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News for 19 January 2017

All the news for Thursday 19 January 2017


Berlin, Germany to host Hockey Indoor World Cup 2018



The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced today that Berlin, Germany will host the Hockey Indoor World Cup 2018 between 7-11 February.

The world’s top 24 (12 men’s, 12 women’s) national indoor teams will take part in the event which will be held in the 7,500 seat Max-Schmeling-Halle.

This will be the third time that Germany has hosted the Hockey Indoor World Cup following hugely successful events in 2003 and 2015 in Leipzig.

Speaking of this announcement, FIH President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra said: “We are delighted to confirm Germany as host of the fifth edition of the Hockey Indoor World Cup. Germany is considered a traditional hockey nation which has earned great success over the years. However, their passion for indoor hockey is renowned which proved key in the decision making process.”

He continued: “We are confident that the Deutscher Hockey-Bund (DHB) and the city of Berlin will deliver a big, bold, packed and loud event in-line with our 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy. We look forward to working with all of our partners over the coming months as we aim to make the 2018 Hockey Indoor World Cup a memorable event for all involved.”

Speaking of the host award, Wolfgang Hillmann, President of the DHB, said: “When the FIH contacted us and asked if we were interested in hosting the event, our Executive Committee acknowledged that indoor hockey is a discipline traditionally associated with our nation therefore a major event like this, with such a powerful radiance, fits perfectly.”

He continued: “Berlin is Germany’s sporting capital and a stronghold of hockey with more than 30 hockey clubs all of whom have athletes who have earned remarkable success both on the national and international stage. Additionally, we are well-prepared to host such an event since Berlin has already been the venue for German indoor and outdoor championships multiple times.”

DHB’s Vice President of Marketing and Communication, Delf Ness, added: “Berlin is a hockey city, Berlin is a sports city, Berlin is a cosmopolitan city – the ideal combination to present hockey at its best, not only to the hockey fans but also to general sports fans. It is for us a great start to a new era of presenting regular top level international hockey events in Germany.”


Indoor hockey in Berlin's Max-Schmeling-Halle Photo: DHB

The city itself is looking forward to hosting the event next year. Andreas Geisel, Berlin’s Senator for the Interior and for Sport, commented: “Hosting the Hockey Indoor World Cup represents another milestone for hockey in Berlin. It is also a great appreciation for Berlin’s hosting qualities as Germany’s sporting capital. We are looking forward to welcoming the world’s best indoor hockey teams and will make the Indoor Hockey World Cup 2018 an unforgettable experience.”

The FIH also confirmed the qualification process for the Hockey Indoor World Cup. The competition will be played in a two pool format, with six teams in each pool. Each continent will be represented in each of the respective men’s and women’s Hockey Indoor World Cup tournaments by at least one of its countries, irrespective of whether or not a qualification tournament is held.

The composition of the men’s and women’s competitions will be as follows:

  •     1 x Host Nation
  •     5 x Continental Qualifiers - Indoor Hockey Continental Champions (except that if the host nation is also the Continental Champion, the second placed team in that Indoor Hockey Continental Championship will qualify automatically)
  •     6 x Qualified Teams - The other six teams will qualify via the respective Continental Federation indoor tournaments based upon ranking and in consideration of their continents performance at the previous Hockey Indoor World Cup.

FIH site



Malaysians hope to keep up winning ways against Thais

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have not lost to Thailand in the last eight years.

And national coach K. Dharmaraj wants to keep it that way when the two South-East Asian nations meet in the quarter-finals of the Women’s World League Second Round at the Tun Razak Stadium today.

Said Dharmaraj: “I don’t want any let-up at this crucial stage of the tournament. The Thais are physically fit and playing well as a unit. And they are well prepared, having trained for three months in South Korea before coming for this tournament.

“They also have nippy forward Kornkanok (Sanpoung). She’s not only skilful but is also good with penalty corners.

“The challenge will be on us to get the better of them as two of our key players are down with injuries and doubtful to play tomorrow.”

