News for 04 September 2011
Sunday, 04 September 2011 09:04 | 
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All the news for Sunday 4 September 2011
Investec SA Hockey Women beat Kenya 9-0
JONATHAN COOK in Bulawayo
South Africa's Nicolene Terblanche gets past Kenya's Priscillah Njeri during the 9-0 win at the Africa Cup Olympic Qualifier tournament in the Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo Saturday. Photo: MARIE-LOUISE VAN DER SANDT
The Investec South Africa women's hockey team opened their Africa Cup Olympic Games Qualifier tournament against Kenya at the Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo late Saturday afternoon and came away with a 9-0 win.
The Kenyans started well and Pauline Naise gave the favourites a fright early on, as the South Africans took a bit of time to settle down.
Kenya’s defence was nothing if not stubborn in the face of wave upon wave of SA attacking forays with debutants Nicole Kemp and Bernadette Coston prominent, but defenders got behind the ball to slow SA momentum down.
The ever-present Shelley Russell was scything through on the left and on-song debutant Catherine McNulty scored twice midway through the half.
Investec South Africa captain Marescia scored two goals in her 250th Test match. Photo: MARIE-LOUISE VAN DER SANDT
Not long after captain Marsha Marescia in her 250th Test for SA, put the favourites 3-0 up after Kim Hubach had done the early damage. Then it was Sentraal, Bloemfontein schoolgirl Tanya Britz’s turn to get on the scoresheet with a neat deflection while Marescia demonstrated why she has twice made the World All Star team with a beautiful goal.
It was 6-0 one minute from half-time when Damons finished well and she added another two in the first quarter of the second half (8-0) before a stunning piece of stickwork from Cindy Botha made it 9-0 all of 12 minutes from the end.
South Africa were technically, tactically and physically too good for Kenya who tried throughout but simply couldn’t stay with the pace. SA keeper Hanli Hattingh had very little to do but worked hard in directing her composed defenders from the back.
The SA midfield swarmed all over their counterparts while the SA frontrunners ran with pace, skill and purpose.
SA FIXTURES
Women: vs Ghana (Monday); vs Zimbabwe (Thursday; finals (Sunday).
Men: vs Zimbabwe (Sunday); vs Ghana (Monday); vs Egypt (Wednesday); vs Kenya (Friday); finals (Sunday).
SA Hockey Association media release
South Africa hockey captain Marsha Marescia enjoys the moment with team manager Les Galloway after receiving a boquet of flowers at her 250th Test match against Kenya at Khumalo Hockey Stadium in Bulawayo Saturday. Photo: MARIE-LOUISE VAN DER SANDT
SA Hockey Association media release
India sail past China in Asian Champions Trophy
By Sundeep Misra
The young Indian hockey team began its Asian Champions Trophy campaign in style as it spanked hosts China 5-0, displaying flashes of brilliance and dictating the pace of the game in Ordos on Saturday.
In the first half, India led 2-0 with goals from Gurwinder Singh Chandi (5th) and Yuvraj Walmiki (21st). In the second half, India scored through Rupinder Pal Singh (41st), Rajpal Singh (43rd) and V Raghunath (62nd).
In an earlier match, the opener of the tournament, South Korea beat Japan 3-2 in a hard-fought contest.
It was a slow start for both the teams with China looking handicapped due to the absence of four of their best players missing the tournament with injuries.
They were defensive and the Indian forwards took advantage to score an early fifth-minute goal. It was a loose ball that Gurwinder Singh Chandi got hold of and slotted it past the bemused Chinese goalkeeper.
China surprisingly didn't go on the attack. They pulled back players and played with a lone forward upfront. India did have the space and advantage in numbers but were erratic and not building up to the striking circle.
Rajpal and Sarwanjit had a good chance in the 15th minute but couldn't connect inside the circle.
China tried to build through the middle but Rupinder Pal Singh was terrific in defence. In the 19th minute, China almost got through but Rupinder in a super-sliding tackle took out the ball and while falling on the turf also cleared it away to the midfield.
India had their fourth goal scoring opportunity in the 21st minute and came good though the Chinese goalkeeper Xu Rui thwarted two shots but the third rebound off his pads went to Yuvraj Walmiki who had the space in the striking circle to fire in India's second goal for a 2-0 lead.
DNA
Happy with the win but team will have to work harder: Nobbs
ORDOS (China): Even though happy with a 5-0 victory against China, Indian hockey coach Michael Nobbs said the team has a lot of work to do in the coming days and months if it intends to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
"I am happy for the boys as they needed a win to start off in this tournament," Nobbs said after the match on Saturday, carefully watching his players cooling off on the practice pitch.
"But make no mistake this team has to put in a lot of work. We have spent a lot of time over the last four weeks explaining certain things and I am glad a few of those worked against China," he added.
