News for 21 December 2011
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 09:22 | 
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All the news for Wednesday 21 December 2011
World XI outplay India XI in WSH exhibition match
CHANDIGARH: World XI thrashed India XI 7-2 in an exhibition match of the upcoming World Series Hockey on Tuesday.
As the Indians lacked finishing touch and displayed relatively poor defence, World XI outclassed the hosts in the last two quarters after sharing honours in the first two quarters.
Both the teams utilised the rolling substitutions to great effect, but World XI translated the rule to maximum advantage.
World XI scored through Joseph Reardon (10th), Roderik Huber (32nd), Connon Grimes (38th), Pheiie Maguire (40th), Peter Kelly (55th, 59th) and David Seddon (67th), while for Indian XI Deepak Thakur (17th) and Dhanraj Pillay (28th) were the goal getters.
Mounting immense pressure on the Indian defence with quick exchange of passes, Reardon scored from a close range to put World XI ahead in the 10th minute.
India XI engineered a couple of good moves but an alert World XI defence kept the home team forwards at bay.
However, Thakur restored parity just before the end of the first quarter from local lad Inderjit Chadha's forward pass.
Soon after India XI captain Prabhjot Singh sprinted down the left flank before entering the striking circle in the 19th minute, only to find an alert World XI goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan, who had the move covered.
Mercurial Dhanraj Pillay then displayed his class to give India XI the lead in the 28th minute.
But that was all India XI could manage as from there on World XI scored goals at will to easily pocket the match.
World XI pressed hard and neutralised the lead through Huber of Holland in the 32nd minute.
On crossing over, World XI fired two quick goals to shatter India XI's hope.
World XI, thereafter, mounted relentless pressure and pumped in two more goals in a span of five minutes through Canadian Grimes and Phelie Maguire to take a good 4-2 lead at the end of third quarter.
In the last two quarters, World XI kept the home team on their toes with continuous onslaught, which resulted in two goals in a span of four minutes from Australian Peter Kelly.
Englishman Seddon then rounded off the scoreline for World XI when he converted a penalty corner with a powerful dragflick.
Teams:
WSH India XI: Prabhjot Singh (capt), Baljit Singh, Diwakar Ram, Harpal Singh, Prabhdh Tirkey, Jswinder Singh, Dhanraj Pillay, Deepak Thakur, Bikash Toppo, Preetinderpal Singh, Sher Singh.
WSH World XI: Brent Livermore (capt), Devesh Chauhan, Robert Green, Jiwas Mohan, Gunther Mik, Benediki Sperling, Chris Seddon, Melchior Looijen, Eli Mathenson, Jesse Mahieu, Connors Grimes.
Umpires: Parnam Singh and Bhupinder Singh.
The Times of India
World XI outplay India XI in the WSH exhibition match
s2h team
CHANDIGARH, DEC 20: WSH India XI and WSH World XI dished out champion hockey stuff in an exhibition hockey match staged at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here tonight.
World XI outclassed the hosts in the last two quarters to register a well-merited 7-2 verdict after sharing honours at the end of the first two quarters which ended in 2-2 draw.
Both teams utilized the rolling substitutions to give their players rest at regular intervals. However, World XI translated this rule to their maximum advantage.
World XI scored through Joseph Reardon (10th), Roderik Huber (32nd), Connon Grimes (38th), Pheiie Maguire (40th), Peter Kelly (55th, 59th ) and David Seddon (67th PC). For Indian XI Deepk Thakur (17th) and Dhanraj Pillay (28th).
In initial burst, World XI initiated a dangerous move. Chris Seddon cut into the striking circle from the left flank and sent the ball across the goalline with a powerful reverse shot. Before Benedikt Sperling could do any damage, Olympian Harpal Singh cleared the ball.
Mounting more pressure and with quick exchange of passes Joseph Reardon scored from a close range to put his team ahead in the 10th minute.