Midfielder Raja Norsharina Raja Shabuddin twisted her ankle in the 1-2 loss in a Group B clash against Ireland on Monday. Noor Hasliza Ali, also a midfielder, broke a tooth and injured her gums in the 13-1 group-stage win over Kazakhstan on Tuesday.

Dharmaraj is, however, pleased with his team’s scoring rate – 23 goals in three matches – so far.

Malaysia whipped Hong Kong 9-0 in the other group game.

Forwards Nuraini Abdul Rashid and Fatin Shafika Mohd Sukri are the team’s joint top scorers with four goals each.

“I want the players to make full use of the chances. And I’ve faith that they will rise to the occasion and qualify for the semi-finals,” said Dharmaraj.

In the last meeting between the two sides in the final at the 2015 Singapore SEA Games, Malaysia emerged 3-1 winners.

The Star of Malaysia



SA's women's hockey team 'excited' ahead of four-country series

Ockert de Villiers


SA women's hockey team captain Nicolene Terblanche makes a pass while playing for the Blyde River Bunters in the 2016 Premier Hockey League. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Johannesburg - Starved of international competition for almost a year, the South African Women’s Hockey team are pining to get back onto the astro in the Cape Town Summer Series where they will cross sticks with Chile, Belgium and China over the next fortnight.

National captain Nicolene Terblanche, pictured, stressed the importance of the team hitting their straps during the series in a year that will culminate in the Hockey World League semi-finals in July which serve as qualifiers for the 2018 Hockey World Cup.

“The first six months are chaos, we have the Cape Town Summer Series then we have the IPT (Inter-Provincial Tournament), PHL (Premier Hockey League) before the start of the Hockey World League semi-finals,” Terblanche, a TuksSport athlete, told The Star.

“It will be crucial for us to build up to the World League where we want to do well and make it into the finals.”

South African hockey shook off the disappointment of missing out on a place at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and have set their sights on qualifying for next year’s World Cup.

Ranked 13th in the world, the SA women’s hockey team will continue in their pursuit of cracking it into the top 10.

Last year the team opened their season with a 1-0 series defeat to India before securing a 2-1 series victory over Scotland, including an 8-1 rout at Hartleyvale.

In their last international appearances in March 2016, they suffered a 5-1 defeat to Germany before forcing a creditable 1-1 draw.

“We didn’t do what we wanted to do, especially against Scotland. And against Germany, we did well but with this series we are positive,” Terblanche said.

“We last played international hockey in March, then it was Olympics and we just didn’t have any matches.

“We want to crack the top-10 and top-8, that is what we are working towards. It will be difficult but if we buy into that process then we can do it.”

South Africa’s fiercest competition should come from the eighth-ranked China while Belgium are one place lower than the hosts with Chile occupying the 23rd spot.

“We want to be competitive against China, we’ve never beaten them, so it will be difficult against them. But we want to win the series against Belgium and Chile. I believe we can do it,” she said.

The South African Hockey Association (Saha) managed to fill the void of international competition when they launched the inaugural Premier Hockey League (PHL) in September 2016.

The local tournament is regarded as the answer to closing the gap between South Africa and the top hockey-playing nations in the world.

“Obviously we didn’t have any hockey throughout the year, then came the PHL for the first time, so it was exciting because we got to play some hockey,” said Terblanche.

“The greatest part of the PHL was playing with younger players and other types of players and giving them the exposure of playing with experienced players.”

After making her Olympic debut in London 2012, Terblanche was bitterly disappointed missing out on a second appearance at the global showpiece at last year’s Rio Games.

Although Terblanche and the hockey fraternity are determined to qualify for Tokyo 2020, she is not taking her eye off the challenges they face in the next year or so.

“It is my big dream, I want to go to the Olympics again. I desperately want to go to another Games.

“Many of us have 2020 in the back of our minds but you can’t think of that if we haven’t qualified for the World Cup yet.

“The World League is very important and we want to do well there. It will be the biggest tournament of its calibre in South Africa yet.”

