KO16 bound players have been named on the FIH men’s Player of the Year shortlist for 2016 with Gonzalo Peillat, Moritz Fürste and Pedro Ibarra all up for the award.
Peillat has been one of the star attractions for Mannheimer in Germany already this season with 20 goals to his name following a brilliant Olympic Games, helping Argentina to a first ever gold medal.
Similarly, Pedro Ibarra was one of Los Leones key defenders in that victory and has since switched from playing in the Netherlands to Real Club de Polo who have won six out of six league games in Spain.
UHC Hamburg’s Fürste helped Germany to third place at the Olympics before announcing his retirement from the international game after a glittering career with two gold medals already in his cabinet.
They are on the shortlist alongside Belgian captain John-John Dohmen and another German star man, Tobias Hauke.
On the goalkeeper’s shortlist, SV Kampong’s David Harte is once again one of the contenders having won the title in 2015. He is joined by Bloemendaal’s Jaap Stockmann, Argentina’s Juan Vivaldi, Belgium’s Vincent Vanasch and India’s PR Sreejesh.
In the Rising Star list, Dragons’ Arthur van Doren and Rot-Weiss Köln’s Christopher Rühr – another pair set for the KO16 – are up against the Netherlands’ Jorrit Croon, India’s Harmanpreet Singh and Germany’s Timm Herzbruch.
For the women, Carla Rebecchi, Kate Richardson-Walsh, Stacey Michelsen, Alex Danson and Naomi van As are on the list for the player of the year.
GB star Maddie Hinch looks the clear favourite for the goalkeeper gong following an amazing Olympic tournament. She is on the shortlist with Joyce Sombroek, Kristina Reynolds, Jackie Briggs and Belen Succi.
The announcement was made during the Hockey Revolution Part 2 Conference which is currently taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Winners will be decided by the combined results of an online vote that is open to the public and a peer vote from international athletes. Voting for Players, Goalkeepers and Rising Stars will open on 16 November and closes on 2 December. All winners will be announced in January 2017.
Euro Hockey League media release
2016 FIH Hockey Stars Awards: No Pakistanis in running for honours
KARACHI: None of the Greenshirts made it to the list of players nominated for the 2016 Hockey Stars Awards by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the Hockey Revolution Conference in Dubai yesterday.
The sport’s world governing body, through these awards, recognises the best players, goalkeepers, rising stars, coaches and umpires in any given calendar year.
FIH Athletes’ Committee, Continental Federations, coaches and media have together selected five male and as many female nominees for each award.
All awards are based on players’ performances at international events during 2016 as well as their overall contribution to the sport.
An online vote, open to the public, and a peer vote from international athletes will be taken to decide the winners, who will be named early next year.
While no Pakistan player was named among the nominees, two Indian players made it to the list. Raveendran Sreejesh is in the running for the Goalkeeper of the Year award, whereas Harmanpreet Singh is vying for the Rising Star of the Year title.
Elsewhere, Gonzalo Peillat (Argentina), John-John Dohmen (Belgium), Moritz Furste (Germany), Tobias Hauke (Germany) and Pedro Ibarra (ARG) have been shortlisted for the Player of the Year award.
Batra of India elected FIH President
Hockey India President Narinder Batra was elected the new FIH president in Dubai yesterday after beating Ireland’s David Balbirnie and Australia’s Ken Read for the coveted job.
Batra won 68 votes out of a total of 118, while Balbirnie and Read got 29 and 17 votes respectively.
He succeeds Spain’s Leandro Negre, who had been the FIH chief since 2008.
The Express Tribune
Pakistan to appear in World Hockey League Qualifying for 2018 World Cup
By Syed Intikhab Ali
KARACHI: Pakistan’s senior hockey team head coach Khwaja Junaid has said the Green-shirts would have to play World Hockey League in England from June 15 to 25 next year to qualify for World Cup 2018.
Talking to ‘The News’, he said his team’s next training camp would be held later this month to prepare for the qualifiers. “The continental champions (Asia Cup winners) qualify for the World Cup, and the world hockey league is the other way of qualification. We have focused on both events,” he said.
Pakistan failed to qualify for World Cup 2014, as well as Olympics 2016.
He said that six teams had been confirmed to play world hockey league.
The other teams are Argentina, Holland, Great Britain, South Korea and India. Four more teams are to join them.
