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News for 21 April 2018

All the news for Saturday 21 April 2018


Hockey Ireland forced to switch venues as Bann contractor goes into administration


Havelock Park’s pitch was due to be replaced in time for the finals weekend on May 5 and 6. Pic: Frank Uijlenbroek/World Sport Pics/EHL

Crawford Group going into administration has led to the switch of the EY Champions Trophy from Banbridge’s Havelock Park to Grange Road just three weeks ahead of the annual finals weekend.

Crawfords had been contracted to replace the pitch at Havelock Park with work getting underway in early March with plans to be ready to raise the curtain on the new turf on May 5.

But the group – who were also building the Lucan Harriers athletics track adjacent to Weston’s hockey pitch – have stopped work with immediate effect.

It means Bann have no chance of getting the pitch being completed in time and left EY Hockey League working group seeking an alternative earlier this week.

Given the proximity to the tournament date, the working group took the decision that Hockey Ireland would take over the hosting of the event. Usually for finals weekend, it is the club who runs the hosting.

“The key decision made was that it would be very difficult for any club to deliver the number of volunteers required to host at late notice and over a bank holiday weekend and therefore Hockey Ireland has taken over the hosting of the EYHL Finals this year.”

UCD – Hockey Ireland’s own venue – is not currently playable due to preparatory work for the pitch replacement making it unsuitable for the event. As such, the working group contacted Three Rock Rovers who hosted in 2017.

“Three Rock Rovers are in a position to make their facility available to Hockey Ireland as the backup. As you can appreciate, speed of confirmation of a replacement venue was also a factor to avoid difficulties and/or costs for the participating clubs, umpires and officials.

“Hockey Ireland and the IHL WG are now in the process of sourcing the volunteers to help run this event as well as taking on a number of other logistics.”

For a number of clubs who are already confirmed in the playoffs with a number of games to go, the provincial change means a likely swift adaptation of plans with potential hotel options to be considered and so forth.

On the men’s side of things, Glenanne, Three Rock and Lisnagarvey assured of their places in the final four with Monkstown, Banbridge and Pembroke battling for the final spot.

Town remain in fourth but lost their back-match on Tuesday evening to Three Rock Rovers to a John Mullins rebound in the second quarter.

It sees them on 23 points with the hardest of this weekend’s games, away to Glenanne. Pembroke on 21 and Bann on 20, both with games in hand.

The former have games against the bottom three remaining, all at home. They face Railway on Saturday before hosting Cookstown on Sunday; wins over the bottom two would make them very much the side in pole position.

Bann face Cookstown on Saturday before another Ulster derby in midweek against Lisnagarvey.

All of this intertwines with the battle at the bottom. Cookstown’s win over Cork C of I last time out has given them a big boost in avoiding the bottom rung, a two-point buffer to Railway and a game in hand.

Indeed, a win for the Co Tyrone side on Saturday against Bann could put them back in the frame to avoid yet another relegation/promotion playoff game for a third successive year.

On the women’s competition, UCD will be crowned champions barring a first defeat since September when they meet Ards at Londonderry Park, formally seeing off Cork Harlequins’ challenge.

For the students, it would be another big moment in their season having already retained the Irish Senior Cup. The league win would guarantee a return to Europe for 2019.

To that end, they got a big boost with Arena Kitchens – a premier Dublin-based kitchen design studio, with Docklands and Sandyford showrooms – sponsoring their trip next month to Surbiton to face AH&BC Amsterdam with €5,000 worth of support.

Stephen Dale’s Quins have a double-weekend with Loreto visiting Farmer’s Cross on Saturday and relegation threatened Trinity arriving on Sunday.

It will be Trinity’s second game of the weekend with their first one certainly their bigger focus. If the students draw or better against Hermes-Monkstown on Saturday, they will relegate last year’s national finalists who have endured a rough season.

As for the playoff picture, UCD and Cork Harlequins are confirmed while Pegasus need one point from their last four games – played in an eight-day period – to officially stamp their ticket.

Railway Union and Loreto are in almost a direct battle for the final playoff spot. It makes the former’s derby date with Pembroke all important on Saturday.

Men
EY Hockey League
Saturday: Annadale v Lisnagarvey, 2.30pm, Strathearn School; Cookstown v Banbridge, 2.30pm, Steelweld Park; Cork C of I v Three Rock Rovers, 2.30pm, Garryduff; Glenanne v Monkstown, 3pm, St Andrews College; Railway Union v Pembroke Wanderers, 2pm, Park Avenue

Sunday: Pembroke v Cookstown, 2.30pm, Serpentine Avenue.
Munster McLean Cup – Final: Ashton B v Limerick B, 1.45pm, Garryduff.