South Africa open the Summer Series against Chile at Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium on Friday before taking on China at the same venue the following day.

Independent Online



Stock scores a brace to hand UniKL victory

by Aftar Singh


"Back off: UniKL’s Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin (right) vying for the ball with TNB-Thunderbolt’s Mohd Shafiq Hassan in the MHL Premier Division match at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium yesterday. UniKL won 4-0. — chan tak kong / The Star"

KUALA LUMPUR: Australian Lachlan Gerald Stock continued to repay Universiti Kuala Lumpur’s (UniKL) faith in him.

Yesterday, Stock scored a brace as UniKL whipped TNB-Thunderbolt 4-0 to maintain top spot in the Malaysia Hockey League’s (MHL) Premier Division. UniKL have nine points from three matches.

Stock was on target in the fourth and eighth minutes, bringing his tally to five goals.

Aleem Bilal (39th minute) and Muhd Hafiz Zainol (44th) were the other scorers.

UniKL coach A. Arulselvaraj lavished praise on his players for keeping their third straight clean sheet.

“It was a good performance as the players paced themselves well in all four quarters. But we’re still losing possession in crucial areas around the opponent’s semi-circle. We hope to eradicate this problem.

“Now, we need to maintain our focus to collect full points against UiTM (Universiti Teknologi Mara)-KPT on Friday,” said Arulselvaraj.

Double champions Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) also registered easy wins.

Terengganu whipped Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sport School (SSTMI) 7-0 at the SSTMI Hockey Stadium in Bandar Penawar while KLHC hammered UiTM-KPT 7-3 at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium.

Terengganu are second ahead of KLHC in the eight-team league on goal difference. Both have seven points.

At the Bukit Serendit Hockey Stadium in Malacca, Tenaga Nasional edged Maybank 2-1 for their second win.

Muhd Shahril Saabah gave Tenaga the lead in the 18th minute but the Tigers managed to equalise through Hafifihafiz Hanafi’s field goal in the 32nd minute.

Tenaga then clinched all the three points a minute later when Muhd Najib Abu Hassan netted the winner.

The Star of Malaysia



HIL: Jr WC stars ready to raise the bar

Dhananjay Roy

MUMBAI: India won the Junior Hockey World Cup last month after a decade-anda-half, and aficionados will be training their eyes on the heroes of the tournament when the fifth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) gets underway in the city on Saturday.

Five players from the 18-member junior India squad, including defender Harmanpreet Singh, striker Gurjant Singh, midfielders Manpreet and Nilakanta Sharma, and goalkeeper Krishan Pathak will be donning Dabang Mumbai colours during the course of the next 35 days. All five of them were part of the Mumbai squad in 2016 as well, but expectations, surely , will be greater this time around.

And quite expectedly , they are willing to take the challenge head-on. "Winning the World Cup was a huge achievement for all of us. Now, the focus has shifted to HIL and we are really eager to do well," Gurjant, told TOI on Wednesday . The 21-year-old struck two spectacular goals in the semis and finals of the World Cup, and left fans craving for more of his dazzling reverse-hit skills.

Does he still think about those goals now? "It was not the first time I was scoring goals through the reverse hit. I had scored similar goals in the past, including in the HIL last year. I have practised the reverse hit a lot. For many spectators it was something new, but there was nothing new in it for me," he said nonchalantly .

Goalie Pathak, meanwhile, believes things have changed considerably for the youngsters after their success in Lucknow. "The biggest impact of winning the World Cup is that people have begun respecting hockey a lot more and recognising us. There were many people earlier who were not following the game, but now they do. They have begun liking the sport. And I can feel this trend whenever we are travelling for tournaments in the country ," said the 19-year-old.

Ace custodian David Harte from Ireland is the first choice goalkeeper for the Mumbai outfit and Pathak believes he has learnt a lot from him in the past couple of years. "Harte was named the FIH goalkeeper of the year, so you under stand his calibre. He has taught me a lot.Things like practice drills, how to face different match situations etc. He points out mistakes and always emphasises on positive thinking," explained Pathak, who has recently joined Punjab National Bank.

