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All the news for Thursday 21 July 2011

4NC: July 20 - Women: Canada vs Japan

Right from the opening whistle, it was a very high intensity match between Canada and Japan. The two teams have not met face-to-face in any recent years and so for both teams, a bar was being set. The early part of the game was played in the Japanese defensive end with Canada maintaining possession high up the field. Fifteen minutes into the game, the momentum began to shift and Japan began to settle in after whethering the Canadian early pressure. The Japanese athleticism and speed were for sure their strengths but Canada matched that with a high work rate and disciplined structure.

Japan managed to execute on a penalty corner awarded in the 18th minute with a drag flick into the mesh inside the near post by Ai MURAKAMI. Midway through the first half an excellent opportunity for Canada came from a long aerial by Canada's Diana ROEMER. The ball bounced through the Japanese defense to sprinting Thea CULLEY who picked up the ball in the circle and flicked the ball across the goal mouth. Kate GILLIS was nearly able to knock the ball into the mesh. In the 25th minute, confusion in the 25 yard area between the umpires led to a Japan attacking corner being awarded. The ball was passed low and hard for a deflection at the far post by Japan's Rika KOMAZAWA. The score at half time remained 2-0 in favour of Japan.

The second half saw more build up from Canada's midfield but no notable chances inside the circle occured. Play resumed back and forth between the 25 yard lines with Canada starting to show some fatigue after playing a man short from two back to back cards awarded to Thea CULLEY. Canada continued to battle hard and were contesting for every 50/50 ball. In the 54th minute, Japan was able to cap off the scoring with their third goal by Aki YAMADA. The initial shot was saved by Azelia LIU but left alone with no one to clear the pads, YAMADA was there to put enough behind the ball for it to trickle across the goal line.

The final score of the match was 3-0 for Japan but an exciting and physical game of hockey resulted in a great show for Canadian spectators today. The Canadian fans should look forward to many great games ahead including the 3-test series against Japan following this 4-Nations.

Canada Startine Line-up: Azelia LIU, Ali LEE, Stephanie JAMESON, Diana ROEMER, Abigail RAYE, Tyla FLEXMAN, Katie BAKER, Krissy WISHART, Kate GILLIS, Jessalyn WALKEY, Thea CULLEY
Substitutes: Natalie SOURISSEAU, Sara McMANUS, Danielle HENNIG, Poonam SANDHU, Hannah HAUGHN
DNP: Sam SMITH, Brienne STAIRS

Field Hockey Canada media release

Men - Canada vs. Trinidad & Tobago (4 -2)

Prior to the match, Dave JAMESON was recognized for his 150 International Cap for Canada.  Ironically, sister Steph Jameson celebrated her 150th Cap yesterday.  It was a great milestone for both Jameson's shared by many family and friends on the home turf. 

Canada enjoyed a great start to the match. Pushed back on their heels, Trinidad and Tobago defended with numbers to keep Canada off the board.

Canada earned their first penalty corner in the 6th minute. Scott TUPPER ripped a drag flick just wide of the right post.

In the 11th minute Canada earned their second corner. This time TUPPER put the ball into the onion bag to give Canada the early lead.

Dave JAMESON showed his offensive prowess by putting Canada ahead in the 27th minute with a field goal.  The score at half time was Canada 2 – T & T 0.

Canada continued to take the game to the opposition in the second half. They scored five minutes in from field play. A hard shot on net from Gabbar SINGH provided a rebound for Philip WRIGHT to give Canada a 3-0 lead.

Ian SMYTH netted his second goal of the tournament in the 40th minute from field play, giving Canada a comfortable lead.

T&T struck back within seconds of SMYTH’s goal from field play. A scramble in front of Canadian keeper Antoni KINDLER lead to the first goal that Canada conceded during the tournament.

An invigorated T&T team continued to bring the game to Canada and were awarded a suspect penalty stroke in the 57th minute.  Atiba WHITTINGTON of T&T beat KINDLER to bring the visitors within two goals.

Canada tightened up their defence and didn’t allow any further field opportunities for T&T. The score ended 4:2 in Canada’s favour. 