Junaid added it was not yet known what format the world hockey league would have. He said he had learnt that it would be changed from the previous one.
He said weaknesses of the senior team had been identified during the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament. “We worked on them before the Asian Champions Trophy and improvement has been seen in various areas. But there is still need to work hard in order to be counted among the strong teams of the world.
“We lost against India in the final of Asian Champions Trophy, but their players were much more experienced, having played international matches regularly, including Olympics and Champions Trophy. In just two years the Indian players have played 150 international matches and our team did not play any international match against any team before appearing in ultan Azlan Shah and Asian Champions Trophy. But we reached the final after defeating Malaysia, Korea, and Japan which are also formidable sides,” he said.
“What can you expect when the players have played only 14 international matches and those too in tournaments! We did not play any test series with any country which is the need of the hour so that players get used to sustain the pressure of international matches, learn how to handle pressure. We will learn many a thing when we play test series with strong sides. The situation is that neither a foreign team is coming here nor are we going anywhere,” Junaid said.
“But despite these shortcomings we are improving and giving tough time to all rivals, including India. Our forwards are playing well, they are playing attacking hockey, scoring field goals and getting penalty corners. The forward line comprising Haseem Khan, Umar Bhutta and Muhammad Rizwan played outstandingly. It is able to smash any defence line of any country.
“The penalty corner drillers also produced good results,” the head coach said.
He said that goalkeeper Amjad Ali also played well. “Along with senior goalkeeper Imran Butt, he played an important role in reaching the final of Asian Champions Trophy.
“There is need to work hard on defence, goalkeeping, ball possession, either taking the ball to the rivals or controlling it by our own players. We will remove these shortcomings in the next training camp,” he added.
The News International
High five from Forsyth helps Surbiton to victory
Surbiton's Alan Forsyth, who scored five against Beeston. Credit Tim Reder
Alan Forsyth scored five times to help Surbiton to a 6-1 victory over Beeston in the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday.
The win means Surbiton move up to fourth, and are now just one point behind Beeston above them.
Forsyth opened the scoring in the seventh minute before David Beckett doubled the lead. Forsyth found the target again just before the break but Mark Gleghorne reduced the deficit for Beeston just before the whistle brought the first half to a close.
In the second half, Forsyth added to his haul with strikes in the 44th, 68th and 69th minutes.
Leaders Holcombe also scored six goals as they beat Brooklands Manchester University 6-0 with goals coming from Sam Ward, Gareth Andrew, Rob Field, Aaronvir Cheema, Iain Lewers and Jonty Robinson.
Wimbledon moved up to second after a 5-3 win over East Grinstead. Chris Gregg scored twice for Wimbledon with their other goals coming through Ben Arnold, Peter Millar and Simon Mantell.
Martin Scanlon, Ashley Jackson and Andy Piper replied for East Grinstead and they could have pushed the home side even closer but for a missed Ashley Jackson penalty stroke.
Hampstead and Westminster are up to fifth after a 4-1 win over Reading. Rupert Shipperley opened the scoring in the 28th minute and a quickfire double from Matt Guise Brown made it 3-0.
Chris Cargo then added a fourth for Hampstead before Richard Mantell converted from a penalty corner with two minutes left for a Reading consolation.
Two goals in four minutes from Tom Bean helped Canterbury battle to a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Loughborough Students.
In the battle between two teams without any points, it was Loughborough who took the lead with Ed Horler scoring on 42 minutes.
But Bean found the goal on 58 and 62 minutes to give Canterbury the points.
Men’s Conference West
Cardiff and Met are still unbeaten in Men’s Conference West after beating the University of Exeter 2-1 - but they needed a late winner to take all three points with Owain Dolan Gray scoring in the 67th minute.
The result allowed Team Bath Buccaneers to overtake the University of Exeter and move up to second after a thrilling 5-3 win over Isca.
James Tindall hit a hat-trick as Old Georgians beat Cheltenham 4-2 and the bottom two clubs, the University of Bristol and Fareham, played out a 3-3 draw.
Chichester scored a late goal to beat the University of Birmingham 5-4 and their hero was Oli Baxter who scored three.
Men’s Conference North
Harry Sherlock hit a hat-trick to give Leek only their second win of the campaign, a 4-3 defeat of Oxton which moved them up to eighth.
