News for 07 June 2017
All the news for Wednesday 7 June 2017
Indian men’s hockey team loses 0-2 to Germany
Germany finished with seven points while India earned four points from their outings
Germany drew 2-2 with India in their previous match. FILE PHOTO | Photo Credit: AP
Hosts Germany overpowered the Indian men’s hockey team 2-0 in an action-packed encounter to end its campaign at the three-nations invitational tournament on a winning note in Dusseldorf on Tuesday.
Germany had previously won 2-1 against Belgium, drew 2-2 with India and lost 2-5 to Belgium in their opening match.
They finished with seven points while India earned four points from their outings.
Though India began well and won a PC as early as the 2nd minute of the match, the German defence was too good to break for young dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh who had scored a double in India’s 3-2 win against Belgium yesterday.
The following minutes of the first quarter saw Germany, the bronze medallists at Rio Olympics, showcase an improvised execution of attack and ball possession to take early control of the match.
They came up with different variations to make space in the striking circle and found success with Thies Ole Prinz perfectly deflecting the ball into the post in the seventh minute to take Germany’s score to 1-0.
Though they earned a PC seconds before the first hooter, Germany couldn’t convert the shot as India keeper Akash Chikte came up with a good save.
India played the second quarter patiently, rotating the ball between themselves and waiting for an opening in the German defence.
After several circle penetrations, India bagged their second PC of the game in the 29th minute. The opportunity went amiss though and the first half ended with a 1-0 advantage to Germany.
After a goalless third quarter, India continued to stand up to the German challenge, getting closer each time to finding a breakthrough. An opportunity came by with a little over three minutes left for the final hooter when India won another PC but Harmanpreet Singh’s fiercely struck flick was defended by the German goalkeeper.
India pulled out their goalkeeper to play with an extra attacker but could not materialise. Germany, meanwhile, succeeded in pumping their second goal in the 60th minute, thanks to Timm Herzbruch.
The Hindu
Scotland men’s squad announced for World League Semi-Final in London
Scotland men’s hockey team Head Coach, Derek Forsyth, has announced his squad for the World League Semi-Final in London where Scotland will compete for a place at the Hockey World Cup.
The World League Semi-Final will be held in London from 15–25 June 2017 at the London 2012 Olympic legacy venue Lee Valley.
Scotland’s men’s squad defied all the odds to reach the World League Semi-Final, eventually qualifying as the best ranked third-place finisher at World League 2 with a 4-0 win over Wales.
Their first outing will be against India in Pool B on June 15, before taking on The Netherlands, Pakistan and Canada for places in the latter stages of the tournament. Pool A has Argentina, Korea, England, China, and Malaysia drawn together.
Scotland v Switzerland
The Scots are now up against some of the top nations in hockey, but Scotland’s fighting spirit will see them compete with some of the best players on the planet.
As the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, Scotland are the underdogs in London. But with the likes of Alan Forsyth – who recently won the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2017 with GB, scoring four goals and voted Man of the Match in the final, as well as Lee Morton and Kenny Bain, the Scots have the potential to upset any odds.
The squad also sees the welcomed return of captain Chris Grassick from a cruciate ligament injury sustained playing for GB a year ago.
Derek Forsyth said, “We’re looking forward to playing in London against some of the best teams in the world. It will be a huge challenge but everyone has worked exceptionally hard to get to this tournament, and the effort from the players over the last few weeks has made selection difficult."
Scotland v Italy
It's a big year for the Scots, the squad will compete in Glasgow at men's EuroHockey Championship II in August. For more information on this tournament, or to buy tickets, click HERE.
Scotland’s squad for the World League semi-final is London:
Wei Adams (Dusseldorf)
Tommy Alexander (Reading)
Russell Anderson (Cannock)
Tim Atkins (Reading)
Kenny Bain (HGC)
Michael Bremner (Klipper)
Gavin Byers (Grove Menzieshill)
Callum Duke (Hillhead)
David Forrester (Edinburgh University)
Alan Forsyth (Surbiton)
David Forsyth (Qui Vive)
Chris Grassick (Surbiton)
Ed Greaves (Loughborough University)
Gordon McIntyre (Wimbledon)
Willie Marshall (Surbiton)
Lee Morton (Reading)
Nick Parkes (Surbiton)
Jamie Wong (Edinburgh University)
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Can hockey emulate Cricket in London
s2h team
Many hockey fans in India use their social media tool to berate cricket, even to the extent of accusing it of sole reason for hockey’s downfall. No one can stop them but its time for hockey to prove they can also raise to the occasion as that of cricket, and meet the expectations of their nation. Again much like cricket.
Its nature of sporting rivalries, each nation expects its national team beat the other. Each nation has only one serious sporting rival, its Pakistan for India.