DNP: DAVE CARTER, GORDIE JOHNSTON, DEVOHN TEXEIRA

Field Hockey Canada media release

Canada breaks ‘Calypso Stickmen’ again

Nigel Simon

This country’s senior men’s team suffered a second loss to host Canada 4-2 when the Four-Nation Classic hosted by Field Hockey Canada in celebration of its 20th anniversary continued at Wright Field, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, on Tuesday night. Playing without captain Darren Cowie and Aidan De Gannes, who returned home due to personal commitments, T&T, 4-3 winners over Chile a day earlier, was put under early pressure by the hosts. After coming close to opening the scoring in the sixth minute, Canada finally made its early dominance count when Scott Tupper scored from a penalty corner in the 11th minute to make amends for his earlier miss.

Eight minutes before the interval, Canada’s Dave Jameson, playing his 150th international, doubled his team’s advantage from field goal play which it took into the break. On the resumption, Canada continued to take the game to T&T and within five minutes it extended its lead to 3-0 when a powerful shot from Gabbar Singh provided a rebound for Philip Wright to score from close range and three minutes later, Iain Smythe netted his second goal of the tournament to give Canada a comfortable lead.

The ‘Calypso Stickmen’ who are using the matches as part of their preparations for the Pan American Games scheduled for Mexico in October, struck back within seconds from a scramble in front of Canadian keeper Antoni Kindler. It was the first goal that Canada conceded during the tournament after previously registering similar 2-0 wins over T&T and Chile. An invigorated T&T team continued to take the the game to Canada and were awarded a penalty stroke in the 57th minute which Atiba Whittington converted past Kindler to bring the visitors within two goals.

However, Canada tightened up its defence and didn’t allow any further opportunities for T&T to secure a 4-2 triumph. Last night, T&T men came up against Chile while today, the national women’s team will seek its first win in four matches when it faces Canada. Yesterday, the local women faced Chile for the second time, having suffered an 11-0 bashing in their first meeting. Canada also swamped the T&T women 6-0 while the latter was edged out 1-0 by Canada ‘A’ in its other match played to date. 

Remaining fixtures

Today:

Canada vs Chile (men) - 5 pm

Japan vs Chile (women) - 7 pm

Canada vs T&T (women) - 9 pm

Tomorrow:

Canada vs T&T (men) - 9 pm

Saturday:

Japan vs T&T (women) - 2 pm

Canada vs Chile (women) - 4 pm

Chile vs T&T (men) - 6.30pm

Sunday:

Third place playoff (women): 2 pm

Canada vs Chile (men) - 4.30 pm

Gold medal match (women) - 7 pm.

The Trinidad Guardian

Project squad get a whipping

PETALING JAYA: The Project 2013 hockey team, now on a playing tour of Europe, were whipped 1-4 by the England Under-21 side in a friendly on Tuesday.

England scored through Mat Lee (17th and 59th minutes), Simon Thompson (63rd) and Dam Volkes (68th) while Mohamed Syamim Yusof netted Malaysia’s consolation goal in the 50th minute. It was England’s first victory over the Project 2013 squad, having drawn 2-2 in the first match and losing 2-3 in the second encounter.

The Star of Malaysia

Unity Games Hockey News – Day 4 – Men’s Quarter Finalists Shaping Up


Armed Forces Men warm up

Armed Forces, Prisons, Western Region and Volta Region booked their passage to join Greater Accra and CEPS in the quarter final stage of the men’s competition with wins on Day 4 of completion.

Armed Forces led the way with a 6-1 spanking of Central Region in the first of an all men’s matches day. Benjamin Taylor set the tone for victory as early as the second minute with a well taken goal from a penalty corner. He went on to complete his second hat trick of the competition with 2 goals from

open play (7th and 32nd) to end the first half 3-0 in favour of Armed Forces.

On resumption, Patrick Taylor took over the demolition and also hit his second hat trick of the competition with goals in the 46th, 53rd and 59th all from penalty corner conversions.

Central responded with a goal four minutes from the end with Kingsford Sam finishing off a good move from open play.

Prisons virtually had a stroll in the park with a 3-0 drubbing of Ashanti Region with a Benedict Sam hat trick. He converted a penalty stroke in the 18th a penalty corner conversion in the 26th and from open play in the 49th.

Danso Opoku Aikins was the toast of the Western Region fans when he netted twice (23rd and 56th) from penalty corners to lift Western over Police and into the quarter finals. Danso, who gave up his regular role of goalkeeping for the attacking line, enjoyed a great game alongside his colleagues who now look forward to the knockout stages.