WSH India XI retaliated and engineered a couple of good moves but a tough World XI kept them at bay. However just before the end of the first quarter, local lad Inderjit Chadha gave a forward pass to dashing Deepak Thakur who scored the equalizer in a smooth action to the cheers of the local spectators.
Soon after the start of the second quarter, Gabbar Singh of Canada took a hot shot from the right flank from top of the striking circle. The ball travelled across the goalline without causing any threat. Indian captain Prabhjot Singh sprinted down the left flank before entering the striking circle in the 19th minute. However, an alert WSH World XI goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan had anticipated the move and advanced to break the move.
Mercurial Dhanraj Pillay displayed his class as he guided the ball into the goal in a swift action after Deepak Thakur has taken a fine shot in the 28th minute. The move was initiated by Birendra Lakra from the left flank. World XI again pressed hard and neutralized the through Rederik Huber of Holland in the 32nd minute.
On crossing over, the World XI fired two quick goals to shatter the Indian players aspiration. The WSH World XI mounted relentless pressure and playing an attacking game thrilled the spectators. They pumped in two goals in a span of five minutes through Canadian Connor Grimes and Phelie Maguire. World XI established a good 4-2 lead at the end of third quarter.
The last two quarters, the Indian team were kept on their toes with their onslaught. Australian Peter Kelly gave dazzling display and scored two goals in a span of four minutes. His first goal came in the 55th minute and completed his brace in the 59th minute with a splendid goal.
The aggressive World XI players were awarded three penalty corners in quick succession. After muffing two, World XI rounded of their tally when English player David Seddon scored their seventh goal with a powerful drag flick.
Teams: WSH India XI:Baljit Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Diwakar Ram, Harpal Singh, Prabhdh Tirkey, Jswinder Singh, Dhanraj Pillay, Deepak Thakur, Bikash Toppo, Preetinderpal Singh, Sher Singh.
WSH World XI: Devesh Chauhan, Livermore Brent (captain), Robert Green, Jiwas Mohan, Gunther Mik, Benediki Sperling, Chris Seddon, Melchior Looijen, Eli Mathenson, Jesse Mahieu, Connors Grimes.
Umpires: Parnam Singh and Bhupinder Singh.
Stick2Hockey.com
World XI thrash India XI 7-2
Gaurav Kanthwal
CHANDIGARH: Apart from World XI coach Jose Brasa landing a peck on India XI skipper Prabhjot Singh's cheek there was nothing much to write home about the World Series Hockey exhibition match at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.
The final result, 7-2 in favour of World XI, only testified to the insipid, one-sided match that failed to draw crowds on a cold foggy evening here. The likes of Dhanraj Pillay, Prabhjot, Deepak Thakur, Baljit Singh merely looked like shadows of their glorious past. The World XI players were a shade better and that showed in the final result.
With WSH getting postponed for two months, the sense of immediacy was missing in the match but players and coaches described it as "blessing in disguise". Mainly for two reasons - it will supposedly give enough time to star players to come on board and the old hands may shake off the rust and be ready for intense action just in time.
The Times of India
Optimism in the air at WSH exhibition match
Tashi Lundup
At 34 years of age, the international career of Zeeshan Ashraf, the full-back captain from the gold-winning Pakistan hockey side during last year's Asian Games in Guangzhou, reached a dead end. Having been told (or at least sent strong signals) that his services will not be needed for Pakistan's Olympic campaign, the Quetta-born Ashraf realised that he probably will not even have another game to bid the sport an official good bye. That was until the World Series Hockey came calling.
Like its cricketing cousin, the Indian Premier League, the advent of the WSH has given the perfect opportunity for many a star — fading like Ashraf or otherwise — to enjoy their time in the spotlight again. Given a contract with the Bangalore franchise, Ashraf, who even led his country during the 2010 World Cup in Delhi, now has what he had been craving for, a stage to perform his swansong.