Despite the neighbours playing in a dozen sports right from carom, cricket to everything, people of either side want cricket win, and hockey win comes second.
The other day Virat Kohli led Indian cricket team outplayed Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham. On a Sunday, the nation stood in unison to watch the fabulous win.
Now comes the turn of hockey.
Much like cricket, hockey too has problems with the national federation of the other side. Each accuse the other of either indiscipline or wilful negligence.
Indian hockey’s dominance as a financial fulcrum adds masala to the issues lurking around both national hockey teams.
Here only the players have a big role to play.
Barring a China or Oman visit, Pak could not host any internationals due to their nation’s image and perception among the global hockey powers.
Pakistan hardly spends the kind of money for team preparation and exposure compared to India.
Elite Indian hockey players are now millionaires whereas Pak just started getting jobs for their job, getting Hockey India League kind of cash inflow is not in the realm of practicability.
Indian cricketers too enjoy such superior conditions, and they make use and deliver. They defeated Pakistan for a record 124 runs, and thus endeared both native and NRI Indians.
What about hockey?
Despite greater international exposure, far higher valued training schemes involving world’s best coaches and physical trainers, one cannot predict the outcome of home trained Pakistan team. Even in the run up to HWL SFs, where India is to meet Pakistan on 18th June, Indians are playing against giants like Germany and Belgium, while Pak had to take the help of emerging but yet to be a power house Ireland. That Pak lost the series is beyond the point.
Despite many advantages over Pak, Indian hockey players have not reflected it on the turfs. The mere fact that they lost to Pak in Bhubneswar in 2014 in the semis of the Champions Trophy speaks poor of Indian players.
At home, they walked away with Silver. What a shame for India.
The winners even went on to show the thump to the stands. They brought shame on themselves. But it’s a different story.
When you lose to traditional rival when the nation expects you fully, you let the nation down.
Please learn from cricket and learn how to keep the mass joyous.
And on many other occasions India lost the Bronze matches to the same rival in the same genre of competitions.
If hockey has to get house hold recognition, not merely in academics and nostalgic canvass, it has to defeat Pakistan the way the cricketers do.
They haven’t lost to Pakistan in the 50-over World Cups at all.
Then why some of us crumble if cricket endears the mass more than the sport we like.
What makes ticking in sports is wins, nothing less than that.
Pakistan team has been in a sticky wicket for long, at least last ten years. Indian situation for hockey is on the ascend in a strikingly dissimilar fashion.
Yet, home trained Pak, lacking in preparation and international exposure, often expose you, sometimes even on home grounds just like Bhubneswar.
India are the professionally best managed side, while inexperienced former players struggle to administer it in Pak.
Indian victories helped Pakistan stay afloat. India hardly outplayed Pakistan in any of AHF or FIH events befitting its preparatory zeal, and far higher ranking in the FIH ladder. but cricketers do it in most ICC events, Sunday feat at Birmingham being the latest.
Therefore, its at the hands of our hockey players to deliver where the nation wants.
Winning any other country is not going to help improve the public passion for hockey unless and until against Pakistan.
18th June will provide the answer.
Stick2Hockey.com
Petroleum Sports Promotion Board thump Telengana Hockey 16-0 at National Hockey
Petroleum Sports Promotion Board and Central Reserve Police Force won by huge margins in their respective matches at the 7th Senior National Hockey Championship 2017
Sharad Deep
Action on during 7th Senior National Hockey Championship 2017 in Lucknow on Tuesday.(HT Photo)
Star-studded Petroleum Sports Promotion Board crushed Telengana Hockey 16-0 in a Pool A encounter of the 7th Senior National Hockey Championship 2017 (Men) ‘B’ Division at the Major Dhyanchand stadium on Tuesday.
On a day when there was some respite from the hot and humid conditions, Central Reserve Police Force brushed aside Hockey Andaman and Nicobar 21-1 after taking an 8-0 lead at half time.
Hockey Himachal kicked off the day’s action with a hard fought 3-2 victory over Hockey Andhra Pradesh in Pool B, while in Pool A, Major Port Sports Control Board scored a solitary-goal win against Hockey Rajasthan. Mumtaz Ahmed scored the all-important goal in the 20th minute.
Hockey Coorg too had to struggle a bit before beating Vidarbha Hockey Association 3-2 in a Pool C encounter, before Sports Authority of Gujarat -Hockey Academy notched up an identical win against Hockey Uttarakhand in the same pool.
There was no stopping Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, who showcased superb attacking hockey to score their second consecutive win. Gurjinder Singh and Diwakar Ram shared six goals, while Devindar Walmiki, Sumit, veteran Tushar Khandker and Lalit Upadhyay scored two goals each.