Volta Region made light work on Eastern Region with a 4-0 bashing. Scorers for Volta were Papa Nii Sowah (12th), Selorm Kemevor (52nd) Frederick Darko (63rd) and Yasroku Noble Kofi (67th).     

The line-up for the men’s quarter finals will be completed tomorrow when Brong Ahafo battle Central and Ashanti seek to add to the misery of Northern Region. The women will jostle for superiority in Po

Ghana Hockey Association media release

Netherlands squad confirmed for Germany 4-Nations

De Nooijer to return following completion of event

The coach of the Dutch men's hockey team, Paul van Ass, has selected his 18 man squad for the 4-Nations event that takes place in Monchengladbach, Germany from 21-24 July 2011.

Following the completion of the event, long term absentee and world great Teun de Nooijer will be one of a number of players who re-join the training group for the EuroHockey Nations Championships which take place in August. More information and full squad details can be found below.

Netherlands squad for 4-Nations
(Shirt number / Name / Caps)
1 - Klaas Veering (GK) - 38; 2 - Jaap Stockmann (GK) - 35; 4 - Klaas Vermeulen - 33; 5 - Marcel Balkestein - 62; 7 - Wouter Jolie - 88; 9 - Roderick Weusthof - 125; 10 - Taeke Taekema - 222; 11 - Jeroen Hertzberger - 84; 12 - Robbert Kemperman - 50; 16 - Floris Evers (C) - 202; 19 - Bob de Voogd - 12; 20 - Sander de Wijn - 3; 22 - Rogier Hofman - 93; 24 - Robert van der Horst - 160; 25 - Seve van Ass - 3; 26 - Valentin Verga - 25; 28 - Billy Bakker - 26; 29 - Tim Jenniskens - 16.

Netherlands squad for 4-Nations
(Shirt Number - Name - Caps)
1 - Klaas Veering (GK) - 38; 2 - Jaap Stockmann (GK) - 35; 4 - Klaas Vermeulen - 33; 5 - Marcel Balkestein - 62; 7 - Wouter Jolie - 88; 9 - Roderick Weusthof - 125; 10 - Taeke Taekema - 222; 11 - Jeroen Hertzberger - 84; 12 - Robbert Kemperman - 50; 16 - Floris Evers (C) - 202; 19 - Bob de Voogd - 12; 20 - Sander de Wijn - 3; 22 - Rogier Hofman - 93; 24 - Robert van der Horst - 160; 25 - Seve van Ass - 3; 26 - Valentin Verga - 25; 28 - Billy Bakker - 26; 29 - Tim Jenniskens (Shirt Number - Name - Caps)

4-Nations Program

The three other nations participating in this tournament are Australia, Spain and Germany. The Netherlands plays against Australia at 17:30hrs (Central European Time / GMT +1) on Thursday 21 July.  On Saturday 23 July 23 the team faces Spain at 14:00hrs before taking on Germany on Sunday 24 July at 13:30hrs. 

Preparation for the 2011 EuroHockey Nations Championships
The Dutch team is preparing for the EuroHockey Nations Championships, which will be played 20-28 August in Mönchengladbach, Germany.  From there The Netherlands will be aiming to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games by a achieving a place in the top three. However, if England, who represent the already qualified Great Britain, finishes in any of top three positions at the even then the team that finishes fourth will also secure a berth at the 2012 Games.

Returning Players

After the completion of the 4-Nations event in Monchengladbach, the following players with re-join the group: Erik Bouwens, Mark Jenniskens (GK), Teun de Nooijer, Eby Kessing, Sander Baart, Mink van der Weerden, Pirmin Blaak (GK) and Quirijn Caspers.

KNHB Media Release

2011-2012 National Junior Squad selection & Johor touring squad selection

Following the completion of the Under 21 National Championships, Hockey Australia is pleased to confirm the selections of the National Junior Squad and also the Junior team selected to participate in the Sultan Johor Cup in Johor, Malaysia in November 2011. Congratulations to all athletes selected in what was a difficult and lengthy selection process.

As communicated previously, this year's National Junior squad moves towards a focus for the Junior World Cup in 2013 and the qualification process in 2012, therefore the National Junior squad identified is essentially an Under-20 aged squad.