Playing an exhibition game in the World XI squad against India XI — studded with many of his long time archrivals — Ashraf said that Indian hockey will benefit from the WSH in the long run. "Now, younger players will get a chance to play alongside experienced names, and that will help them come into national reckoning. At the end of the day, it will definitely be a boost to Indian hockey," said the former Pakistan skipper.
Ashraf's countryman Tariq Aziz — the young prodigy who formed a deadly combination with Rehan Butt — believes that the WSH will help the Asians reduce the gap on the Europeans. "Times are changing and we need to play like the Europeans if we have to beat them at their game. The presence of their coaches, like Roelant Oltmans (Holland) and Jose Brasa (Spain) in the WSH will only polish our games to European standards," said Aziz, who was the top-scorer in the Indian-Pakistan hockey series held in 2006.
Brasa, the former India coach and now head coach of Chennai Cheetahs echoed Aziz's train of thought. "Like the domestic hockey leagues in Europe, the inter-club culture will definitely benefit Indian hockey, and these city teams will boost the game at the introductory level too," said the Spaniard.
Indian Express
Chinese players praise Pakistan, thrilled about series
Shazia Hasan
China's hockey team players play during practice session at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium in Karachi. —Reuters
KARACHI: It was an afternoon of contrasting expressions at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) on Tuesday. While the visiting Chinese hockey contingent sounded grateful and were all praise for Pakistan hockey, the national hockey team coach was a picture of denial and contradictions during a joint press conference held at the HCP.
The Chinese team leader Li Gaochao, flanked by team manager Yang Liu, coaches Guo Jie, Lu Han, Meng Lizhi and Cheng Zhiwen and interpreter Liu Dongwei, said he was grateful for the opportunity extended to the Chinese Hockey Association by the PHF to play in Pakistan. “We were very touched by the warm welcome we received at the airport on Monday,” he said.
Giving a bit of history about hockey in China, Gaochao said that it was in the 1970s that four of their coaches were invited here by Pakistan to get acquainted with the game.
“That was some 40 years ago. The game has been developing in China ever since. It is also promoted at the school and college levels in China.
“We are aware of how passionate the people of Pakistan are about their national sport and we want to take that kind of love for hockey back with us to our country now,” he said.
The Chinese hockey team is the first foreign hockey team to be playing in Pakistan in seven years. They will play two Tests in Karachi (Dec 21 & 22) followed by one in Faisalabad (Dec 24) and another in Lahore (Dec 25).
Earlier, PHF secretary Asif Bajwa and chairman selection committee Hanif Khan welcomed the 28-member (20 players and eight officials) Chinese delegation.
Asked if they were satisfied with the security arrangements made for them in Pakistan, the team said that they have no concerns as regards security now, although it had crossed their minds earlier.
“When we aired our concern to the Pakistan Hockey Federation, they rightly pointed out to us that the people of Pakistan see the people of China as their best friends and brothers.
“Our team would be perfectly safe in such a friendly environment, and from what I have seen so far, they were right, too,” said Gaochao.
About their expectations from the tour, he said: “We want to learn Pakistan hockey team’s superior skill. The green shirts will be more like our teachers throughout the series. We carry very high respect for them,” Li Gaochao said.
The press conference followed a two-hour practice session by the Chinese team a little earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the presser gave a good opportunity to members of the media to find out what really had gone wrong with the Pakistan hockey team at the recently concluded Champions Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand, where the green shirts finished seventh out of eight teams.
Khawaja Junaid, who is acting as the team coach besides managing the side in the absence of Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel who is on Christmas leave, said that he was glad that the federation was able to end the international event drought in Pakistan by inviting the Chinese team here.
“By getting the team here, the PHF has opened the door which had remained closed after the Sri Lankan cricket team incident in March 2009,” Junaid pointed out.
“It is always a big thing for the host country when a foreign team visits. The Chinese team’s accepting our invitation will also help promote hockey in Pakistan,” he added.