Another thing about the youngsters that will be closely tracked over the coming months is the pace at which they are able to make the transition to the next level. And both players admitted it was going to be tough. "We have to work very hard to make the transition to the senior team. It will involve a lot of struggle. But, the plus point is that our confidence is high after winning the World Cup. HIL will also help, as we will be playing against the best players in the world," said Gurjant.

The Times of India



Defender Lakra aims to return to vintage form in HIL

MUMBAI: Seasoned defender Birendra Lakra aims to hit full throttle in the Coal India Hockey India League (HIL), starting from January 21, as he continues his comeback process after a knee surgery.

Lakra, who missed out on the Rio Olympics due to injury and was out of action for over six months in 2016, made his comeback into the Indian team at the Asian Champions Trophy in October.

But with competition for a place in the national team getting tougher, the 26-year-old is aiming to reach peak form and fitness when he represents former champions Ranchi Rays in the HIL.

"The results at the Asian Champions Trophy and the Tour of Australia was a great confidence booster for me. After a long lay-off due to injury, it takes a while to gain back the confidence of playing high intensity matches. At the back of your head, you are thinking I shouldn't get injured again. But my teammates, physio and coaches gave me a lot of confidence and motivated me throughout this difficult phase. Hockey India too made me feel important by ensuring I got the best treatment," he stated on Wednesday.

"I am ready for the challenge. This year's Coal India HIL will be a new beginning for me and I really want to make this opportunity count," insisted Lakra.

"Gaining match practice against so many top players going into an important calendar year for Indian team is crucial for me," said the Odisha defender.

At this edition of HIL, Lakra will play to win his third title. He won the inaugural edition in 2013 with the now-disbanded Ranchi Rhinos and his second title came in 2015 with his current side Ranchi Rays.

Lakra feels this year their team has great potential in lifting the coveted trophy again. His defensive partners are Kothajit Singh and the Australian duo of Fergus Kavanagh and Timothy Deavin, who will play in front of goalkeeper Tyler Lovell.

Among the midfield options, Manpreet Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Sumit Kumar and captain Ashley Jackson form a strong combination, while new recruit Christopher Ruhr of Germany, English veteran Barry Middleton, Trent Mitton and Mohammad Imran Khan are strong attacking options for head coach Harendra Singh.

"We have a strong line-up and many of us in the team have played together for a while so we understand each other's game well," he warned the opponents.

"Having players (defender Vikramjit Singh and midfielder Simranjeet Singh) who are carrying the confidence from their Junior World Cup win will also make a difference to our team."

Rays arrived in Mumbai on January 15 and have been training at Mumbai's Mahindra Hockey Stadium where they play their first match against Dabang Mumbai on the opening day of the HIL on January 21.

"Thus far, the training camp has been going well and the team is enjoying this time of coming together," said Lakra.

The Times of India



KHC Dragons to host EHL FINAL4 in June



The Euro Hockey League is delighted to announce that the FINAL4 will go to Belgium for the first time with KHC Dragons home set to host the final stages of the tenth edition world’s best club competition on June 3 and 4, 2017.

EHL chairman Hans-Erik Tuijt said he is delighted that the tournament has been announced so early in 2017, giving all of the 16 clubs remaining in the competition the best chance to plan their route to glory.

"It is our aim to release the dates and locations for the EHL events as early as possible to our hockey fans in Europe,” he said. “This helps our local organisers to provide a memorable hockey experience and fans can plan their journey in time. This is why I am very pleased the board of KHC Dragons has worked out the plan to host the FINAL4 from as early as January."

KHC Dragons chairman Hans Borstlap is delighted that his club will get to host the pinnacle of the European club season for the first time.

"We are very excited to host our European hockey friends at our beautiful club,” he said. “We believe we can give all our guests a great experience of top hockey combined with the joy of ‘the good life’.”

