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All the news for Monday 7 July 2014

Russia's perfect performance

A 24-year absence from the top-table of international hockey looks set to end as Russia record emphatic victory


(Photo: FFU)

Maximum points from four games was enough to secure Russia an emphatic victory in the Hockey World League Round One and to cement their bid to re-emerge as a potential contender at the top table of field hockey after a 24-year absence from the major international competitions.

Russia – who are currently ranked 19th in the FIH World Rankings, while all their opponents in this competition are ranked outside the top 35 – ended the Hockey World League Round One competition, held in Sveti Ivan Zelina, Croatia, with a perfect four wins from four games, brushing all opposition aside as they netted 38 goals and conceded no goals.

The Russian team, led by captain Evgeny Mokrousov, racked up an 11-0 victory over Bulgaria, a 7-0 victory over their closest rivals, Switzerland and a 10-0 win against Turkey before completing the Russian rout with a 10-0 win against the home side, Croatia. Top scorer for the all-conquering Russians was Dmitry Azarov, who netted a total 12 times, he was followed by countrymen Nikolay Yankun (6) and Alexander Palyanitsa (5).

Switzerland were the best of the rest, they won two of their four games, drew one and lost one, while Bulgaria and Croatia came third and fourth respectively, with Turkey – who registered no wins in the competition, bringing up the rear.

Russia will now progress through to the Hockey World League Round Two competition, being held in the autumn. This victory signals the start of a Russian revival: they last participated in a major hockey competition in 1990, in the Hockey World Cup. Four years previously at the World Cup in London 1986, they had finished a creditable fourth, but then suffered a slide down the World Rankings. 

FIH site

Scottish hockey team eye 2014 fairytale run

by AIDAN SMITH


Captain Chris Grassick says the squad have taken inspiration from World Cup underdogs. Picture: Lisa FergusonIN A football sense their name may still haunt us but Scotland’s men’s hockey team are using Costa Rica’s World Cup heroics as inspiration for their bid for glory at the Commonwealth Games.

Shock conquerors of Scotland in the 1990 World Cup, the Costa Ricans have continued doling out the stunning ­surprises in Brazil by topping a group featuring three previous winners before eventually succumbing to the ­Netherlands on penalties.

Hockey captain Chris Grassick said yesterday as all of Scotland’s 2014 sportsmen were kitted out for the Games that his spirited young team would be trying to channel some of that unlikely underdog spirit into their ­performances at Glasgow Green.

“The lads have been talking about the World and Cup and going: ‘Look at Costa Rica – who the hell would have thought they could get to the quarter-finals?’” said Grassick. “There’s definitely inspiration to be taken from them.”

The skipper said that “on paper” ­Scotland would be expected to ­finish in seventh place in the tournament but hockey is no more played on paper than football is. “We believe we can make the top four if we play to our potential. I think we could be a real underdog in the competition. We have a group who are really excited about playing in a home Games and there is no real pressure on us.”

It’s a young team but one with plenty of caps and a bit of Olympic experience. Up against them will be full-time teams with great hockey traditions as well as Australia, the newly crowned world champions. But Grassick said the Scots will relish playing in front of the Glasgow crowds. “We’re going to have great backing and I think a home support can definitely make a difference. Playing hockey in Scotland you don’t tend to get massive crowds very often, but we played a four-nations tournament at Glasgow Green in April with about 700 there and we were all thinking: ‘Wow, if this is what the atmosphere is like with 700, what it going to be like in the Games?,’” he said.

“The venue’s capacity is almost 6,000 so I think everyone in our team will ­really relish it and I think there will be a lot of surprises in the tournament.

“I think we’re going to be among the ones to watch and one of the teams to cause a surprise.”

So what are Grassick’s grounds for optimism? The fact so many are based in bigger leagues elsewhere – only four currently play their club hockey in Scotland – has been important to the team’s development. A decade ago only three would been deemed good enough for that. He’s loath to mention individuals beyond their fine goalie Jamie Cachia – “He’s just moved to the team that won the league in England [Beeston] and is very close to getting into the GB squad” – because, as so often with those who wear the dark blue, the team’s the thing. Grassick himself, a midfielder, is part of the British squad, training full-time at Bisham Abbey, but he insists: “We don’t have any stars. We’re a strong team and that’s very important.” So has there been banter with his English colleagues who in Glasgow will be wearing different-coloured shirts? Oh yes, but all in jest. “They’re a good bunch of guys.”