Asked about his statement regarding the national team’s satisfactory show in the Champions Trophy at Auckland, Junaid clarified he had never stated anything like that. “I have to say that I had never said that I was satisfied with their show there,” he stressed.
However, when reminded that it was a documented fact and something that the team management had stated soon after landing in Pakistan after their return from Auckland, Junaid said: “Well, that was our federation President Qasim Zia’s opinion.
As far as the management is concerned, we were really keen to see the team qualifying for the next Champions Trophy which didn’t happen. That is unfortunate.
“But thanks to the tournament, we really got to know about our weaknesses and shortcomings well before the London Games,” he pointed out.
Asked what exactly the weaknesses were, he said: “Consistency in play. We have discovered that the boys play well in patches of 20 to 25 minutes. We are looking into achieving continuous harmony in their actions.”
When quizzed about team not exactly appearing as a well-knit, cohesive unit in Champions Trophy, Junaid said he could explain that.
“Big foreign teams are experts at breaking combinations and team work, which is what you all saw during the Champions Trophy. The boys are very united otherwise.”
When asked how a team that won the three-nation tournament after beating Australia could do so poorly at the Champions Trophy, Junaid said that they always considered that the victory Down Under was rather premature and that the team should not be judged on that.
Dawn
Pakistan-China ‘friendship hockey series’ commences today
Staff Report
KARACHI: International hockey returns to the country on Wednesday (today) when Pakistan take on visitors China in the opening match of their four-match hockey series at here at Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium. The second contest will be played on Thursday and remaining two matches will be played in Faisalabad and Lahore. National and Data Registration Authority (NADRA) are the main sponsors of the series. Though several individual international sportsmen visited Pakistan in the past few years but China are the first international side visiting Pakistan after 2004 Junior Asia Cup.
Hosts captain Imran Khan’s and his charges, who finished a disappointing 7th in recently concluded Champions Trophy in New Zealand, are hoping to put a good show against China. Imran told reporters that they were looking for good results against China. “Return of international hockey is a big boost for sports in the country. China are super fit and we are looking to win the series. China are fighting unit and we will not take them lightly,” he added. Commenting on the poor show in the 33rd Champions Trophy in Auckland, Imran said Pakistan were ranked 9th in the world so finishing at 7th was not that bad. “We are learning from our mistakes and will be in far better shape before the London Olympics,” he said.
China captain Lu Fenghai promised a good and exciting series between the nations. “Pakistan are top hockey nation and it will be good experience for my youngsters to face them,” Fenghai told reporters through an interpreter Liu Dongwei. “China learnt the game from Pakistan and playing against them is always attractive and exciting,” he said.
Both Pakistan and China teams had extensive two hours training session at the venue. There was strict security in and around the venue during the training sessions and large number of security personnel will be guarding the stadium and checking the spectators before their entry into the stadium today.
China team leader Li Gaochao said they were in a brotherly country and faced no security problems. “The Pakistan Hockey Federation had given us all security assurance and we have no problems here. Pakistan and China are like brothers.” Gaochao said his contingent was overwhelmed by the reception and warm welcome they received on arrival.
Teams:
Pakistan: Salman Akbar, Imran Shah, Muhammad Imran, Kashif Shah, Muhammad Tauseeq, Umar Bhutta, Wasim Ahmed, Rashid Mahmood, Mohammad Irfan, Fareed Ahmed, Rizwan Senior, Rizwan Junior, Ali Shan, Haseem Khan, Waqas Sharif, Shakeel Abbasi and Muhammad Zubair.
China: Jiang Xishang, Su Rifeng, Na Yubo, Sun Long, Liu Xiantang Sun Zhixin, Lou Fenghui (captain), Chen Jian, Dong Yang, Meng Jun, Hu Iluniren, Ye Liang, Yixian, Subn Tianjun, Wo Wei, Gui Yoingxin, Ao Weibao Song Yi and Xu Rui Zhang Zhinxuan.