University of Durham remain top of the table as they chalked up their eighth consecutive win. They raced to an early 3-0 lead against Sheffield Hallam and ended the game as 4-1 victors.
Olton and West Warwicks are the division’s top scorers and they put three past Doncaster to hold on to second place.
Deeside Ramblers beat Preston 3-2 and in the other game of the day, Bowdon needed a 68th minute Mike Shaw strike to beat hosts Cannock 1-0 as both sides ended the game with a kicking back.
Men’s Conference East
Southgate suffered their first defeat of the season as they lost 3-2 to Teddington. Andy Pett and Charlie Brooke put Teddington two goals up inside six minutes before Drew Burkin pulled one back just before half time.
Pett added a third for Teddington and that was enough to take victory despite Burkin scoring his second just before the whistle.
A Dan Webster hat-trick saw West Herts beat Indian Gymkhana 6-1 with Shea O’Sullivan scoring a brace.
Sevenoaks stay second after a 1-1 draw at third-placed Richmond, George Torry scoring their second half goal after John Harris had given Richmond the lead on 21 minutes.
Elsewhere, Cambridge City won 5-2 at Oxted, while Brighton and Hove also won on the road, beating hosts Wapping 2-1.
Men’s Hockey League (Saturday, November 12 2016):
Men's Premier Division: Wimbledon 5, East Grinstead 3; Brooklands Manchester University 0, Holcombe 6; Hampstead and Westminster 4, Reading 1; Surbiton 6, Beeston 1; Canterbury 2, Loughborough Students 1.
Men's Conference East: West Herts 6, Indian Gymkhana 1; Southgate 2, Teddington 3; Oxted 2, Cambridge City 5; Wapping 1, Brighton and Hove 2; Richmond 1, Sevenoaks 1.
Men's Conference North: University of Durham 4, Sheffield Hallam 1; Deeside Ramblers 3, Preston 2; Leek 4, Oxton 3; Doncaster 0, Olton and West Warwicks 3; Cannock 0, Bowdon 1.
Men's Conference West: Isca 3, Team Bath Buccaneers 5; Chichester 5, University of Birmingham 4; Cardiff and Met 2, University of Exeter 1; University of Bristol 3, Fareham 3; Old Georgians 4, Cheltenham 2.
England Hockey Board Media release
Grange and Clydesdale Western still in pole position
In the Scottish Men’s National League 1 Grange overcame their bogey side from last season with a 4-2 win over Edinburgh University, the results keeps them in pole position in the first division, still one point ahead of champions Bromac Kelburne.
The students took the lead through Jack Henderson but Grange were level by the interval with an open play strike by Frank Ryan.
The league leaders raced into a 4-1 advantage in the second half, Cammie Fraser scored with a deflection at a penalty corner, Callum Milne converted from the spot and John McClusley completed the scoring. Gordon Amour pulled one back for Edinburgh from a set piece, but too late to affect the result.
Meanwhile, Kelburne remain in contention at the top with a 3-0 victory over Uddingston Riva with Adam Bain, Johnny Christie and Josh Cairns on target.
Western Wildcats` coach produced a masterstroke - he persuaded Scott McCartney to come out of retirement and was rewarded with a hat-trick by the former Scotland striker in a 4-2 win over Watsonians.
It was the Edinburgh side who took the lead at a low penalty corner strike by Scott Sutherland. Wildcats were soon back in the contest with a rebound goal by Niall Sommerville after an Andrew McConnell shot had been blocked.
Then into the fray stepped the veteran McCartney, he opened with a cool conversion from the spot then followed two minutes later with a typical poacher`s strike from close range for a 3-1 lead at the interval.
In the second half McCartney`s hat-trick was delayed by a five minute visit to the sin bin, but he returned with renewed vigour and scored his third by following up a rebound after a set piece strike by Adam McKenzie had been saved by the goalkeeper. Sutherland added a late consolation for Watsonians.
Hillhead moved into the top four for the first time this season after winning against bottom side Gordonians 5-1. Callum Duke got two while the others came from Chris Wilson, Andrew Hilton from the spot, and Josh Philips.
No change at the top of the women`s first division; Milne Craig Clydesdale Western remain in pole position after defeating Kelburne 5-0 with Heather Howie (2), Heather Lang, Emma McGregor and Fiona Bruce the scorers.