Grassick is hopeful the Scottish public will take to the team principle as well, and find it easy to relate to the sight of a number of strapping men in national colours, even if they’ve never watched hockey before. “I think there is something about supporting a team as opposed to an individual,” he said. “I was chatting to a girl cyclist who must do her training in Manchester on her own. That’s an individual sport whereas we have to bond as a team. I think the public will support us, and then it’s up to us.”

In that four-way competition Scotland achieved what Grassick called 
“really credible” results against England, Belgium and Argentina, losing only 3-1 to the English who’d been together for a while before the World Cup while the Scots had only managed a few days in each other’s company beforehand.

These part-timers, who only ­normally manage to gather everyone together from Thursday to Saturday, are nothing if not big-thinking. In their group for Glasgow they’ll face Australia, India, Wales and South Africa and in the opening match against the latter who are full time they’ll be going for victory.

“We’re targeting that for a win,” added Grassick. “We’ll try to spring a surprise. The second game is against India, also full time, and that’s another we’re not expected to win but we ­believe we can do it. We played them at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi in front of 20,000 of their fans and lost a close match 3-1.The next one is against Wales and although I don’t want to tempt fate we should win if we can play as we know we can. Australia will be our last game, we’ve got to enjoy that. They’ve just won the World Cup, 6-1 [against Holland] in the final. The first two games will be the big ones for us. If we can get at least one good result from them that will set us up nicely.”

The Scotsman

T&T hockey squads off to Commonwealth


31st in the world: Members of the T&T women’s hockey team. Back Row, left, Petal Derry, Tamia Roach, Stephanie Whiteman, Savannah De Freitas, Amanda George, Kayla Braithwaite, Dana De Gannes. Middle Row, left, Brittney Hingh, Patricia Wright-Alexis, Zene Henry, Elise Olton, Brianna Govia, Kwylan Jaggessar, Front Row, left, Candice Ashton, Amie Olton and Alanna Lewis.

The Trinidad and Tobago men and women's national hockey teams will leave for Scotland tomorrow to compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, later this month.

The women's squad, co-captained by Alanna Lewis and Patricia Wright-Alexis, features a host of youth players mixed with seniors Lewis and Wright-Alexis, long serving custodian Petal Derry, Candice Ashton, Kwylan Jaggessar and Brittney Hingh, who are among the few with more than 25 caps under their belt.

T&T, ranked 31st in the world, are grouped in Pool A with Canada (22nd), India (13th), New Zealand (4th) and South Africa (11th), while Pool B consists of defending champions Australia (2nd), England (6th), Scotland (16th), Wales (32nd) and Malaysia (21st). 

The T&T men's squad are coming off of an historic bronze medal at the 2013 Pan American Cup and will be led once again by skipper Darren Cowie. Six players from the bronze medal winning team will not be making the trip due to various reasons, including vice captain Dwain Quan Chan. Others not making the trip include Kwasi Emmanuel, Kiel Murray, Christopher Scipio, Cogie Butler and Wayne Legerton. Despite those absentees, however, coach Glenn Francis can still call on the experience of T&T's most capped player, Kwandwane Browne, and 2013 Player of the Year Mickell Pierre.

The T&T men are ranked 29th in the world and is grouped in Pool B with England (5th), New Zealand (6th), Malaysia (13th) and Canada (16th).

Pool A in the men's competition will consists of defending champions Australia (1st), India (9th), South Africa (12th), Scotland (25th) and Wales (31st). Like the ladies, the men will play a number of warm up matches prior to the tournament's start date on July 24.

The Trinidad & Tobago Express

Glasgow 2014 countdown

Top officials point the way to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

It’s not just the 32 athletes and 15 coaches and support staff that will be representing Australian hockey in Glasgow at the Commonwealth Games in 16 days’ time. Four of our top officials have also received the prestigious call-up having been appointed to the competition by the International Hockey Federation.

Here, in the first article of our countdown to Glasgow, we introduce them; Adam Kearns (umpire), Kylie Seymour (umpire), Tammy Standley (judge) and Minka Woolley (umpires’ manager).

You can follow the action from the Commonwealth Games on TV by tuning in to Ten's coverage from Glasgow and on radio by listening to the ABC. Ten's digital offering, Tenplay.com.au, will not only bring you the Australian matches but also a number of the other hockey matches during the competition.