The Daily Times
Happy to play in Pakistan, says China hockey team
KARACHI: China's hockey team leader on Tuesday said his players were delighted to be on tour in Pakistan and expressed hope they would pave the way for other international sportsmen to visit.
The first foreign hockey team to tour the troubled country in seven years, the Chinese will play four matches against Pakistan this month.
International sporting events have been suspended in Pakistan since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in the eastern city of Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and wounding seven visiting team members.
"We are happy to be here and since Pakistan is our friendly country we always wanted to tour here and we have no security problems," Chinese team leader Li Gaochao told a press conference in Karachi.
China is fast becoming a top Asian hockey team since beating Pakistan in the semi final of the 2006 Asian games in Doha, Qatar.
They play their first match against Pakistan in Karachi on Wednesday, followed by another on Thursday, a third in Faisalabad on Saturday and the fourth in Lahore on Christmas Day.
"Pakistan and China have tremendous cooperation in almost all walks of life and our hockey team owe a great deal to Pakistan for helping us in training and coaching," said Li.
"We always respect Pakistan as a top hockey team in the world and hope to learn from this hockey series," he added.
The Times of India
Chinese hockey team gets warm reception on arrival
KARACHI: A 28-member hockey squad of China was accorded a red carpet welcome at the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport on Monday when they landed here to play the four-match test series against Pakistan.
Chinese are first international hockey team to land here in seven years after the Junior Asia Cup held at Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium in 2006.
Officials of Sindh and Karachi Hockey Association greeted the Chinese team on arrival from Beijing on an Air China flight. Team members and officials of the team were profusely garlanded.
A large numbers of activists of Pak-China Friendship Foundation were also present at the airport to greet and receive the team.
Director HCP Olympian Iftikhar Syed, former Pakistan captain Ahmed Alam and Olympian Danish Kaleem, Secretary KHA Farooq Khan were also present at the airport to receive the team on behalf of Pakistan Hockey Federation.
Chinese hockey team will be having their first training session at Hockey Club of Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon in build up to the opening two test matches of the series to be be played at same venue on Wednesday and Thursday. The remaining two test matches will be played in Faisalabad and Lahore.
Lu Fenghai is leading the team which included 20 players and eight team officials.
Talking to reporters on arrival, the head of the delegation Li Gaochao said they were overwhelmed by the reception given to the team on arrival. He said Pakistan and China enjoy great relationship in hockey.
He said Pakistan is a strong team and they are looking forward to the series and learn from the trip.
The News International
FIH Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament Schedule Confirmed
Men, Dublin (Ireland) 10th - 18th March 2012
The FIH Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament schedule has today been confirmed by the FIH. Ireland who will face Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Chile and Ukraine will host this tournament from the 10th - 18th March at the National Hockey Stadium in UCD, Dublin.
The men recently moved up two spots in the world rankings from 18th position to 16th after some key successes over the summer, something which High Performance Director Dave Passmore was keen to recognise this progress reflects the hard work the team and coaching staff have put in over a number of years but the recent progress has been the most substantial and it's an exciting time for the men's team. We owe much to the financial support and faith placed in us by the Irish Sports Council, Institutes of Sport along with Sport Northern Ireland http://www.fih.ch/en/fih/events/worldranking
This tournament takes the form of a round robin pool where each team plays against each other followed by the top two teams playing off on Sunday 18th March for a spot at the London Olympic Games 2012.