EHF President Marijke Fleuren added: “I am very pleased that EHL is going back to Antwerp. The club is famous for its hospitality and I am sure that the European guests will enjoy themselves immensely!”

It will add to the list of excellent events hosted by the Brasschaat club, based in the north of Antwerp, with their famous "D-side" supporters group set to brew up a storm in the stands.

In 2015, Dragons welcomed almost 45,000 fans for the World League semi-finals in one of the biggest hockey events held in Belgium, showing their ability to put together a brilliant hockey tournament.

It acted as the qualifying stages for the Olympic Games where the Red Lions went on to win a silver medal in Rio with Belgian hockey continuing its rapid rise.

Dragons also hosted ROUND1 in October 2011 while the city, at the home of Royal Antwerp, also hosted that stage of the competition in the very first year of the EHL, giving a neat symmetry for this 10th season.

The FINAL4 participants will be determined at the KO16 in HC Oranje-Rood’s Eindhoven home from April 14 to 17, 2017. There, 16 clubs from around Europe will battle it out over 12 matches and four days of knock-out action.

Tickets for the EHL KO16 are currently on sale on: http://ehlhockey.nl/tickets

Euro Hockey League media release



Women's National Team and Development Squads named for 2017

Shaheed Devji



Field Hockey Canada’s Women’s National Program has named its Senior Women’s National Team and Senior and Junior Development Squads for the 2017 competition year.

Fifty-one athletes have been named to three squads, with the Junior Development Squad split into two tiers.

The Women’s National Team, which consists of the athletes most equipped to represent Canada at the Senior international level, consists of 9 returning players from the 2016 roster. Leading the way in experience is Kingston, Ontario’s Kate Wright, who is the active leaders in games played with 159, and sits only 9 games behind all-time leader Stephanie Jameson who played 168 games in her career.

Also on the Senior National Team is Hannah Haughn, who last year became the youngest Canadian women to reach 100 caps. She is coming off a five-year career with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, during which she won five consecutive National Championships.

New additions to the National Team roster include Vancouver’s Shanlee Johnston and North Vancouver, British Columbia’s Holly Stewart. Combined, Johnston and Stewart have played a total of 104 senior international matches.

The Senior Development Squad also features a roster chock full of senior international experience, with Waterloo, Ontario’s Amanda Woodcroft, Kathleen Leahy, and Alex Thicke having played 54, 37, and 27 senior matches respectively.

Rachel Donohoe returns to the National Program with her selection to the Senior Development Squad after sharing honours for the USports Field Hockey Player of the Year with Olivia Lane in 2016.

Additions to the Senior Development Squad include a group of young players making the jump from the Junior level. Alexis DeArmond, Nikki Woodcroft, Rowan Harris, and Shannon Pereira make the step up.

The Tier 1 Junior Development Squad features five players – Hannah Eborall, Jordyn Faiczak, Margaret Pham, Sam McCrory, and Thora Rae – who will be on the upcoming Senior training tour to Australia’s Gold Coast.

2017 Women's National Team

2017 Women's Senior Development Squad

2017 Women's Junior Development Squad - Tier 1

2017 Women's Junior Development Squad - Tier 2


Field Hockey Canada media release



Barbados - Self-funded success

Sarah Juggins


World League R1, Salamanca, Mexico - Barbados    (Photo: Andrés Mallen)

The past few months have been quite something for the Barbados men’s hockey team. Ranked 48 in the world, up from 56, field hockey in the Caribbean nation has always been something of a poor relative to a number of other sports, notably football (soccer) and cricket. However, with qualification to the second round of the Hockey World League (HWL) courtesy of a second place finish in the HWL Round One event, Barbados hockey is experiencing a resurgence.

However, in a typical catch-22 situation, with success and growth comes rising costs. The problem facing Barbados, as with many other nations, is how to fund their training, preparation, travel as well as all the costs associated with the actual competition. It is a problem the team has faced before, explains Dave Cox, assistant manager to the national team.

“For Round One we didn't have significant help from the Barbados Hockey Federation due to a lack of funding so we had to find ways to self-fund,” says Cox. “Firstly, we had to raise US$45,000 to facilitate a pre-tour to Trinidad for four games. Then we had to find the finances to pay for our trip to Salamanca, Mexico [where HWL R1 took place], our uniforms, practice equipment, video and communications equipment – everything we needed to ensure we were as prepared for competition as possible.”

Not attending the tournament was never an option for the management team of Cox, head coach Dominic Hill, team manager Antonio Forte, Alain Hinds, assistant manager and video analyst Jonathan Ruck. They saw the HWL Round One as a great opportunity to drive hockey forwards on the Caribbean island and get some much needed exposure, both nationally but also on a global stage. “It was a pivotal moment in our hockey development and not attending the tournament and getting the exposure would have retarded our development as a hockey nation”, reflects Cox.

So the group came up with a fund raising strategy, with the starting point a list of potential sponsors. First to throw its weight (and money) at the problem was giant mobile phone network provider, Digicel. The company, which operates across the Caribbean, Central America and Oceania, provided a significant donation which helped kick-start the campaign.

Digicel’s donation provided a catalyst for other companies to get on board. The Barbados Olympic Association helped out with the cost of flights; hockey specialists Osaka provided sticks, balls, bags and shoes to the team – all items that are difficult to source in the Caribbean – and the University of the West Indies gave the team access to training facilities.

Unbelievably, this still wasn’t enough to fund the team’s expenses and so family and friends dug into their pockets to support the players, as well as donors who gave generously via a GoFundMe account. Dave Cox says that despite this support, there is still a small debt to be paid off.

But for the players and coaching staff the fund raising efforts were worth it. A second place finish in Salamanca, qualification for HWL Round Two and a move up the International Hockey Federation World rankings from 54 to 48 are all signs that hockey is moving in the right direction.

And now, the team is eagerly looking ahead to that HWL R2 encounter which takes place in March, when they take on three teams they know well from Pan American competition – USA, Trinidad & Tobago and Chile – as well as Malaysia, Japan, Russia and Switzerland.

Cox says that training has been ramped up for the team since before HWL Round One. “Training for HWLR1 was four times per week, with two weekly pitch sessions and a further two physical sessions in the gym or on the track. We also had a video analysis session once per week and leading up to the tournament there were some sessions with a mental performance coach.”

While this is not quite at the level of a centrally funded team in terms of intensity and regularity, it is still an impressive training regime. Cox explains that this very professional approach is down to the drive and ambition of the squad and management team. “We have a strong management team led by Dominic Hill as the Head Coach. Importantly, we are all hockey players and most of us have represented our country”.

“We then have a supporting staff of managers, video analysts, trainers and a sports performance expert. These are things most international programs now have, so to compete at this level we first had to recognize that the way things had been done in the past was not conducive to sustained development so we needed to introduce these other, more professional elements.”

The astonishing and inspirational thing about the Barbados coaching and management team is that it is all done on a voluntary basis. Not only do these dedicated people coach and prepare the team for competition – a tough enough ask by itself – they also run the fund raising efforts.

“We are trying our best to be responsible for the funding of the program by ourselves,” says Cox. “This way, we can really push to make sure we are getting the funds to meet our goals of getting the team higher in the FIH rankings.”

One way the coaches are developing their players is by watching and learning from other national programs. “The group has experience and exposure to other national programs in the world and we use this to set up the framework for the players and management.”

But, Cox adds, for the team to keep progressing, they need exposure to high quality international hockey competition at junior and senior level and, again, that is a question of funding. Every away fixture involves a flight, so even getting to a match is a huge expense.

The other astonishing thing about the Barbados’ story is that the island does not have an artificial pitch. One is due to be laid this year, but the national team and every club and school team in the country plays on grass or indoor surfaces. As Cox says: “There is a high school league and an adult league but it is hard to coordinate the leagues when there is a lack of viable playing surfaces.”

The prospect of a new turf and the team’s HWL journey are creating a buzz around hockey that has not been seen in years. “Qualification for Round Two was a huge accomplishment for us,” says Cox. “With no turf and no money we did a lot more than most people thought was possible. We want to take this opportunity to improve as players and coaches and raise the level in the island. Our goals are to break into the top 20 in the world in the next three years and also to attend the 2018 Commonwealth Games.”

Barbados will be competing in HWL Round Two in Tacarigua, Trinidad and Tobago, 25 March-2 April. They enter the contest as the lowest ranked team but on their current upward trajectory, and with the drive and passion of the coaching staff behind them, anything is possible.

Pan American Hockey Federaion media release



The Dar Academy Storm at National Championships

Ijaz Chaudhry


Runner Up side National Bank  included 4 Dar HA Players

Dar Hockey Academy is presently the biggest source of talent to Pakistan's national teams, senior as well as age group sides.

Hence, it was no surprise that as many as 10 out of the 13 teams at the recent 63rd National Championships had the services of Dar HA boys. A total of 25 academy players were in action at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore.

All the four semi-finalists, PIA, National Bank, Sui Southern Gas Company and WAPDA, were well served by the academy. Sui Southern Gas Company (3rd position) and National Bank of Pakistan (runner up) were heavily laden with five and four boys respectively from the Dar HA.

Of the 25 academy boys seen in action at these nationals, 13 have been selected for the National Senior Camp. While five have been named in the National Under 18 Camp.

Dar Hockey Academy Boys at Pakistan's 63rd National Hockey Championships:

PIA: Waseem Akram & Imran Butt
National Bank: Bilal Qadir, Aamir, Arslan Qadir & Faisal Qadir
Sui Southern Gas Company: Adeel, M.Rizwan, Rana Sohail, Adnan & Zeeshan Bukhari
WAPDA: Aleem Bilal
HEC: Hammad Mansuri, Zeeshan, Hassaan Ubaid & Danish
Police:Bilal Mahmood & Saleem
Railways:Usman & Ajmal Butt
Port Qasim Authority: Asif Haneef, Awais & Ali Aziz
NAVY: Asif & Asad Aziz
Army: Awais Zahid

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

Fieldhockey.com



MSC Nutrition signs international hockey star

Global Nutrition Brand, MSC Nutrition, has signed Olympic Gold Medallist, Sam Quek, as its latest Brand Ambassador.

The field hockey star, 28, joins elite athletes including champion boxer Carl Frampton in the list of those now representing the high-performance nutrition brand.

Having won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and received an MBE alongside her Team GB teammates in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List, Sam comes to MSC at a particularly exciting point in her career.

After earning her first international cap against Argentina in 2008 whilst at university, Sam went on to captain the England team in 2014, beat the Netherlands at a close penalty shootout to win a gold medal in 2016, and appear on the popular I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here in the same year.

Sam said: “As a competitive athlete performing at elite level, it’s important that my supplement supplier of choice can provide me with a high quality product as well as the reliability I need to continue to succeed. My aim is always to perform at the highest possible level and I know MSC can provide the service I need to progress further.

“MSC is a company which prioritises the personal touch, tailoring supplements to the individual, which for me sets them above all other competitors. I deeply appreciate the support the company has already given me and I’m excited to work with them on an ongoing basis as an MSC brand ambassador.”

Nicky Edmonds, Director of MSC Nutrition said: “We’re thrilled to have Sam join the MSC Team and represent our brand as it continues to go from strength to strength. As a company we have watched and admired Sam throughout her career so far, not least during her incredible performance at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“As a company MSC invest a lot of time into the research & development of its products. We are a member Informed Sport, ensuring all of our supplements are screened and tested within the parameters of Informed Sport and LGC Laboratories.

Athlete safety is paramount and MSC products are formulated to meet the requirements of athletes performing at the highest of levels, including the likes of  Sam Quek and Carl Frampton.