Please note that while this group of athletes has been selected and identified now, the National Junior squad will be reselected after the Under 21 National Championships in July 2012 - again with a view to refine the squad with the Junior World Cup and qualification in mind. Therefore it is important that athletes not selected at this time, know that there will be opportunities to press for selection in the future.

National Junior Squad 2011-2012

The tour group selected to participate in the Sultan Johor Cup in Johor, Malaysia from 5-12 November 2011 is listed below:-

Competing teams: Australia, New Zealand, Korea, India, Pakistan (TBC) and Malaysia.

This tour is made possible through the generous support of the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games Squad Program (AJCGS) via the Australian Commonwealth Games Association. The AJCGS program is designed to;

• Assist junior athletes to gain international competition experience overseas so that they understand the conditions and environment that they will face as seniors.
• To assist those junior athletes who have the potential to be selected in future Australian Commonwealth Games teams.

Tour Staff

Head Coach: Paul Gaudoin
Assistant Coach: Matthew Wells (QAS)
Manager/Coach: Melissa Hall  (NTIS)
Physio: Tim Bass  (SA)

Hockey Australia media release

US National Club Championship commences tomorrow

Ashley Meunier

RICHMOND, VA- The first annual US National Club Championship presented by Harrow Sports, commences tomorrow in Richmond, VA. Sportsquest, a 250 acre campus located in Chesterfield County will host the event that will run through Sunday, July 24. Registration for the National Club Championship opened on February 1 and sold out within 68 seconds for both the Under-19 and Under-17 divisions. Thirty-two teams in both divisions will compete against some of the most elite clubs in the country over the next four days and fight for the Championship title and bragging rights as the nation’s top Club field hockey team.

“We are excited to be back in the Richmond area for the first year of this premier club event," said Karen Collins, Director of Events and Logistics, USA Field Hockey. "The National Club Championship will create a higher level of competition amongst clubs and provide more opportunities to develop the club system and the game. Although, we have had to adjust the schedule due to the sweltering weather conditions, we are looking forward to the next four days of what is sure to be exciting hockey,” said Collins.

It is imperative for the development of our sport that we host a National Club Championship and I am delighted to see we will be doing so in 2011. A National Club Championship will inevitably create a higher level of competition amongst club teams and will provide further training, outside of the school setting, for young athletes to advance their game

Due to the extreme heat and predictions of temperatures reaching the high 90’s, all matches will begin one hour earlier and start one hour later. Matches will now begin at 6:00am, with the final match being played at 9:45pm. The schedule is set up so that athletes will have a break in the middle of the day, between the hours of 11am and 6pm to avoid the sizzling and scorching sun.

A wide range of video services offering video filmed with high definition cameras by professional videographers are available for every team or any individual player. For more information, click here. Additionally, find out where to stay, dine, shop and explore in the Richmond area and print coupons to use at local theme parks and attractions by clicking here .

To view the National Club Championship event page, with photos, event news and results click here.

USFHA media release

Black Stick Stacey Carr announces retirement

Talented Black Stick midfielder Stacey Carr, aged 27, has announced her retirement from the national team. After taking a break after the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Carr told national coach Mark Hager that now feels like the right time to put down her stick and focus on her career.

“I was pretty certain that I wanted to retire after the Commonwealth Games. However, I thought it was important that I took a break to make sure that I was making the right decision,” says Carr, who is an administrator and marketing coordinator for CLAAS Harvest Centre Canterbury in Ashburton.

Carr will continue to play club hockey for High School Old Boys and at some point in the future may look to play for Canterbury in the National Hockey League, but for now she is happy taking a break from playing the sport at a top level.

“I will really miss the international games and playing at that competitive level. Also, the team environment and the people, you get to know everyone so well and I will miss being part of that,” says Carr, who has 127 international test caps to her name.

Having watched the recent Champions Trophy games on television, Carr says it is great to see the team continue to improve and she will be following them closely and keeping in touch with players as they build up to the 2012 London Olympics.

Hager says that Carr will be very much missed by everyone in the team and it was her tough, hard nosed approach to the game that she will be remembered for.

“She is a gritty, determined player who is skilful in the midfield and hard to get the ball past. With the Black Sticks being a young side she added a lot of experience, and was especially supportive of the younger members in the team,” says Hager.