Grove kept in contention with a single goal victory over Dundee Wanderers in the Tayside derby, the only goal of the game came early in the second half from Dollar schoolgirl Jenny Walls.
Wildcats recorded the top score with a ten goal mauling of bottom side CALA Edinburgh, Heather Aitken was top scorer with four and there were two each for Kareena Cuthbert and Alex Stuart.
A hat-trick by Amy Brodie and two from Becky Merchant was the basis of Edinburgh University`s eight goal victory over second bottom Hillhead, the result keeps the champions in third spot in the table.
Watsonians claimed a 3-2 victory away to Erskine Stewart’s Melville to take them up to sixth spot in the table. Erskine Stewart’s Melville remain in eighth position on four points.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Karachi Hockey Champions Trophy from Tuesday
KARACHI: The AO Clinic Karachi Hockey Champions Trophy will commence at the Dr Mohammad Ali Shah Islahuddin Academy from Tuesday, the Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) announced on Saturday.
"Top eight teams of the recently held KHA Inter-Club Hockey Tournament with the exception of runners-up Hanif Khan XI, are eligible to compete in the event," the KHA secretary former international right winger Haider Hussain said.
He informed that one tournament ban was imposed on the Hanif Khan XI after some of its players manhandled one of the umpires, Takreem Iftikhar, during the final.
He added that three players of the team Fahad Khan, Owais Khan and Asim Khan had also been banned for six months.
The KHA official said Al Sagheer Hockey Club has replaced Hanif Khan XI in the competition.
According to him, the teams have been drawn into two pools and after completion of the league matches, top teams of each pool will play the final.
Pool A: Al Faisal Hockey Club, Abdul Rauf XI, Pak PWD and If tikhar Syed XI.
Pool B: Beecham Hockey Club, Jan Mohammad XI, National Hockey Club and Al Sagheer Hockey Club.
The Daily Times
Maryland field hockey avoids NCAA tournament upset with a penalty-shootout win over UMass
By James Crabtree-Hannigan
Midfielder Lein Holsboer passes the ball to a teammate during Maryland's match-up against UMass on Nov. 12, 2016 at the Xfinity Center. (Matt Regan/The Diamondback)
The Maryland field hockey team's season was going to end in 1 minute and 5 seconds.
The Terps had trailed UMass for almost 60 minutes in their first-round NCAA tournament game Saturday. They looked out of sorts for much of the game, struggling to connect passes in every area of the field and being kept off the scoreboard.
Now, with 65 seconds left in the game, the Terps trailed, 1-0. Maryland had spent five minutes pressing as hard as it could with an empty net, and it finally found the equalizer it was so desperately searching for.
Defender Grace Balsdon scored a penalty stroke to keep the team's season alive. The goal bought the Terps 30 more minutes of overtime, and though neither squad scored during that time, Maryland won the penalty shootout, 3-0, to earn a spot in the second round.
"It definitely was a day of survival," coach Missy Meharg said.
UMass took an early lead and nearly carried it to the final whistle against the second-ranked Terps.
That score came on a counterattack, but it was after the Minutewomen dominated the game's opening stages. After the Terps lost possession during one of their first attacks into UMass territory, the Minutewomen converted on the counter.
A couple of slick passes got the ball to forward Sarah Hawkshaw around midfield in the ninth minute. She maneuvered past the only defender in front of her and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Sarah Bates as she came off her line to try to stop the shot.
"Our defense was horrible. Our one-on-one defense was horrible and we weren't holding two-on-ones," Meharg said.
The team was also struggling on the other end of the field. Maryland's leading scorer, forward Welma Luus, wasn't available due to a head injury sustained last weekend.
"It took a little adjusting to be without our attacking field general," Meharg said. "When we came into our sorts, we played very strong attack."
UMass had the first two shots of the game but were outshot 7-2 the rest of the first half and 15-3 over the rest of regulation. Still, the Terps struggled to find the back of the net.
"We would get onto the goalline and it just wouldn't go in that goal," defender Carrie Hanks said. "But we knew that we would just keep pushing and pushing. … We just knew we had to keep putting shots up."
After a productive halftime discussion, Meharg said, the Terps dominated nearly the entire second half. They earned a corner less than two minutes after the break and had other chances in the run of play they couldn't convert.
"It definitely tested our belief and our will to just keep fighting," Hanks said.