Leinster Cup finals
Saturday
Intermediate Cup: North Kildare v Pembroke IV, 2pm
Junior Cup final: Kilkenny II v Monkstown V, 1pm

Sunday
Railway Cup final: Three Rock Rovers II v Monkstown II, 2pm
Minor Cup final: Wicklow III v Bray II, 3pm


UCD receiving their cheque for €5,000 from Arena Kitchens

Women
EY Hockey League
Saturday: Ards v University College Dublin, 2.30pm, Londonderry Park; Belfast Harlequins v Pegasus, 2.30pm, Deramore Park; Cork Harlequins v Loreto, 2.30pm, Farmers’ Cross; Railway Union v Pembroke Wanderers, 4pm, Park Avenue; Trinity v Monkstown, 12.30pm, Santry Avenue
Sunday: Cork Harlequins v Trinity, 2.30pm, Farmers’ Cross.

Leinster Cup finals (all at Grange Road)
Saturday:
Division 3-4 Cup: Corinthian II v Muckross II, 12pm
Division 5-6 Cup: Avoca III v Kilkenny, 3pm
Division 7-8 Cup: Muckross IV v Newbridge, 4pm

Sunday
LHA Trophy: Loreto V v Pembroke VII, 4pm
Division 9-10 Cup: Bray III v Three Rock Rovers III, 12pm
Division 11-12 Cup: Genesis VII v Portrane, 11.30am

Munster Division 2 Cup – Final: Cork Church of Ireland 2 v Cork Harlequins 2, Garryduff, 11.45am.

The Hook



Sardar Singh on Indian hockey at CWG 2018: Combination of problems

A disappointed Sardar Singh, who was not picked for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, analyses Manpreet Singh & Co's dismal fourth-place finish at the quadrennial event in Oz

Ashwin Ferro


Members of the Indian hockey team are dejected after losing to NZ in the CWG semi-finals at Gold Coast, Australia recently. Pic/AFP

India hockey star Sardar Singh, 31, is known to be accurate — both in his reading of the game on the field and analysis off it. When mid-day asked him his thoughts about the Indian hockey team's dismal fourth-place showing at the recent XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, the midfield maestro summed it up perfectly in one word: "Disappointing."

Two-time silver medallists

Silver medallists in the previous two editions of the CWG, the Indian team did not just finish outside the podium Down Under, skipper Manpreet Singh's World No. 6 side even ended up losing to teams below them in the rankings — England (No. 7) and New Zealand (No. 9). Worse still, they drew 2-2 with arch-rivals and No. 13 Pakistan and needed to play out of their skins to emerge 4-3 victors against Wales, a team ranked way below, at No. 24.

Sardar, one of the faces of Indian team across the last decade or so, was not picked among the 18 to travel to Australia amidst whispers that Hockey India had awarded him the captain's arm band for one last time at the preceding Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia where the team finished fifth. The thinking among the powers that be was also to transfer the national team's responsibility to younger legs. That those legs would wilt under pressure was probably not anticipated.

Plans not executed

Sardar hit the nail on the head when asked what went wrong with Team India Down Under. "Look, the coach [Sjoerd Marijne] would have had his plans and discussed it with the players, like we normally do at team meetings before matches. Then, the players would have formed smaller groups comprising forwards, defenders and so on, and discussed their plans. And the boys did their best to execute these plans. But what actually matters most is the combinations. They just did not come through," said Sardar, who said he watched just two India matches on TV — the league encounter against Wales (India won 4-3) and the bronze medal play-off against England (India lost 1-2).

"As a player, the result hurts a lot because this is such a prestigious tournament. It comes once in four years. It's not like a cricket match, where if you score a duck on one day and can go on to score a 50 or a century in the next match a few days later. One of the greatest joys for a sportsman is to win a medal for his country, so this is definitely disappointing," he added. So, does this debacle leave the door slightly ajar for his return to the national team?

Return to Team India

"I don't look at it like that. I'm still training hard as I always do. I have to first make it to the core group of players, who will then be up for selection. It would be great to be back. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics still remains my ultimate dream," he signed off.

Indian men's hockey team at 2018 CWG
04
Number of field goals scored in six matches

10
Number of penalty corners converted from 39 earned

05
Number of field goals conceded

31
Number of penalty corners conceded in six matches

Mid-Day



Scotland o35s men World Cup and Home Nations squads announced



The Scotland o35s men squads that will participate in the World Cup and upcoming Home Nations in the summer have been announced.

The Home Nations will be in Northern Ireland at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club between 22 of June and 24 of June. The Scots face a difficult start when they play England at 8pm on the opening day. They then play the Irish at 3.30pm the following day and then round off the weekend by facing Wales at 3pm on the Sunday.

This will be followed by the World Cup, held in Terrassa near Barcelona, between 27 July and 5 August. This promises to be a great competition with 11 age groups over both the men’s’ and the women’s’ competitions.

In the o35s age group Scotland could face Australia, England, Wales, Spain, Germany and South Africa.