ADAM KEARNS
Umpire

Hometown: Brisbane, QLD
Age: 38
Profession: Planner
First international appt: India v Pakistan, Tri-nations, Perth (AUS), May 2003

With his father running umpiring in Penrith, a young Adam Kearns fell naturally into officiating from an early age.

Adam officiated at the recent Hockey World Cup in The Hague, taking charge of the ninth place playoff match between India and Korea. On the back of his performances at the World Cup he was elevated to the World Panel group of international officials last week, the group of the best 24 umpires globally.

He is one of 11 umpires officiating the men’s tournament in Glasgow.

Major tournaments:
World Cup: The Hague 2014
Asian Games: Guangzhou 2010
World League: Johor Bahru (SF) 2013
Champions Challenge: Buenos Aires 2012
Junior World Cup: Rotterdam 2005, Johor Bahru & Singapore 2009


Kylie Seymour
Umpire

Hometown: Campbelltown, NSW
Age: 27
Profession: Teacher
First international appt: Four nations, Mendoza (ARG), February 2011

Umpiring since the age of 12 with Campbelltown City Women’s Hockey Association, Kylie Seymour pays tribute to her umpire coach and mentor John Robinson who she says encouraged her to pursue a career in umpiring.

She says, “up to this very day, I have been surrounded by amazing and supportive family, hockey friends and umpiring mentors who have enabled me to make the most of all the opportunities I have been given.”

Following the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Kylie will officiate at the Champions Trophy in Argentina in November. She is one of a team of 11 female umpires taking charge of the matches in Glasgow.

Major tournaments:
Olympic Qualifier: Kakamigahara 2012
Champions Challenge: Dublin 2012
Junior World Cup: Monchengladbach 2013


Tammy Standley
Judge

Hometown: Perth, WA
Age: 38
Profession: Primary school teacher
First international appt: Lanco International Super Series, Perth (AUS), October 2011

Tammy Standley first began working in hockey in a competitions role in 1999 and over the following nine years worked with a host of the best Tournament Directors in the world. Her interest in officiating developed and she began taking on Technical Official (TO) and Judge roles domestically.

Since her first international appointment she has been TO at the World League (round one) and Tournament Director at the Hawke’s Bay Festival in New Zealand, a warm-up event for the recent World Cup.

Tammy is one of three judges appointed to the women’s competition in Glasgow, overseeing things from the tech bench alongside colleagues from Scotland and India.

Major tournaments:
World League: Fiji 2012 (r1) (TO)


Minka Woolley
Umpires’ Manager

Hometown: Devonport, TAS
Age: 53
Profession: Teacher (Health & PE)
First international appt: Four nations, Hobart (AUS), March 1995 (as an umpire)

Twice named Australian Female Hockey Official of the Year (2004 and 2008), Minka Woolley received her Australian badge in 1991, umpired at the Australian Hockey League from its inception in 1993 and gained international status in 1995.

After being appointed to the World Panel for umpires in 2004 she was on the list until her retirement from umpiring following the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

She became an umpires’ manager in 2009 and is one of two umpires managers appointed to the women’s competition at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Major tournaments:
Olympic Games: London 2012 (UM), Beijing 2008 (U), Athens 2004 (U)
Olympic Qualifier: Kazan 2007 (U), Auckland 2004 (U)
World Cup: Madrid 2006 (U)
Commonwealth Games: Melbourne 2006 (U)
World League: Tucuman 2013 (sf) (UM), Delhi 2013 (r2) (UM)
Champions Trophy: Rosario 2012 (UM), Sydney 2003 (U), Macau 2002 (U)
Champions Challenge: Glasgow 2013 (UM), Dublin 2011 (UM), Baku 2007 (U)
Oceania Cup: Hobart 2011 (UM), Invercargill 2009 (UM)

Hockey Australia media release

Pakistan chances bleak in Asian Games, says Samiullah

Mohsin Ali

ISLAMABAD - Former Olympian Samiullah, who was given the tag of flying horse, termed Pakistan hockey team chances very bleak in the Asian Games.

Talking to The Nation, on Sunday, Sami said: “I don't see green shirts being able to defend their title in the upcoming Asian Games in South Korea and no one else but Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) management is responsible for taking Pakistan hockey to the lowest ebb.”