Participating Teams
Korea
Malaysia
Ireland
Russia
Chile
Ukraine
Match Schedule
Saturday 10th March
12.00 Malaysia v Chile
14.30 Ireland v Russia
17.00 Korea v Ukraine
Sunday 11th March
12.30 Malaysia v Russia
15.00 Ukraine v Ireland
17.30 Korea v Chile
Monday 12th March Rest Day
Tuesday 13th March
13.00 Ukraine v Malaysia
15.30 Russia v Chile
18.00 Ireland v Korea
Wednesday 14th March Rest Day
Thursday 15th March
13.00 Russia v Ukraine
15.30 Malaysia v Korea
18.00 Chile v Ireland
Friday 16th March Rest Day
Saturday 17th March
10.30 Korea v Russia
13.00 Chile v Ukraine
15.30 Ireland v Malaysia
Sunday 18th March
11.30 5th in Pool v 6th in Pool
14.00 3rd in Pool v 4th in Pool
16.30 1st in Pool v 2nd Pool
Irish Hockey Association media release
Semifinals set to be exciting affair
PUNE: Powerhouse Punjab will face Orissa while surprise package Jharkhand take on Haryana in the semi-finals of the first Junior Hockey National Championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex here Wednesday.
Punjab and Orissa looked the most convincing in their quarter-finals and would like to play the same brand of hockey. Jharkhand, who pulled off an upset win over Madhya Pradesh, will look to put another determined and gritty performance.
Punjab look a most compact side, who play the vibrant brand of hockey that the state is known for with captain Talwinder Singh controlling the game from the middle.
The men to look out for in the semi-finals will be Mandeep Singh of Punjab and Malak Singh of Haryana. Both of these strikers are in great form, scoring fourteen and nine goals, respectively.
The Times of India
Stage set for exciting semis
Punjab will take on Orissa while surprise package Jharkhand face Haryana in the semifinals of the Junior Hockey National Championship at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Wednesday.
All eyes will be on Punjab’s Mandeep Singh, who is the highest scorer in the tournament with 14 goals. Malak Singh is the second highest with nine hits.
Punjab and Orissa looked good in their quarterfinals and would like to continue their stupendous form in the last four. Jharkhand, who surprised Madhya Pradesh, will look to put another determined and gritty performance.
DNA
Liberals hockey from December 24
Chandigarh: Thirty sixth edition of the Liberals All-India hockey tournament will be held at Nabha from December 24 at the newly-laid turf of Punjab Public School Nabha. Liberals Hockey Tournament is the oldest national level hockey tournament of Punjab which has been successfully held annually for the last 35 years without a break.
It has been recognized as a Grade-A hockey tournament by the Indian Hockey Fedration/Hockey India and continues to attract top hockey teams of the country for the last 35 years.
Teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh have also participated in this tournament during the previous years and a couple of teams from Pakistan were keen to take part this year also but could not come due to visa problems.
As in the past many olympians and international hockey stars are expected to display their skill during the week-long tournament in which 20 prominent teams will lock horns to lift the trophy.
Besides last years champions Punjab & Sind Bank Delhi and runners-up Western Railway Mumbai, the teams that have confirmed their entry in the tournament are Punjab Police, BSF, ITBP, Corps of Signals, EME from Jalandhar, CISF, Rock Rovers & Haryana XI from Chandigarh, Air Force, Northern Railway & CRPF from New Delhi, J & K Police Jammu, Hawks Ropar, Sports Hostel Lucknow , Sikh Regimental centre Ramgarh Cantt (Jharkhand), North West academy Dhudike, PSEB Patiala and Western Central Railway Jabalpur.
The Tribune
MPHA wins the Sub-Jr Women's title
s2h team
Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy (MPHA) defeated Haryana 2-1 to lift the Sub-Junior Girls National Championship at Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh today (The 20th Dec 2011).
The academy girls, who led 2-0 at half time, scored through Nusrat Khatun (6th Min) and Karishma Yadav (21st Min Penalty Corner) while Mamta reduced the margin for Haryana (65th Min).
MPHA were dominant for most of the match and earned seven penalty corners as against three by their opponents.
MPHA goalkeeper Preeti Patel has been declared Player of the Match as she warded off numerous attacks by the Haryana forwards to ensure victory for her team.
MPHA had also won the Junior Women National Championship crown at Sonepat earlier this month.
Orissa finished third as they beat Karnataka 3-1 in an earlier match.
Karnataka took the lead from a 30th minute penalty corner conversion by Sandhya H.P. but Orissa bounced back with goals from Birajini Ekka in the 33rd minute, Priyanka Ekka in the 52nd minute and Seema Lakra in the 59th minute.
Navneet Kaur (Haryana) has been declared Player of the Tournament while awards for the best Goalkeeper, Defender, Midfielder and Forwards went to Sandhya K.K. (Karnataka), Jyoti Dahiya (Haryana), Shyama Tidgam (MPHA) and Birajini Ekka (Orissa) respectively.
The Fair Play Trophy was given to Tamil Nadu.
Stick2Hockey.com
Black Sticks Women 2012 FIH Champions Trophy team announced
As the Black Sticks Men take a break from the turf over summer, the Black Sticks Women are back in full swing preparing for the 2012 FIH Champions Trophy to be held in Rosario, Argentina from 28 Jan-5 Feb.
Black Sticks Women’s coach Mark Hager announced a team today which is almost unchanged from the bronze medal performing side that competed at the Champions Trophy in Amsterdam earlier this year.
With only two changes - North Harbour’s Rhiannon Dennison and Midlands player Samantha Charlton replacing Anna Thorpe and Ella Gunson – Hager says the team knows how difficult it will be to replicate their medal winning form of 2011.
“This tournament is the last chance to assess ourselves against the top eight teams and analyse and scout other teams in preparation for the London Olympics. We know it will be a real challenge to get onto the podium again,” says Hager.
The Black Sticks have a strong competition schedule leading into the Champions Trophy.
The team will compete at a Four Nations Tournament in Cordoba (Argentina) against Korea, Great Britain and Argentina from 18-22 February. They then go to Rosario to play a practice match against Japan and China.
“The Four Nations and practice games give the team a chance to compete, as well as rest key players in the lead up to the Champions Trophy,” says Hager.
Playing in Pool B, the Black Sticks will take on number two side Argentina first up before facing eighth ranked Korea and third ranked Germany. Of note, is that three of the teams in this pool were in the top four at last year’s Champions Trophy – New Zealand, Argentina and Korea.
A revised Champions Trophy format from 2011 will see teams go from pool play to quarter and semi-finals rather than points determining the final day medal play-offs.
In total, the team will have 10 international tests and two practice games under their belt by mid February.
Training on the new blue turf at Westlake Girls, the team have their last training session tomorrow before they break for Christmas and return to the turf on the 4th January. The team depart for Argentina on Sunday 15 January.
Click here for the team list
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Alex strikes a winning pose
By Graham Wilson
THE women look good and the men have also caught the eye, albeit for a very different reason.
Danny Kerry’s Great Britain women’s squad were returning home from a 5-0 series whitewash of the USA yesterday with the men having completed a rather more delicate operation courtesy of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Coach Kerry registered a 4-0 final Test win in San Diego, having seen his team score an overall 19 goals and concede only five against a squad who will be at the Olympic Games in London next year.
Bubbly striker Alex Danson, stood out with six goals, a hat-trick in the first 3-0 victory, two goals in the third 4-1 win and, appropriately, signed off with a goal a minute from time in the final fifth test success.
Reading striker Danson has been nominated to the world governing body’s FIH All Stars squad, along with Kerry as coach and Danson’s club-mate Helen Richardson, Leicester defender Crista Cullen and goalkeeper Beth Storry, who did not travel to the US.
GB striker and captain Barry Middleton is considered for the men’s All Stars squad with his East Grinstead team-mate Ashley Jackson, Reading defender Richard Mantell and Cannock goalkeeper James Fair. They have just come back from the Champions Trophy, finishing a humbling sixth out of eight top countries in Auckland.
In the last women’s US test, Cullen made her 150th appearance as the bedrock of GB and England’s defence. She said: “It is an honour to be part of this squad and amazing to get this many caps. I only hope there are many more to come.
“It was a great way to finish off our tour. We’ve dominated the series and it has been great to score so many quality open-play goals.”
The women will next be in action in the Champions Trophy in Argentina next month. Their first pool match will be on January 28 against Japan.
Seven of the men’s squad were also “in action” last week – posing naked for a Cosmopolitan centrefold next year in aid of the Everyman charity for testicular cancer.
Harry Martin, James Tindall, Ali Brogden, Nick Catlin, Ali Wilson, Nick Brothers and George Pinner got their kit off in a good cause.
Daily Express
Hockey’s true servant
By AFTAR SINGH
Sticking to his true love: Former national hockey coach Lawrence van Huizen looking at family photos with wife Doreen. — UU BAN / The Star
SEREMBAN: There’s definitely no one in Malaysia who loves the game of hockey more than Lawrence Joseph van Huizen.
Lawrence is of mixed Dutch and Portuguese blood but it is hockey that flows through his veins – given that he has contributed to the game his entire life.
In today’s materialistic world, it would be difficult to find a person like Lawrence who coached the Seremban St Paul Institution’s Under-18 hockey team for 43 years – from 1958 to 2002 – for free.
Lawrence, a former student of St. Paul Institution, also coached the Convent School in Seremban for free.
The Star of Malaysia
MJHL clubs reject new zonal format of play for 2012
KUALA LUMPUR: The new zonal format of play for next year’s Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) has been rejected by the clubs.
Affiliates from 18 clubs rejected the new format at a team managers’ meeting held at the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) office in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Only Pahang supported the new format while the rest were against it.
Hence, the 2012 MJHL will be played under the old format of Divisions One and Two.
Deputy MJHL organising chairman S. Satish Kumar, who chaired the meeting yesterday, said that clubs were not in favour of the new zonal format.
“So we will stick to the old format for next year’s league. However, the decision has to be endorsed by the management committee,” said Satish.
The other members of the technical committee, who attended the meeting, are V. Rajamanickam, Jusveer Singh, N. Krishnan and assistant secretary Hashim Mohd Yusoff.
The MHF had a workshop on July 17 and it was decided that a new zonal format will be introduced for the 2012 MJHL. And it was endorsed by the MHF council a month later.
Satish added that the new zonal format was introduced as a cost-cutting measure and only the best teams will play in the final round.
“But teams think the old system is more glamorous than the zonal one,” said Satish.
Satish said that they would go ahead with the proposed date for starting the MJHL on Jan 19.
The closing date for entries is Jan 6.
The team managers meeting will be held on Jan 14.
“We can expect more than 20 teams to confirmed participation for the 2012 MJHL season,” said Satish.
Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak) team manager Joseph De Silva was clearly happy that the old system will be maintained.
“Olak have been featuring in the MJHL since the league started in 1995 and we find the two Division format is the best and it benefits all teams.
“Many states would enter teams for the MJHL in preparation for the 2012 Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Kuantan in June,” said Joseph.
This year 24 teams featured in the MJHL with 10 in Division One and the rest in Division Two.
Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) won the Division One title while Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS)-Thunderbolt bagged the overall title.
Tunku Besar School of Tampin emerged as Division Two champions.
The Star of Malaysia
O’Brien, Daniel top youth hockey players
Shaquille Daniel of Shape, left, receives the T&T Hockey Board Men’s Youth Player of the Year award from Darren Cowie at the board’s awards function held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium,VIP Lounge on Sunday.
Kelli O’Brien of Shandy Carib Magnolias and Shaquille Daniel of Shape were voted as the T&T Hockey Board 2011 Youth Players of the Year at its annual end-of-season awards function held at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, VIP Lounge on Sunday.
O’Brien, a member of the senior national women’s team as well, was also voted among the “Top Five” senior women players alongside her clubmates Stacey Siu Butt and Michell Leotaud and Harvard Maritime Checkers goalkeeper, Petal Derry. Derry was also named as the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year while England-based Justin Pascall, who plays locally for Corona Fatima, copped the men’s award.
The Trinidad Guardian