In the match between CRPF and Hockey Andaman and Nicobar, captain Bikash Kujur and Balram Dahiya netted five goals each, while Jayant Tirkey and Wasiullah Khan shared six goals. Surju Sahu scored the consolation goal for Hockey Andaman and Nicobar in the 48th minute.
WEDNESDAY’S FIXTURES
At Major Dhyanchand Stadium (7.30 am): Hockey Maharashtra vs Hockey Rajasthan; 9.00 am: Delhi Hockey vs Central Reserve Police Force; 4.30 pm: Central Industrial Security Force vs Hockey Coorg.
Hindustan Times
Legend Paumen signs off in style as Den Bosch claim EHCC title
Dutch icon plays starring role as HC 's-Hertogenbosch defeat Germany's UHC Hamburg
Den Bosch, 2017 winners of the EuroHockey Club Cup. Credit: EHF / Ady Kerry
Maartje Paumen ended her remarkable time with HC s'Hertogenbosch in style by scoring one and setting up the other as the Dutch side secured a 2-1 win over Germany's UHC Hamburg to claim the EuroHockey Club Cup on home soil.
As she has so often been throughout her illustrious career, Paumen was at the heart of the action and opened the scoring with a trademark penalty corner effort in the 10th minute.
UHC Hamburg hit back thanks to a goal from Eileen Hoffmann, who combined brilliantly with fellow Germany international Janne Müller-Wieland levelled the scores ahead of half time.
The winning goal arrived in the 45th minute, when Pien Sanders earned a penalty corner. Paumen stepped up to the mark and sent a shot towards goal, with Sanders getting the crucial touch to deflect beyond UHC shotstopper Yvonne Frank and spark wild celebrations from the home crowd as Den Bosch held on for victory in what was an exceptionally close final.
Following the contest, tributes were paid to Paumen, who is stepping away from Den Bosch and heading for pastures new in Belgium next season. Paumen - who has won numerous national and European titles with the club - received the Best Player and Top Scorer awards at the event, while UHC's Yvonne Frank was also honoured by being named Best Goalkeeper in what was her final match before retirement from club hockey.
Earlier in the day, Amsterdam H&BC took the bronze medal with a 3-1 win over Surbiton HC of England. Germany international Julia Müller opened the scoring for Amsterdam with an inch perfect shot into the bottom corner from a PC in the 15th minute before team captain Lauren Stam doubled their lead before Great Britain Olympic gold medallist Holly Webb netted for Surbiton just before half time.
The Dutch side re-established their two-goal advantage moments into the third quarter when Charlotte Vega fired home. It proved to be the final goal of the game, with Amsterdam securing the bronze medal.
More information about all of the action from the EuroHockey Club Cup can be found at the links below.
Official website: click here
Match schedule: click here.
Social Media:
Twitter: @eurohockeyorg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuroHockeyorg/
Facebook album
Instagram: eurohockeyorg
Hashtags: #EHCC #EHClub2017
FIH site
Judge reflects on fine margins that defined Oranje-Rood’s season
Oranje-Rood coach Lucas Judge said the fine margins went against his side this season as the Eindhoven club missed out on silverware in dramatic fashion.
His side missed out on the Hoofdklasse playoffs in the closing few seconds of the Dutch regular season due to a last ditch penalty stroke against SV Kampong.
And their EHL journey came to an end in the runners-up position on Sunday following a 3-2 loss at the hands of Rot-Weiss Köln despite fighting back from 2-0 down and earning a series of last minute penalty corner chances to draw level.
Reflecting on the season, Judge told hockey.nl: "If we had won the EHL, you could say that we have saved the season. But I do not look at it that way. Our whole season did not depend on this game alone.
"I won’t hide from the bare facts. It's true that this season we had no playoffs and have not won the EHL. But we missed the playoffs in the last seconds of the competition and today we lost to a team who have ten guys playing in the national team. That can happen.
“After a sluggish first half of the season, we have made major progress as a team and I find it particularly positive that we have put in two big performances this weekend in a row on the turf.”
Oranje-Rood had the best of the early chances only succumb to a Rot-Weiss sucker punch when Tom Grambusch fired home the German side’s first corner for a 1-0 half-time lead.
Florian Adrians then made it 2-0 a couple of minutes into the second half before the Dutch side produced their fine comeback and looked set fair to push on for victory.
"The boys have done very well to come back from 2-0 to 2-2,” Judge added. “I just do not know why we did not push on after that. The 3-2 goal came out of nowhere.
“For the three corners at the end, I did have the same feeling from our last league game against Kampong. I have twice experienced a nail-biting final stage this season. It is the story of our season."