“For the last 10-years or so, no proper attention was paid to the national game at grassroots level. The previous management remained busy in their personal projection and hardly bothered about taking hockey seriously. It is very hard to swallow for people like me as we had witnessed and being the very much part of the glory days of Pakistan hockey and now it really hurts when we see Pakistan hockey downfall. It was all due to poor policies and wrongdoings of the previous PHF bosses, we have to go through pain and agony of watching green shirts staying at home while minnows like Malaysia played in the world cup in Netherlands,” he added.

“Pakistan was not only a superpower in Asian hockey but enjoyed a lot of successes at international level. No one in Asia had better record than Pakistan as we dominated the Asian Games winning more gold than India, but now, we are nowhere in top three even in Asia, so thinking about world rankings is like a day dream. I don't see Pakistan hockey team defend its title, as same old faces were invited in the training camp. On the other hand India, Korea and Malaysia benefited a great deal by playing in the world cup, they had gained a lot of confidence and much-needed exposure. On the other hand, Pakistani players just attended an old-styled training camp with same old tactics were taught to them, which in current modern and fast hockey days will be of no use to players. I am not at all satisfied with the two-month camp established at Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium. Only luck, miracle or the players’ over the moon performance may help Pakistan defend its title,” Sami claimed.

The ex-Olympian said that the title defense would ensure a place in the 2016 Olympics, which is ultimate destiny for any player or the country. “Pakistan hockey badly needs to finish on podium in the Asian Games to stand realistic chance of playing in the Olympics, otherwise, Pakistan team has to play qualifiers to book a berth In Olympics.”

“Pakistan team goalkeeping department requires a special attention, but I am sorry to say, no heed was paid to that important area. None of the available goalies are even near to what is required to produce in the goal. Middle defense is also not as combative as it should be. I don't see any particular player, who can spearhead attack and score goals for Pakistan, while on the other hand India, Malaysia and Korea have been working very hard on all above-mentioned areas. There is still time for the team management to overcome their flaws and give top priority to strengthen defense, goalkeeping and attack to favorable results in the Asian Games. Pakistan chances look very grim to defend title, but as an Olympian and Pakistani, I pray for their success and hope the team will return as champions,” Sami concluded.

The Nation

SA U18 boys and girls teams to take on Australia School Sport

The South Africa U18 boys and girls teams to take on the national Australia School Sport teams were named at the conclusion of the SA U18 IPTs in KZN Saturday.

The South African Schools Hockey Association (SASHOC) are hosting the Australia School Sport boys and girls hockey teams to play the SA U18 boys and girls teams in a three-match Test Series hosted during the girls and boys U16 interprovincial tournaments (IPTs), which is the first time that both national Australian teams will be attending together.

SA U18 TEAMS vs AUSTRALIA SCHOOL SPORT

Boys: Tyson Dlungwana, Tevin Kok, Paebo Lembethe, Onke Letuka, Byron van der Merwe, Gareth Macaskill (all KZN Inland); Jacques Bleeker, Bili Ntuli, Andile Phehlukwayo (all KZN Coastal); Craig Botha, Ryan Crowe, Matt Martins, Jacki Mohlaba, Garth Turner, Luke Schooling (all Western Province), Muzammil Sheik (WP B), Jon Cloete (Border), Cody van Wyk (Eastern Province).

Girls: Buhle Zondi, Natalie Esteves (both KZN Inland);  Gaby Mazureik (WP); Tammy Minnaar, Ash Rutherford, Lida Kotze, Chrissie Haupt (all Boland), Nthabi Maine, Claire Gibbings, Nicole Koenig (all KZN Coastal); Shindre-Lee Simmons, Marizen Marais (capt), Antonet Louw, Priscilla Esterhuyzer (all Southern Free State); Kristen Paton (South Gauteng); Demi Harmse (Eastern Province); Caylin Peffer, Cheneal Raubenheimer (both Border).

TEST SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 8 (University of KZN in Pietermaritzburg)

South Africa U18 girls’ vs Australia School Sport girls (5.30pm).

SA U18 boys vs Australia School Sport boys (7.15pm).

Wednesday, July 9 (Kearsney College, Hillcrest)

SA girls vs Australia (5.30pm).

SA boys vs Australia (7.15pm).

Thursday, July 10 (UKZN Pmb and Kearsney)

UKZN (Pmb): SA girls vs Australia (6.30pm).

Kearsney College (Hillcrest): SA boys vs Australia (6.30pm).

SA Hockey Association media release

Final results at the SA U18 interprovincial tournaments

The final results and placings of the teams at the SA U18 interprovincial tournaments held in Pietermaritzburg and Durban are as follows:

RESULTS

Boys – A Section: (Final) KZN Coastal 2 Western Province 3); (3/4) KZN Inland 2 SG 3; (5/6) Boland (0) 5 EP (0) 4; (7/8) Border 1 SWD 2; (9/10) WP B 3 Northern Blues 1; (11/12) NB B 3 South Free State 1.

B Section: (Final) KZN Inland B SG B 0; (3/4) KZN Coastal B 5 East Gauteng 2; (5/6) Mpumalanga 1 EP B 2; (7/8) Border B 3 Northern Cape 1; (9/10) Boland B 4 North West 2; (11/12) Northern FS (1) 3 Limpopo (1) 2.

Girls – A Section (Final) KZN Inland 1 Southern Free State 3; (3/4) Southern Gauteng 0 KZN Coastal 0 (SG won penalty shootout 2-0); (5/6) Boland 2 Northern Blues 3; (7/8) Western Province A 5 WP B 0; (9/10) Eastern Province 2 Mpumalanga 1; (11/12) Border 3 SG B 0; (11/12).

B Section (Final) North West (1) 1 Northern Blues B (1) 2; (3/4) Mpumalanga B (1) 3 SFS B (1) 6; (5/6) North Cape 2 East Gauteng 1; (7/8) Border B 0 KZN Coastal B 2; (9/10) Boland B 4 South Western Districts 0; (11/12) Northern FS 4 Limpopo 0.

SA Hockey Association media release

Dhanraj Pillai to visit Vadodara for hockey camp

Tushar Tere

VADODARA: Olympic hockey player and Arjunaawardee, DhanrajPillai, will visit the city to preside over a hockey selection camp that is being organized by the Sports Authority of Gujarat in Vadodara.

The move has been taken to improve the standard of hockey in the state and secure national rank among the top four states.

The District Sports Centre has organized a talent search-cum-selection camp between July 2 and July 11. Interested players can register themselves for the camp at Kuber Bhavan, Kothi.

The final selection will be on July 10 for girls and on July 11 for boys at the Manjalpur Sports Complex. Pillai had visited the city earlier to examine the facilities in the sports complex. He had also discussed the development of hockey and launching a hockey academy in Vadodara. He was joined by badminton star P Gopichand.

The hockey camp has been organized at 10 different places in Gujarat and it is being held to pick up best of the talent in the state.

The Times of India

Sultan of Johor Cup will keep status quo of six teams

By S. Ramaguru


Malaysia’s Muhammad Firhan Ashari (right) in action during the Sultan of Johor Cup in 2013. — filepic
   
KUALA LUMPUR: The fourth Sultan of Johor Cup will remain a six-nation affair.

Defending champions India have confirmed their participation and will join hosts Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, England and Pakistan in the tournament at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Baru from Oct 12-19.

“We are happy that all the invited teams have confirmed their entries early. We had a meeting earlier this week and all the preparations are on schedule,” said tournament organising secretary Manjit Majid Abdullah.

The Sultan of Johor Cup is an Under-21 event which participating teams traditionally use as part of their build-up to the Junior World Cup Finals.

Malaysia will be represented by the Project 2016 team and it will be their first international outing.

A. Arulselvaraj is the coach and he is preparing the team to qualify for the 2016 Junior World Cup Finals.

The previous Project 2013 team, under coach K. Dharmaraj, finished fourth in the Junior World Cup Finals in New Delhi last year.

There were plans to enter the Project 2016 team in the Razak Cup and Malaysia Hockey League (Premier Division) last year, but it failed to materialise.

“We have 25 players in the team but they are short on match practice. I have told all the players to find a team to play in the Razak Cup and MHL this year. That is the only way we can keep tabs on their performance level,” said Arulselvaraj.

“We also hope to go on a playing tour, possibly to Australia before competing in the Sultan of Johor Cup,” he added.

Arulselvaraj will also be preparing the team for the Junior Asia Cup in Kuantan next year. The tournament is a qualifier for the 2016 Junior World Cup Finals. Only the top three will qualify.

In 2012, Malaysia won the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca to qualify for the 2013 Junior World Cup Finals.

The Star of Malaysia