The Minutewomen topped the Terps' six penalty corners and saved the Terps' seventh with 1:05 left in the game. But they were called for a foul on the play, giving Maryland a penalty stroke and new life.
"I tend not to think about the bigger picture, just focus on the skill that's about to execute," Balsdon said. "I knew my process to get the ball in the goal."
Balsdon stepped up, aimed her shot low and to the left and scored.
"We all knew that's what was meant to happen," Hanks said. "We tried not to give up belief or hope throughout the game as the minutes dwindled down."
Both teams traded great chances in the first overtime but couldn't put anything away. The second overtime was a bit less action packed as fatigue set in for both sides.
"We were doing all the right things on the pitch," Balsdon said. "Yeah they didn't go in, but we believed in what [goalkeeper Sarah Holliday] was going to do and the five girls that were going to step up and take those penalty runs."
It only took the Terps three penalty shots to end the game. Brooke Adler, Holsboer and Hanks all easily scored their tries. Holliday, who entered for the penalty shootout after not playing all game, didn't let the Minutewomen score. She saved Hawkshaw's attempt and sent her team to the second round.
"We have such great belief as Maryland field hockey players," Balsdon said. "The pride that we have wasn't going to let us give up, and so we just kept going and kept going."
The Diamondback
UD scores opening round win in NCAA field hockey tournament
By Tom Byrne
The University of Delaware is moving on in the NCAA Division I field hockey tournament. The Blue Hens, ranked 8th nationally, edged number 9 Louisville 1-0 in a first round contest at Duke. It’s the first time since 1982 that UD has advanced out of the opening round NCAA field hockey tourney.
"Today’s game was a true NCAA Tournament game, and credit to Louisville as they put it to us in the second half. We were able to showcase some pretty good defense but created some of our own problems as we didn’t create enough quality possession and attacking opportunities in the second half," said UD head coach Rolf van de Kerkhof. "I also would like to give a big compliment to my team as they stayed in the fight, believed in themselves, worked together and played team defense for most of the second half. It was a nail-biter."
Maura Zarkoski’s first half goal on a cross from Lisa Giezeman was all the Hens needed as they extended their team record win streak to 16 straight.
“There are no words. I saw Lisa winding up and I knew where it was going to go. It was awesome to get it for the team,” said Zarkoski.
Delaware also got sox saves from goalie Emmeline Oltmans, five in the second half as she notched her fourth shutout of the season and eighth of her career.
"I made some saves, but that’s only because my teammates did their job," said Oltmans. "We started off strong, but got in some trouble in the second half. We won in the end and that’s the most important part."
The 20-2 Blue Hens will face top-ranked Duke on its home turf in second round action Sunday at 2 pm.
Duke topped American University 3-0 in its first round contest Saturday.
The Blue Hens have never beaten Duke. They are 0-9 all-time against the Blue Devils – including a 5-1 loss last season.
Delaware Public Media
PCB slammed for asking hockey federation to return loan amount
KARACHI: The PCB has come under fire after asking the cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to return a loan of 10 million rupees it was given in 2000 to send the national team to the Sydney Olympics.
The chief operating officer of the PCB Subhan Ahmad has written a letter to his counterpart in PHF asking him to make arrangements to return the 10 million rupees either in two installments or in full.
The PCB's move to demand the money back from the PHF at a time when the national sport is facing a financial crunch has been roundly criticised by some former players and critics.
The criticism has come as the PCB this week, at its general body meeting, wrote off an amount of 1.7 million due from former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf as legal fees and also approved an amount of 6.5 million rupees for the medical treatment of chairman Shaharyar Khan who recently underwent a heart surgery in London.
"The PCB spends millions extravagantly on its officials going abroad and other unnecessary costs but it can't write off the loan to PHF which governs our national sport," former Test player Jalaluddin said.
PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed said he had requested the PCB to try to convert the loan into a special grant or allow it to pay back in installments as presently the PHF didn't have enough funds to even meet its international commitments. "The money was given to the federation 16 years ago but the PCB is now insisting on its return and we don't have this money to spare as we are still awaiting release of funds from the government," he added.
The money was given to the PHF before the 2000 Olympics on the orders of the former PCB chief Lt General (retd) Tauqir Zia.
The PCB remains the richest sports body in Pakistan and is not reliant on grants or funds from the government or the Pakistan Sports Board but even it has asked the ICC to set up a special fund for Pakistan cricket.
The Times of India