Satisfied to see the team play as a unit, Nobbs said with a smile: "That was a pleasant thing."
"Each of them put in their best. In fact, Ravi Pal said to me after the game that this is the first international match he has enjoyed playing. The boys had fun as they were mixing well and helping each other out."
India led 2-0 in the first half before pumping in three more goals in the second half. They played full press in the second half, not allowing much space to the Chinese.
"I think we mixed up the Australian and Indian styles. I feel that under Brasa, they did very well in the European method but we want them to play the Indian style with the Australian aggression," explained Nobbs.
In fact, Nobbs felt that the positive in the match was to get the Indian method back and scoring goals.
Asked if he now harboured the ambitions of finishing on the podium, the Indian coach said, "I don't think that is the way to really think at the moment. It will be fantastic to win a medal but I want them to learn from every match. That is the reason why we are here and let's not forget that."
Nobbs said this is the team that would play the Olympic Qualifying also.
"Yes, this is the core. But I also look forward to Shivender Singh, Tushar Khandekar and Arjun Halappa coming back from injuries. That would be the ideal mix when we go for the bigger tournaments," he said.
The Times of India
India strike the right note
India recorded a convincing 5-0 victory over hosts China to begin their campaign in style at the inaugural men's Asian Champions Trophy at Ordos, China, on Saturday.
The goal-scorers were Gurvinder Singh Chandi (5th min), Yuvraj Walmiki (21st min), Rupinder Pal Singh (41st min), Rajpal Singh (43rd min) and V.R. Raghunath (62nd min).
India, who had drawn 11 in their previous meeting with China at the Azlan Shah Cup in May, began aggressively giving their opponents no time to settle down. Striker Chandi struck in the 5th minute while Mumbai youngster Walmiki scored his first international goal from atop the striking circle in the 21st minute to give India a 2-0 lead at half time.
India continued the onslaught after the break with forays from the flanks which caught China on the backfoot.
The 6'4“ drag-flicker Rupinder Pal increased the tally in the 41st minute striking powerfully home. Skipper Rajpal Singh, who joined the squad after receiving the Arjuna Award at Delhi, did not disappoint after being set up by midfielder Ravi Pal to make it 4-0 in the 43rd minute.
The Indian tally was rounded off from another penalty corner conversion in the 62nd minute by Raghunath.
This was the first international for the Indian men under new coach Michael Nobbs.
The Indian men will next play Japan, while the women will clash with Korea on Sunday.
The Asian Age
Pakistan send Malaysia crashing
MALAYSIA lost 3-2 to Pakistan in their opening Asian Champions Trophy match in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, yesterday.
Tai Beng Hai's men took the lead off Amin Rahim through a penalty stroke in the 18th minute but Pakistan were quick to equalise and then take the lead.
However, Project 2013 player Amir Farid threw a lifeline with a field goal in the 33rd minute.
However, Shakeel Abbasi scored the winner for Pakistan off a penalty stroke in the 64th minute to seal the three points.
India started with a bang when they hammered hosts China 5-0.
Gurwinder Singh Chandi (fifth), Yuvraj Walmiki (21st), Rupinder Pal Singh (41st), Rajpal Singh (43rd) and V. Raghunath (62nd) were the Indian scorers.
RESULTS: Korea 3 Japan 2, India 5 China 0, Malaysia 2 Pakistan 3.
TODAY: Japan v India, South Korea v Malaysia, Pakistan v China.
New Straits Times
Malaysia play second fiddle to Asian champs Pakistan again
By S. RAMAGURU
Mohd Amin Rahim: Gave Malaysia the lead.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia again had to play second fiddle to Pakistan after losing 2-3 in their opening Asian Champions Trophy match at the Yijinhuoluo Hockey Stadium in Ordos, China, yesterday.
This was the third time in 10 months that Pakistan have beaten Malaysia. They did it last November at the Guangzhou Asian Games to win the gold medal (2-0) and then again at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (3-2) in May.
Malaysia led twice yesterday but failed to hold on to their lead and were sunk by a 63rd minute goal.
Coach Tai Beng Hai’s men took a fourth-minute lead through a Mohd Amin Rahim penalty stroke but Pakistan equalised through national junior Abdul Asim Khan’s field attempt in the 22nd minute.
Amir Farid then marked his senior team debut with a field goal in the 31st minute, only for Pakistan’s Mohd Imran to flick in a penalty corner goal a minute later.
The came the late blow as Malaysia conceded a penalty stroke with just seven minutes remaining. Pakistan assistant skipper Shakeel Abbasi converted it to give the Asian champions their opening victory in the inaugural tournament.
In an earlier match, South Korea warmed up for their match against Malaysia today with a 3-2 win over Japan.
India also got off to a winning start, routing China 5-0. It was also India’s first match under new Australian coach Michaell Nobbs.
The Star of Malaysia