The low point of Carr’s career was rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in 2007, building back up to full strength only to rupture it again in late 2009. However, competing in her first Olympics in Athens in 2004 and bringing home a silver medal from last year’s Commonwealth Games are the memories she will cherish when she looks back on her time playing the sport.

Carr says she learnt a lot from Hager and is confident that the team will only develop further with the knowledge and experience that he shares with the team. The other coach that Carr was eager to recognise was Canterbury based Black Sticks assistant coach Chris Leslie who has supported her from the early days.

“I have much to thank Chris for - he coached me from when I first made the team through till the end of last year and he was especially supportive when I was injured and trying to get back to full strength for the Commonwealth Games,” says Carr.

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Stacey Carr announces Black Sticks retirement


NICE STICKWORK: Stacey Carr in action for the Black Sticks against South Africa at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. MARK TAYLOR/Waikato Times

Black Sticks midfielder Stacey Carr has announced her retirement from the national hockey team at the tender age of 27.

After taking a break after the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Carr told New Zealand coach Mark Hager that now feels like the right time to put down her stick and focus on her career.

"I was pretty certain that I wanted to retire after the Commonwealth Games. However, I thought it was important that I took a break to make sure that I was making the right decision,'' said Carr, who is an administrator and marketing co-ordinator for CLAAS Harvest Centre Canterbury in Ashburton.

Carr will continue to play club hockey for High School Old Boys and at some point in the future may look to play for Canterbury in the National Hockey League, but for now she is happy taking a break from playing the sport at a top level.

"I will really miss the international games and playing at that competitive level. Also, the team environment and the people, you get to know everyone so well and I will miss being part of that,'' said Carr, who retires with 127 international test caps to her name.

Hager said that Carr will be missed and it was her tough, hard nosed approach to the game that she will be remembered for.

"She is a gritty, determined player who is skilful in the midfield and hard to get the ball past. With the Black Sticks being a young side she added a lot of experience, and was especially supportive of the younger members in the team," Hager said.

The low point of Carr's career was rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in 2007, building back up to full strength only to rupture it again in late 2009.

However, competing in her first Olympics in Athens in 2004 and bringing home a silver medal from last year's Commonwealth Games are the memories she will cherish when she looks back on her time playing the sport.

Carr said she learnt a lot from Hager and Canterbury-based Black Sticks assistant coach Chris Leslie, who supported her from early on.

"I have much to thank Chris for - he coached me from when I first made the team through till the end of last year and he was especially supportive when I was injured and trying to get back to full strength for the Commonwealth Games."

Stuff

Olympic hockey dreams fade on Europe tour

FRED WOODCOCK

Most players enhanced their chances of realising an Olympic dream, but Black Sticks men's coach Shane McLeod admits some started to play themselves out of contention on the tour of Europe.

The Black Sticks finished the tour with a 4-2 loss to world No3 the Netherlands in Amstelveen, their fourth successive loss after they had started with four straight wins.

The best result was a 2-0 win over Korea, ranked one spot higher than New Zealand at No6 in the world, with the four losses all coming against teams ranked marginally higher than them – Korea (in the London Cup final), England (No4) and twice against the Netherlands (No3).

For McLeod, the tour provided an invaluable opportunity to play teams the Black Sticks will likely face at the Olympics next year. But just as important was the opportunity to view players in the pressure situation of tournament play against top sides.

The coach said 90 per cent of the squad lived up to expectations and he was generally pleased with the tour, but 10 per cent "got shown up under pressure".

He declined the opportunity to name names, saying those players had further chances to impress, but made it clear there needed to be improvements.

"I did find out a few things from a few players on, I guess, a negative note," McLeod said yesterday.

"In the end they're the type of players who possibly won't end up going to London because there is a lot of pressure in those type of tournaments.

"There are certainly some opportunities for them to play well at the National Hockey League and there will be a heightened awareness they need to do well if they want to stay in the Olympics squad."

McLeod was more than happy to identify those who had impressed.

The "usual suspects" – Nick Wilson, Simon Child, Phil Burrows and Dean Couzins – all got mentions, as did Nelson defender and penalty corner specialist Matt L'Huillier, Wellington striker Stephen Jenness and Wellington goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex.

"Matt's general field play is improving a lot, the only thing that concerns me a little bit about Matt is that he doesn't have a huge training history.

"He's going to have to put in a lot of hard work in the gym and in the training environment, but I think he can do it," McLeod said.