Euro Hockey League media release
Dixon returns from Rotterdam to Beeston
Beeston Director, David Griffiths and Great Britain star, Adam Dixon. Picture: David Kissman
Adam Dixon will return to Beeston next season following a one-year stint with Rotterdam which culminated in helping the Dutch club return to the EHL and reach the Hoofdklasse final.
Dixon signed for the Bees at the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest FC, who famously won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980 and was full of praise for both his favourite teams.
"It was fantastic to sign for the Bees at the City Ground,” Dixon said of the move. “I'm a huge Forest fan and signing here is a childhood dream come true! I have had a fantastic season with HC Rotterdam.
“We achieved our target of Euro Hockey League qualification and got so close to winning the championship in the play-off final against Kampong. I'm now looking forward to being back at Beeston with the same aim of Euro Hockey League qualification, and then maybe we can start dreaming about a Nottingham team winning European silverware again.”
Beeston Director, David Griffiths, commented: "We are delighted Adam has come home for the 2017/18 season. He was instrumental in the club’s three premier league titles and our past European campaigns and his year in the Netherlands has added an extra sharpness and a new dimension to his game.
“He's also second in the club’s all-time top goalscorer list (behind me!), and I hope I can watch him beat my record this coming season. He's the best player to sign at the City Ground since 1975 when Brian Clough snared John McGovern, captain of Forest’s European sides.
“We have two fantastic squads for next season, with real depth and a great mix of youth and experience. The hard work starts now. I'd like to thank the many sponsors and benefactors who continue to support us in our domestic and European ambitions, and I urge any other Nottingham business leaders looking to support local sport to get in touch with the club."
Dixon and Beeston’s other England and Great Britain stars Mark Gleghorne, Sam Ward and Ollie Willars are competing at the Hero Hockey World League Semi-Finals in London starting 15 June, where they will hope to lead England’s bid for World Cup qualification.
Euro Hockey League media release
Australian 2017 National Development Squads Announced
Holly MacNeil
The 2017 men’s and women’s national development squads have been announced. The selection comes on the back of further assessment of athletes previously identified as having potential to progress through the ranks to a senior level by the national head coaches, Paul Gaudoin and Colin Batch.
Currently, 14 athletes have been selected to the women’s squad, while the men’s squad has named 15 athletes. Both national development squads will be boosted to a maximum number of 27 athletes following the Australian Hockey League which will take place in Perth this September.
At the end of 2017, both the national senior squad and the national development squad for 2018 will be named based upon athlete performances throughout the year.
Hockey Australia High Performance Director, Toni Cumpston said: “Our national head coaches have selected athletes who we believe have the skills that can be devloped to form the next era of our high-performance program senior athletes. We will continue to identify opportunities for athletes to be assessed to enable our new coaching staff to thoroughly assess athletes to ensure we identify the best talent for success in Tokyo.”
The national development squads for 2017 are as follows:
Women’s Program National Development Squad 2017
Athlete (Hometown, State)-
Murphy Allendorf (Mount Gravatt, QLD)
Lily Brazel (Newington, NSW) *plays for VIC
Kalindi Commerford (Canberra, ACT)
Savannah Fitzpatrick (Cabarita Beach, NSW) *plays for QLD
Kyra Flynn (Hillarys, WA)
Greta Hayes (Maroubra, NSW)
Ambrosia Malone (Molendinar, QLD)
Hayley Padget (Hurstbridge, VIC)
Mikaela Patterson (Blackbutt, NSW)
Meg Pearce (South Yarra, VIC)
Aleisha Power (Clackline, WA)
Teagan Richards (Biggara Waters, QLD)
Sam Snow (Blackburn, VIC)
Penny Squibb (Tambellup, WA)
Men’s Program National Development Squad 2017
Athlete (Hometown, State)
Max Hendry (Camberwell, VIC)
Matthew Bird (Coolbellup, WA)
Jack Welch (Hobart, TAS)
Tim Brand (Chatswood, NSW)
Scott Boyde (Chandler, QLD)
Tim Howard (Wakerley, QLD)
Lachlan Sharp (Lithgow, NSW)
Kurt Lovett (Parkes, NSW)
Jake Harvie (Daranup, WA)
James Day (Crace, ACT)
Kurt Mackey (Lauderdale, TAS)
Josh Simmonds (Ringwood North, VIC)
Corey Weyer (Biggera Waters, QLD)
Ash Thomas (Baulkam Hills, NSW)
Johan Durst (Vanterbury, VIC)
Hockey Australia media release
Is Indian hockey team operating upon the right principles – Strategy and Tactics – to climb back to the Top?
Part 3 of a three part series
By Shiv Jagday
To answer this burning question, I like these Time Tested Universal Principles, to advocate and evaluate the current situation, improvement and performance of the former champions; India: