News for 27 June 2009
Saturday, 27 June 2009 09:15 | 
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All the news for Saturday 27 June 2009
India & Belgium battle into Final
Women’s Champions Challenge II – Day 4: India and Belgium have battled their way into the tournament Final of the Women’s Champions Challenge II tournament in Kazan, Russia. India were given a stern test by Ukraine before coming through to win 2-1, while Belgium produced a brilliant performance to claim a 3-1 victory over Ireland, the winners of Pool B. Interestingly, India defeated Belgium 5-3 in the opening game of the tournament, but Belgium have dramatically improved since that fixture, setting up a potentially thrilling climax to the event. Losing Semi Finalists Ukraine and Ireland will now face each other in the match for 3rd place. In the 5-8 Classification Matches, Belarus and Canada claimed victories over Russia and Malaysia respectively to set up a meeting in the 5th place Play-Off.
India were the first team to book their place in the tournament Final thanks to a hard fought victory over Ukraine. India’s incredibly dangerous forward line needed just six minutes to open the scoring thanks to a Rani RAMPAL field goal, before Saba ANJUM made the score 2-0 in the 23rd minute of the match. Ukraine battled hard and pulled a goal back nine minutes into the second half, but India held on for victory. Belgium joined India in the tournament Final with a 3-1 win over Ireland, with all the goals coming from penalty corners. Things looked bleak for Belgium when they conceded a tenth minute penalty corner from Ireland’s Shirley McCAY, but strikes from Jill BOON, Dorianne MEUWESE and Erica COPPEY gave Belgium a thrilling triumph.
Earlier in the day, the 5-8 classification matches took place with Belarus and Canada both recording victories. Belarus striker Volha SHYNTAR produced a captain’s performance as her team defeated Russia 2-1. SHYNTAR scored a field goal in the ninth minute of extra time to settle the contest after the two sides could not be separated in normal time. The result secured Belarus a place in the 5-6 Play-Off match, and condemned the host nation to the match for 7th place. Belarus’ opponents in tomorrow’s 5-6 Play Off match would be Canada, who defeated Malaysia on penalty strokes. After both normal and extra time finished scoreless, the two sides were forced into a penalty shoot-out, with Canada eventually winning 4-3 in “Sudden Death” to keep alive their chances of a 5th place finish in the tournament.
Full reports of the matches along with scoring information can be found below.
Saturday is the final day of the tournament, with the action beginning at 10:00 when Russia and Malaysia take to the field in a bid to avoid finishing in last place. That match is followed by the fight for 5th place, with Belarus versus Canada starting at 12:30. The 3-4 Play-Off takes place at 15:30, with Ukraine and Ireland aiming to end their tournament on a high. India and Belgium will contest the Final of the Women’s Champions Challenge II at 18:00, with a place in the 2011 Champions Challenge I going to the winning team.
DAY 3 REPORTS
Match 13: Belarus 2 defeated Russia 1
Belarus Captain Volha SHYNTAR became the heroine of the team when she scored an extra time winner to defeat Russia 2-1. SHYNTAR’s field goal proved to be the difference as the two teams could not be separated in normal time, securing Belarus a place in the 5-6 Play-Off match. For Russia, the defeat condemned the host nation to the 7-8th place Play-Off match, which takes place 10:00 (GMT+3) tomorrow morning.
The match was a cagy affair for the majority of the game, with chances for either team few and far between. Russia saw their chances of victory increase when Belarus captain Volha SHYNTAR was given a Yellow Card for a deliberate stick check, but the host nation could not take advantage of having an extra player on the field. In the 47th minute, Belarus were again reduced to ten players when Iryna KAZACHOK was given a Yellow Card for deliberately breaking down play, but again Russia saw their attempts to crack the Belarus defence thwarted. With the game nearing its end, extra time seemed inevitable. However, Belarus scored what looked certain to be the winning goal when Maryia KORZH-TSEPUN found the target in the 69th minute with a well-taken penalty corner, triggering wild celebrations amongst her team-mates. To their credit, Russia refused to believe that the match was over and went in search of an equaliser. It arrived with less than 30 seconds left to play when Margarita DREPENKINA fired in a field goal to level the scores and force extra time. The match winning goal arrived nine minutes into extra time, when Volha SHYNTAR cracked in an open play strike to give Belarus a place in tomorrow’s 5-6 place Play-Off match.
Match 14: Canada defeated Malaysia 4-3 (After Penalty Stokes)
Canada’s improved form in the Women’s Champions Challenge continued with a victory over Malaysia – their first win of the tournament. The match finished 0-0 at the end of both normal time and extra time, forcing a penalty shoot out to decide which team would reach the 5-6 Play-Off match, with Canada triumphing 4-3 in Sudden Death.
The match itself was a tight and closely fought contest with very few clear goal scoring opportunities for either team. With no goals at the end of normal time, the match entered extra time but the sides still could not be separated. The match itself may have lacked drama and excitement, but the penalty shoot-out was packed with both. Both teams managed to score only once out of their first five penalty strokes, with Stephanie JAMESON scoring her side’s second attempt before Siti Noor ROHANI tied the scores with her team’s fourth penalty. After five penalties each and still no winner of this contest, Sudden Death penalty strokes were brought into play. Both ROHANI and JAMESON converted once again before Malaysia captain Nadia ABD RAHMAN and Diana ROEMER achieved what they had failed to do in the first round of penalties by successfully hitting the target. The third round of Sudden Death penalties proved to be decisive in giving Canada victory. Malaysia’s Siti Sarah ISMAIL bravely stepped up to the mark but did not score, and Canadian captain Stephanie NESBITT slammed her effort into the goal to seal her side’s place in the contest for 5th place.
Match 15: India 2 defeated Ukraine 1
The first of the 1-4 Classification matches saw free-scoring India take on the impressive Ukraine. India went into the contest having a 100% tournament win record with the team scoring 18 goals in just three Pool matches. They were clear favourites, but Ukraine were also unbeaten in the tournament and had actually conceded fewer goals than their opponents going into what was likely to be a close contest.
Despite Ukraine’s impressive defensive statistics, India’s potent attacking threat did not take long to find a break through. The game’s opening goal was scored by Rani RAMPAL, who found the back of the net from open play after just six minutes. India could have added to their total, but excellent defensive work from Ukraine kept their opponents at bay until the 23rd minute, when Saba ANJUM registered her fourth field goal of the tournament to give her side a 2:0 lead. Everything seemed to be going very smoothly for India, who were certainly the better team in the first half. However, Ukraine were not without their chances, and gave India a few moments of concern as the half neared its end. Inspired by some words of wisdom from coach Svitlana MAKAIEVA, Ukraine came out fighting in the second half, determined to pull themselves back into the game. Ukraine pulled a goal back in the 44th minute when Nataliya VASYUKOVA fired home to make the score 2-1, giving her side the belief that they were capable of producing a memorable comeback. Despite Ukrainian efforts, India controlled long periods of the second half and ensured that their opponent’s chances were limited. India were worthy winners, and now begin their preparations for Sunday’s tournament Final.
Match 16: Belgium 3 defeated Ireland 1
Belgium joined India in the Final of the Women’s Champions Challenge II thanks to a 3-1 win over Ireland, with all the goals coming from penalty corners. Having impressed in Pool B, Ireland were considered favourites by most coming into the match, but Belgium produced an excellent display to set up a re-match with an India team that comprehensively defeated them in the first match of the tournament.
Things looked bleak for Belgium when they fell behind after just ten minutes, with Ireland’s Shirley McCAY firing in a penalty corner. Ireland have been an incredibly tough team to score against in this tournament, but Belgium did not let that fact get in the way of their Champios Challenge II ambitions and quickly found an equalizer thanks to a 13th minute penalty corner from Jill BOON. Eleven minutes later, Belgium moved into the lead when Dorianne MEUWESE added a penalty corner of her own. On the stroke of half time, Ireland goal-scorer McCAY was given a Yellow Card for stopping a ball above the height of her shoulder. Subsequently Ireland began the second half with only ten players on the field, allowing Belgium to gain momentum in their quest for victory. In the 44th minute, Belgium’s killer blow arrived when Erica COPPEY converted a penalty corner to give her side a 3-1 lead. Ireland were unable to find the goals they needed to get back into the match thanks to some strong defending from Belgium, who ensured that it would be themselves and not Ireland who would be facing India in Sunday's tournament Final.
Women’s Champions Challenge II Day 4: Scores and Scorers
Match 13 – 5-8 – Belarus v Russia 2-1 AET (0-0 HT)
1-0 BLR Maryia KORZH-TSEPUN PC 69m
1-1 RUS Margarita DREPENKINA FG 70m
2-1 BLR Volha SHYNTAR FG 79m (extra time)
Match 14 – 5-8 – Malaysia v Canada 0-0 (0-0)
Canada won 4-3 After Penalty Strokes
Match 15 – 1-4 – India v Ukraine 2-1 (2-0)
1-0 IND Rani RAMPAL FG 6m
2-0 IND Saba ANJUM FG 23m
2-1 UKR Nataliya VASYUKOVA FG 44m
Match 16 – 1-4 – Ireland v Belgium 1-3 (1-2)
1-0 IRL Shirley McKAY PC 10m
1-1 BEL Jill BOON PC 13m
1-2 BEL Dorianne MEUWESE PC 24m
1-3 BEL Erica COPPEY PC 44m
WorldHockey
India in the finals of the Kazan event
s2h
Indian women led by Surinder Kaur, an Arjuna award aspirant this year, reached the finals of the Champions Challenge II, by putting down a hard fight against improved Ukraine 2-1.
The hitherto undefeated India kept up its record with this hard fought 2-1 win to reach the summit, where winner between Ireland and Belgium match will face India.
India scored two goals in the first half, and struggled to keep the lead. Despite getting three penalty corners, India could not make use of any.
In a match where no cards were issued, Rani Devi took the lead as early as sixth minute, and then winger Saba Anjum enlarged the lead 17 minutes later.
Accordingly to information reaching this site, India got numerous chances to score, but the Ukraine defence was not giving up. Ukraine scored a goal in the 44th minute through Nataliya Vasyukova. India held the nerves thereafter to defend the slender lead till the end.
Stick2Hockey.com
Indian women in Champions Challenge final
KAZAN: India breezed into the FIH Women's Champions Challenge II hockey final after goals from Rani Rampal and Saba Anjum fashioned a 2-1 win against Ukraine on Friday.
Rani and Saba struck in the first half as India went into the breather with a 2-0 lead and even though they conceded a goal in the second half, they managed to defend the lead to reach the final of the tournament.
In Saturday's title clash, India will meet winner of the second semi-final between Ireland and Belgium.
The team led by Surinder Kaur struck as early as in the sixth minute through Rani's field goal before the Ukrainian defence had time to settle down.
Even though the Indians mounted repeated attacks, the Ukrainian defence withstood the onslaught till the 24th minute when Saba sounded the board to give India a 2-0 cushion at the lemon break.
Following the breather, the idea was clearly to protect the lead as India concentrated more on thwarting the occasional attacks from their opponents.
The Indian fortress finally crumbled in the 44th minute with Nataliya Vasyukova reducing the margin which injected fresh life in the match. The Indian defence, however, did a good job to keep their opponents at bay and pre-empt further setbacks.
The Times of India
Disappointing loss for Ireland
Ireland took on Belgium in the semi finals of the Champions Challenge II in Kazan Russia. Despite opening strongly and scoring in the tenth minute Ireland were caught out by turning over ball and giving away penalty corners too easily to the opposition. As a result they will play Ukraine for a 3rd / 4th position tomorrow.
Ireland opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a superb execution of a well rehearsed penalty corner when a Symmons drag was touched in reverse side from McCay. Ireland held the lead for just three minutes before the Belgians equalised on the 13th with their own penalty corner. The half continued to ebb and flow between the two sides both searching for attacking opportunities to extend their lead but it was the Belgians who took their chance when the converted a penalty corner which saw two switches to set up for a direct close range shot and 2-1 lead for Belgium.
With ten seconds to go Ireland were forced to play with just ten men as McCay saw a yellow which would also extend into the opening minutes of the second half.
Belgium began to show signs of dominating in the second half as Ireland turned over ball allowing their opposition to build attacks. Belgiums third goal came in the 44th minute from another penalty corner when Coffey found the back of the net for a 3-1 lead. Despite soaking up pressure Ireland still continued to hunt for their next goal, earning a number of penalty corners (nine intotal throughout the match ) but misdirection and good goal keeping kept Ireland at bay. In the dying minutes of the game Ireland were forced back into their 25 where the defence soaked up penalty corners and Belgian attacks which included a total of eleven penalty corners throughout the game.
Speaking after the game it was clear Coach Muller was disappointed on the lack of goal conversions from the chances the team created "It is obviously a very dissappointing loss for us. They created as many chances as we expected them to as did we create as many as we expected. The difference today was in excecution. We simply did not execute well and we conceeded goals and corners that we had not conceeded all week"
"We will now face Ukraine tomorrow morning, which is a quick turnaround and we will work hard to address our issues before tomorrow morning"
Ireland 1 (1)
Shirley McCay 10th m
Belgium 3 (2)
Jill Boon 13th m ; Dorianne Meuwese 24th m ; Erica Coppey 44th m
SQUAD
Starting Team
Names Clubs Age
Lauren Barr Ballymoney 20
Emma Clarke Ulster Elks 23
Bridget Cleland (McKeever) Ballymoney 26
Lisa Jacob UCD 21
Shirley McCay Ulster Elks 20
Niamh Small Loreto 22
Cathy McKean Loreto 30
Alex Speers Pegasus 22
Emma Stewart Armagh 21
Nikki Symmons Loreto 26
Michelle Harvey Pegasus 20
Roisin Flinn UCD 23
Megan Frazer Ballymoney 18
Emma Smyth Railway Union 23
Mary Goode (GK) Bray 29
Eimear Cregan (Capt) Cork Harlequins 27
Not Selected
Emma Gray (GK) Hermes 21
Lizzie Colvin Loreto 19
Next Matches
Sat 27 June 2009 (Russian Time 3 hours + on Irish Time)
Match 17: 10:00 7-8 Russia v Malaysia
Match 18: 12:30 5-6 Belarus v Canada
Match 19: 15:30 3-4 Ukraine v Ireland
Match 20: 18:00 1-2 India v Belgium
Irish Hockey Association media release
Canada defeats Malaysia in penalty strokes
The Canadian women’s national field hockey team defeated Malaysia in penalty strokes (0-0: 4-3) Friday morning in a 5-8 classification match at the FIH Champions Challenge II in Kazan, Russia.
Stephanie Jameson (twice), Stephanie Nesbitt, and Diana Roemer all scored in the penalty strokes competition for Canada.
“We are a young team and we are on a steep learning curve," said Diana Roemer of Mill Bay, British Columbia. "Today we did not just show up to compete, we showed up to win."
The Canadian women started well in the first half earning two penalty corners. However despite strong execution they were unable to convert.
Canadian goaltender Azelia Liu was called upon to make two outstanding saves in the second half on two Malaysian penalty corner chances.
The game remained scoreless throughout regulation and overtime.
“Today we battled hard all game and we saw our young players step up and establish themselves. It was great to pull out a win and have a chance to play for 5th place,” said Liu, a native of Scarborough, Ontario. Liu made the final save of the game on the final Malaysian shooter to seal the victory.
Canada will next face Belarus in the 5th-place classification match on Saturday. Canada was upset by the Belarusians 3-1 last Sunday in the opening match of the tournament.
Starting Lineup
Azelia Liu
Stephanie Jameson
Abigail Raye
Diana Roemer
Anna Kozniuk
Tyla Flexman
Shannon Elmitt
Katie Rushton
Stephanie Nesbitt
Jessalyn Walkey
Katie Baker
Jackie Trautmann
Did not Play
Paige Norris
Amanda Stone
Field Hockey Canada media release
Celtic Cup Results
Women
Ireland A 2 France 1
Scotland 1 Wales 2
Men
Ireland 3 France 1
Scotland 1 Wales 1
Saturday 27 June
10.00 (W) Wales v Ireland A
12.00 (M) Wales v Ireland
14.00 (W) Scotland v France
16.00 (M) Scotland v France
Sunday 28 June
10.00 (W) France v Wales
12.00 (M) France v Wales
14.00 (W) Scotland v Ireland A
16.00 (M) Scotland v Ireland
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Scotsmen draw with Wales
Scotland’s senior men started off with a good performance in the Celtic Cup but couldn’t pull away a win against Ireland and instead drew 1-1.
Allan Dick (Surbiton) started strong with a good save 12 minutes in and a few moments later Chris Nelson (Azzurri Kelburne) had a good pick up and collected the return pass to shoot but the ball went wide. Later on Kenny Bain (Azzurri Kelburne) had a good chance in the circle but shot across the goal.
Wales answered back and Ben Croxall knocked one in after a good cross to go one up to go into the break.
Scotland started strong in the second half with two corners in the first three minutes with two good flicks from Bain and Stephen Dick (Inverleith) but both were saved. Fergus Dunn (Grange) then teamed up with Dick for some good passing which produced a corner. Kenny Bain got a good flick off the corner but it was saved. Mark Ralph (Klein Switserland) scored in the 50th minute with a high flick to the left of the keeper to equalise.
Overall, Scotland showcased speedy play with good passes but just couldn’t convert the necessary chances to win the match.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Defending Champs lose to Wales
Defending champions, Scotland's senior women, fell 2-1 to Wales today in their misty afternoon opener in the Senior Celtic Cup at Peffermill.
Scotland started out dominant and, despite holding the majority of possession decision, were unable to convert chances including several penalty corners in the first half. The Scots made plenty of driving runs, which opened up the Welsh defence, but couldn’t make anything happen.
Aimee Clark (Bonagrass Grove), Vikki Bunce (Bonagrass Grove) and Louise Munn (Bonagrass Grove) all took shots in an attack in the D but Welsh keeper Maggs Rees was able to make a triple save. Answering back, an unmarked Abi Welsford lobbed the ball over Scottish keeper Carmin Dow’s head to be the first to get on the board in the 34th minute. Dow didn’t get a hand on the ball until the second half.
More possession with less chances was the story for Scotland after the break. However, Vikki Bunce was able to equalise on a second attempt in the 55th minute. Wales was quick to pressure back but couldn’t create a solid chance. Aimee Clark had an opportunity to turn things around for Scotland with a strong shot but it cleared over the bar.
A deflection off Louise Munn’s stick was netted by Leah Wilkinson to push Wales ahead 2-1in the 61st minute. Despite a drive in the last few minutes Scotland was unable to net another goal.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Pakistan may earn direct World Cup spot
FIH gives positive signals to PHF’s request for more teams in the quadrennial spectacle
By Khalid Hussain
KARACHI: Pakistan’s hockey players will leave for England on Saturday (today) to play a Test series that is part of their preparations for the World Cup Qualifiers though there is a big possibility that the former champions will directly make the cut for the quadrennial spectacle.
‘The News’ has learnt through reliable sources that Pakistan might earn a direct spot for the 2010 World Cup to be held in India by virtue of being the Asia Cup runner-ups last month. Top Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials have requested the world hockey bosses to raise the competing teams of the World Cup from 12 to 16.
According to the sources, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has hinted that it might agree to Pakistan’s demands though a final decision on the issue will only be made by October this year.
Senior PHF officials met with FIH president Leandro Negre in Malaysia’s southern Johor state on the sidelines of the 2009 Junior World Cup earlier this month.
Sources said that Negre was convinced that the World Cup would be better off with 16 teams instead of 12 and told the PHF officials that he would look into the matter.
The 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur featured 16 teams but later the FIH decided to reduce the teams to 12. That decision was taken by the game’s governing body before Negre took over as the FIH president.
Sources said that Pakistan will make an official request in the FIH Competitions Committee after which the Executive Board will have a vote over the idea of having a bigger World Cup.
If the FIH rules in favour of having 16 teams in the 2010 World Cup to be held in India, then Asia will have two guaranteed berths in the tournament. Korea, as the Asia Cup champions, have already qualified for the World Cup while Pakistan will also make the cut as the second-best team in the tournament.
In case, the FIH decides against raising the number of World Cup teams, then Pakistan will have to win one of the three World Cup qualifying tournaments to be held later this year.
Though PHF officials are hopeful that their team will not have to qualify for the World Cup, they are not taking anything for granted.
Preparations are on to ensure that Pakistan have a well-oiled and well-drilled team ready for the World Cup Qualifiers in case only 12 teams are allowed to feature in the tournament to be played next April.
Pakistan will feature in a three-match Test series against England from June 30 to July 3. The PHF is also making plans for a similar series against China ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers to be held in November.
Three World Cup qualifying tournaments will be held in 2009 and 2010. The first tournament will be held in Lille, France from October 31 to November 8. The second qualifying event will be held in Invercargill, New Zealand from November 7-15. The details of the qualifying events will be decided after the conclusion of all the continental tournaments by the end of August.
The News International
Greenshirts to get invitation for India quadrangular
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Pakistan will feature in a four-nation invitational hockey tournament in India ahead of next year’s World Cup in New Delhi, ‘The News’ learnt here on Friday.
The quadrangular tournament that is being planned by the game’s governing body ahead of next year’s World Cup in the Indian capital will help break the ice between Pakistan and India, who have suspended sporting ties following last November’s terrorist attack in Mumbai.
According to sources, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has decided to hold the World Cup ‘Test’ tournament in New Delhi in either December this year or next January in a bid to confirm that India is ready to host the World Cup.
And the reason to have Pakistan as one of the invited nations for the tournament is to check the security arrangements being made by the organisers for the safety of the participating players and officials.
The FIH is aware that the Pakistan team will be need the best possible security cover in India because of the strained relations between the two neighbours which is why it is pushing for a warm-up tournament involving Pakistan, India and two other major teams in New Delhi ahead of the World Cup.
Sources said that during a meeting with Indian hockey officials in Malaysia earlier this month, FIH president Leandro Negre asked them to make arrangements for the four-nation pre-World Cup tournament. He also informed them that the FIH would invite Pakistan and two other leading teams for the tournament.
Last week, the FIH confirmed that India will host the 2010 Hockey World Cup after internal problems were resolved.
The FIH had earlier warned India that it could lose the event if the two separate bodies that run men and women’s hockey in the country did not form a single entity, as stipulated by FIH rules.
Problems arose when the Indian Olympic Association last year dissolved the country’s hockey federation over a bribery scandal. However, after the warning in April from the FIH it was announced that Hockey India had been formed as an umbrella group.
But the FIH is still taking nothing for granted as has chosen Malaysia as an alternative venue if the problems in India were not overcome. Malaysia hosted the World Cup in 1975 and 2002 while India last hosted the event in 1982.
Meanwhile, if Pakistan take part in the four-nation tournament, then it will be the first high-profile sporting event in India featuring Pakistani players in more than a year.
The two nations broke sporting ties after the Mumbai attack with India refusing to send its cricket team to Pakistan for a full tour. Pakistan responded by blocking its hockey team’s trip of India for a four-nation event.
The News International
Rehan Butt bags inaugural Sportsman of the Year award
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hockey team’s experienced forward Rehan Butt has been named 'Sportsman of the Year' by a four-member Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) panel, a federal government official told Dawn on Friday.
Rehan, 28, is widely regarded as one of the game’s finest drag flickers and has represented Pakistan in 279 international matches.
The official said: ‘The coveted award, along with a cash prize of Rs1 million, is likely to be handed over to player by the Federal Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani.’
Five players — Aamir Atlas Khan (squash), Mohammad Essa (football), Mohammad Musharraf (kabbadi) and Rehan Butt (hockey) — were under consideration for the top award.
Finally, Rehan was selected after analysing several aspects such as his level of commitment, match performance, contribution towards the game, behaviour with the management and team members, discipline and ability to handle stress during crucial matches.
He pointed out: ‘We found Rehan to be the most suitable candidate while also considering the international achievement of all five individuals.’
A four-member panel comprising PSB Director General Amir Hamza Gilani, Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) General Secretary Khaliq Khan and Treasurer Mohammad Afzal along with a senior official of the Federal Ministry for Sports selected Rehan as ‘Sportsman of the Year.’
‘Former legends of various sports will also be included in the panel in order to bring in more transparency in the selection process for the title next year,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Rehan told Dawn: ‘I feel very proud and happy and am grateful to the Government of Pakistan for considering me for this honour.’
He added: ‘The award carries a huge significance in my sports portfolio. Hockey is my passion and right now my top priority is to play an important role for Pakistan in its fight to win the 2010 World Cup. However, the 2012 London Olympics will be my last international appearance.’
‘I wish to be remembered in the history of the sport by winning an international title for Pakistan,’ he said.
Rehan currently plays for the Leran Dutch Hockey Club in Holland. Federal Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani will himself make the announcement in the upcoming Sports Board meeting.
Dawn