"Stephen Jenness, each time we take him away he improves a great deal. I like his attitude toward games and toward getting better. And Kyle Pontifex had one of his best series of games for a while."

The players now return home to compete in the upcoming national league.

Stuff

Finding a new foothold

SREEDUTTA CHIDANANDA


NEW CROP: Members of the Indian hockey team going through selection trials during the National hockey camp, at the Sports Authority of India in Bangalore. Photo: Murali Kumar K.

Thirty- three- year -old Dilip Tirkey was busy playing on the field just over a year ago. An injury has turned the former India captain into a government observer to select the national side.

It may have been over a year since Dilip Tirkey called time on his marathon career, but signs of injury sustained in the course of duty remain. “It's yet to heal completely,” he says of his left foot. “Just when it seems fine and I start doing a little work here and there, the pain returns. The soft tissues have become weak. The ligament's partially torn. I've been advised a few exercises.”

A government-appointed observer on the Hockey India selection committee, the former India captain is, at the time of meeting, in town witnessing trials at the National hockey camp on the Sports Authority of India campus. “After retirement, I was really getting bored,” Tirkey says. “I was used to regular practice, thinking about the game – all of a sudden all this changed. There was family and personal work. I realised I couldn't ever leave hockey.”

The 33-year-old reveals he is planning to build an academy in his native Orissa, though in Bhubaneshwar and not the district of Sundergarh he hails from. “Talks have taken place. Everything will be cleared in five-six months. We're thinking of two age-groups — 13 to 16, and 16 to 21.” The residential facility is to be set up with both government and private help, with other former players like Lazarus Barla too involved.

Away from competitive hockey, Tirkey has not been anything like idle. Later this year, his debut film “Tora Mora Katha Heba Chup Chaap” will hit theatres.

“Bahut difficult naam hai,” he grins. “Some friends of mine were already involved with the movie. They approached me; after retirement I had nothing to do. I had not learnt acting or anything; I just went.”

Shy and humble to a fault, Tirkey is not someone anybody would peg to be an actor. “No, no, I'm not the hero,” he hastens to clarify. “The hero is a boy from a poor family. I play someone who belongs to a good family. The hero meets with an accident near my car. I take care of him and educate him and help him realize his dream of getting into politics (the boy later becomes Chief Minister).”

Back in the hockey setup, Tirkey's job is to aid in the selection of the National side. “Until one year ago, I held a hockey stick and was attending trials myself in grounds,” he says.

“Today, I'm a government observer. It's quite a responsible job. I used to be one of those players… now I have to decide who has how much quality. It's tough. I still have a lot to learn but I'm enjoying it.”

Though having to rule on the future of those he played alongside only a year ago might seem difficult, Tirkey claims he is still on good terms with them.

“Absolutely,” he says. “Vikram [Pillay], Arjun [Halappa], Ignace [Tirkey], Prabodh [Tirkey], Prabhjot [Singh], Rajpal [Singh], Bharat Chetri, Adrian D' Souza – I've played with all of them. That's exactly why I know what they can bring to the team.”

It makes for an oddly poignant picture as the former India captain limps back downhill to his lodgings alone, long after the players and coaches have left the ground. Retired, yes; removed, not quite.

The Hindu

Maken issues ultimatum to HI, IHF to merge by July 25

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday issued an ultimatum to Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation to merge by July 25, failing which the sports ministry would take a decision on its own and inform the Supreme Court about it.

"I will not wait beyond July 25. We have called for a meeting with HI and IHF on July 25. A decision would certainly come out by then," sports minister Ajay Maken told a press conference.

"We are calling the two bodies to give it a last try on merger but this will be the last meeting. If nothing comes out of it then we will take a decision on our own and inform the Supreme Court," he said.

Asked about the reason why the last merger talks had failed, Maken said, "I was really hopeful that the merger would be successful. Unfortunately, it seems that inflated egos taken over the national interest and the national game," said Maken.

The merger talks between HI and IHF fell apart last week, following a series of meetings in the presence of sports ministry officials.

Maken informed that the ministry is giving the two warring bodies a last chance after IHF President R K Shetty had spoken and written to the Ministry again to discuss some of the finer points.

"On Saturday Mr R K Shetty talked to joint secretary (sports) Injeti Srinivas and myself. He has also written a lengthy email to secretary, joint secretary and myself, where he has said that he would like to come again and discuss some finer points. He is also hopeful that we will be able to achieve what we wanted as far as good relations between the two warring bodies are concerned," he said.

"So we will give it a last try since Shetty has himself written to us. But this will be the last time. We really want both HI and IHF to come together. We have given them enough opportunities, perhaps never in the past has the sports ministry played such a proactive role," Maken explained.

Incidentally, the merger talks that seemed to be heading towards a positive conclusion since the start of the meetings, eventually hit a roadblock with the IHF coming up with some new demands in the last minute.

Maken said that there was no reason why the warring bodies should not agree to the merger as all the concerns are almost taken care of.

"We don't have differences in many aspects. We will continue with the talks. Sometimes it happens that egos clash but there is nothing much beyond that. We have talked about KPS Gill being made the lifetime patron, R K Shetty to be made the senior vice-president and have equal number of representatives from both the sides," he said.

"We have also said that the states which have more presence of IHF, it will be given importance. Even the issue of the name for the new body has been sorted out.

"No major differences have emerged. I am sure we would be able to sort out the issue. So I see no major reason why merger cannot take place," said Maken.

The Times of India

Last chance for hockey merger, says Maken

Sports Minister Ajay Maken said here today that “inflated egos” were preventing the merger of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Hockey India (HI). He said the two bodies would be given a “last chance” to decide on the merger by July 25. A meeting of the representatives of both bodies has been called by his ministry on July 25 to enable them to reach a final solution, he added.

“Inflated egos have taken over the interest of hockey,” Maken said and added that his ministry was taking a “proactive role” to settle the issue for the good of Indian hockey, but the hockey bodies have been differing on minor issues. “Never in the past had the ministry played such a proactive role. And we will not wait beyond July 25,” he warned. “We will again give a try,” Maken added.

“IHF president R.K. Shetty has requested to be given a last chance to settle the dispute.” The minister said as part of the settlement plan, it has been decided to make former IHF president KPS Gill the life patron of the unified body, with Shetty getting the post of the vice-president. The two bodies will have equal representation in the unified body.

Maken conceded that the doping scandal and the hockey imbroglio have affected the country’s preparation for the 2012 Olympics. He also announced that the Sports Ministry has recommended the inclusion of sportspersons in the awarding of Bharat Ratna.

The Tribune

NIS Patiala and SAI to part ways

New Delhi: Embarrassed over the recent doping scandals and the hockey impasse, the government on Wednesday decided to take some strong measures to tackle the vexed issues.

Sports minister Ajay Maken, who admitted that both the matters have dented India’s chances in the Olympics next year, has now proposed to demerge the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala from the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

Maken said that the NIS Patiala would now be made an autonomous “institution of national importance” with the aim to produce better coaches and thereby reducing the dependence on foreign experts like the Ukrainian sprint coach Yuri Ogorodinik, who has recently been sacked for his alleged involvement in doping.

The minister informed that a bill will be introduced to this effect in the winter session of Parliament.

On hockey, Maken said he would make a last ditch effort to unite the two warring groups before placing the government’s views in front of the court of law.

“The talks, I feel, failed because of inflated egos. However, by Monday, I will again be meeting the Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) officials to try and solve the problem,” Maken said, adding he would not take any further initiative if the two bodies once again failed to reach an agreement.

On the issue of getting NIS freed from the clutches of SAI, Maken said it should not be seen as an indictment on the country’s apex sports body. “A decision to this effect was taken four months ago based on a report… However, the doping scandal certainly hastened the decision,” he said.

“From now on, the primary role for NIS will be to produce world class coaches for various sporting disciplines rather than the currently prevalent, dominant role of holding training camps for athletes," Maken said.

The minister said once the bill passes, NIS will no longer be headed by an executive director. “It should be run by a senior person, who would be able to take the institute to greater level and produce world class coaches.”

A statistical survey conducted by the sports ministry showed that the MSc course in sports coaching had produced only 172 coaches in 27 years between 1980 and 2007.

People within the NIS, however, remained sceptical over the new move. “To reduce the influence of SAI would not really make an impact unless doping corruption is rooted out from within the NIS,” said a NIS official. “It is easy to talk about producing world class coaches but to build a faculty for that is a hard task,” he added.

The Telegraph, India