“Created using only the highest raw grade materials our mission is to provide all of our athletes with the confidence they need to succeed, safe in the knowledge that they are working with one of the most reputable sports nutrition brands around.”

For more information visit http://www.msc-nutrition.co.uk/

MSC Nutrition media release



USA Field Hockey Partners with Sportle to Offer Live Streaming at National

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Field Hockey announces a partnership with Sportle to further increase the awareness and reach of field hockey through streaming live competition in the United States. This alliance will enable USA Field Hockey to grow its fan base across the country and around the world by promoting the sport to a user base of avid sports fans.

“USA Field Hockey is excited to partner with Sportle," said Adam Andrasko, USA Field Hockey's Member Services Director. "The Sportle website is top-tier and their promotion of our event live streams will attract current and new fans to the game of field hockey."

As part of the arrangement, Sportle will feature Team USA at the Pan American Cup hosted at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster County, Pa. from Friday, August 4 through Sunday, August 13, 2017. In addition to this tournament, events in June and July, including USA Field Hockey’s National Futures Championship and National Club Championship, will be showcased lived on Sportle via USA Field Hockey’s website. These matches and other content will be shared through USA Field Hockey’s streaming partners, as well as through Facebook Live, YouTube, Google+ and other live streaming platforms USA Field Hockey will look to engage in the future. Sportle users will receive notifications when USA Field Hockey’s events are going live, regardless of what platform the content is hosted on.

“Our goal is to bring to light the abundance and variety of streaming sports that are available to users around the world,” said John Buckman, Head of Sportle’s Field Hockey and NCAA (East Coast) Division. “As part of this effort, we believe the inclusion of field hockey is fundamental. Field hockey fans number in the billions worldwide and we are thrilled to be working with USA Field Hockey to grow the game through Sportle.”

About Sportle
Sportle is the first entertainment platform that makes it easy to access live sports streams from around the world in one place. Sportle was created to help sports fans find the official streams for events. For more information, visit www.sportle.tv or download for iPhone and iPad  by clicking here.

USFHA media release



Great Britain Hockey seeks president

Great Britain Hockey Limited is the organisation responsible for overseeing the selection, preparation and participation of men’s and women’s teams in Olympic Games and other international events. Current President Richard Leman who has completed his allowable terms will be stepping down in 2017 and in accordance with the requirements of the company’s Articles of Association the organisation is seeking to appoint a President for the next 4 years.

The role includes chairing the GBHL board meetings (3 per year), working closely with the Great Britain Chief Operating Officer and liaising with the company’s key stakeholders including the three associations of the home countries and the British Olympic Association. There will also be the requirement to represent GB hockey at other meetings and events.

The full job description and details of key skills and qualities required is available on the Great Britain Hockey Limited web site - www.greatbritainhockey.co.uk.

To apply in confidence please send your Curriculum Vitae and a covering letter to Michele Townsend by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The closing date for application is Friday 20th January 2017. Interviews will be on the evening of Tuesday 31st January in London.

Great Britain Hockey Limited (GBHL) is committed to the principles of equality in sport. GBHL aims to ensure that all people, irrespective of their age, gender, ability, race, religion or belief, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, social status or sexual orientation, have a genuine and equal opportunity to participate in hockey at all levels and in all roles.

The full job advert can be found here.

Great Britain Hockey media release



Rachael Heyhoe Flint 1939-2017


Rachael Heyhoe Flint 1939-2017

England Hockey were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former international hockey player Rachael Heyhoe Flint.

A pioneering sportswoman best known for her fantastic achievements in Cricket, Rachael also authored books on hockey and coached in our sport for a number of years.

She won four international caps representing the nation in hockey in 1964, and was also hockey correspondent for The Daily Telegraph for a number of years. At domestic level she played for Ealing LHC among others, and was a keen supporter of the Hockey Museum.

As a trailblazer in her field, she will be very sadly missed, and we would like to pass our sincere condolences to her family, friends and teammates.

England Hockey Board Media release

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