There is a good mix of experience and a few fresh faces in the squad with nine players that will represent this age group for the first time.

In preparation for the tournament the guys plan to play a number of friendlies in and around central Scotland. If anyone would like to get involved in Scotland o35s men hockey in the future please contact Chris Miller on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Home Nations Squad    
Player     Club
Phil Mathison     Bishop Stortford
Martin Daw     Dunfermline Carnegie
Steven Moir     Harris
Ally Blair     Harris
Alan Meikle     Hillhead
Craig Hilton     Hillhead
Chris Wilson     Hillhead
Phil Godsiff     Hillhead
Jamie Frail     Hillhead
Magnus Ferrier     Inverleith
Graham Batchelor     Inverleith
Tom Hyndman     Uddingston
Chris Miller     Watsonians
James Hollington     Watsonians
Graham Stenhouse     Watsonians
Ashley Cochrane     Watsonians
Ewan Clark     Watsonians
Rob Stewart     Watsonians
   
World Cup Squad    
Player     Club
Phil Mathison     Bishop Stortford
Martin Daw     Dunfermline Carnegie
Steven Moir     Harris
Ally Blair     Harris
Craig Hilton     Hillhead
Chris Wilson     Hillhead
Phil Godsiff     Hillhead
Jamie Frail     Hillhead
Magnus Ferrier     Inverleith
Graham Batchelor     Inverleith
Andrew Dane     Inverleith
Cameron Pitcairn     Inverleith
Chris Miller     Watsonians
James Hollington     Watsonians
Graham Stenhouse     Watsonians
Jerome Moodley     Watsonians
Rob Stewart     Watsonians
Stuart Carrick     Winchmore Hill & Enfield

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Scottish National League showdown this weekend


Grange’s Luke Cranney holds off Kelburne’s Neil McIntyre

The penultimate action in men`s and women`s National League 1 is a double header, courtesy of the “Beast from the East”, with many of the issues likely to be resolved over the weekend’s showdown.

Bromac Kelburne and Edinburgh University could seal their respective championship crowns, both hold a five point lead at the top, although the former is courtesy of having played a game more.

The bonus for Kelburne coach Gordon Shepherd is that Kelburne`s destiny lies in their own hands – win their last two fixtures and they take their 14th consecutive league title, in contrast points dropped at this belated stage could allow Grange to steal the glory.

The Paisley side have only one game this weekend, away to Edinburgh University. Last time out the champions were 3-1 winners with Michael Christie, Chris Nelson and Chris Caldwell on target.

While the students` recent league form has been sluggish, only two draws since the winter shutdown, but they have risen to the occasion in the Scottish Cup, recently ending the aspirations of Grove Menzieshill and Western Wildcats, and both away from home. Shepherd is too long in the tooth on the hockey front to take anything for granted, and it is certain his charges will be fired up for the three points.

So where does that leave second placed Grange? Six points in this weekend’s showdown against Uddingston and Hillhead at Fettes should be well within their grasp and that would reduce the deficit to two points with only a single game left.

Next comes the destiny of the top four places for the European play-offs. Kelburne, Grange and Grove Menzieshill are already in the mix, but Wildcats will need to sharpen their claws if they hope to be the other side involved as the Auchenhowie side faces a double trip to Tayside to take on Grove Menzieshill and Dundee Wanderers. A double reversal on the banks of the Tay could let in the chasing pack, principal among them is Clydesdale, Edinburgh University and Hillhead.

Last night Hillhead and Edinburgh fought out a 2-2 draw in a catch-up fixture, arguably a result that was of little use to either side`s aspirations. It was a game of two halves, the students were the dominant outfit in the first with goals from Callum White and Jack Jamieson. But Hillhead upped the intensity after the break and reduced the deficit with a well-worked penalty corner by Michael Sherry. Just as it looked as if the points were heading for Edinburgh David Gay pounced on a loose ball in the circle after quick thinking from Ross Jamieson and smashed it into the net for the equaliser.

Clydesdale`s recent run of good form came to an end against Grove Menzieshill last weekend, but the Titwood-based outfit are capable of picking up the six points on offer away to Hillhead and at a home showdown to University and put pressure on the Wildcats.

But there is a thin dividing line between challenging for a top four place and ending up in the relegation play-offs, especially as only four points separate Clydesdale in fifth place and Wanderers in ninth. Undoubtedly things become a little clearer by Sunday evening.


Amy Brodie of Edinburgh University strikes against Kelburne – photo by Andy Lovat

The women`s National League 1 title is also in the hands of present leaders Edinburgh University, they are five points ahead of Milne Craig Clydesdale Western with only three games left. They will be planning to ensure that gap doesn’t alter on Saturday as the students are at home showdown to bottom side Kelburne.

But on Sunday University travel to Titwood to take on Western, and an away victory would return the championship to the capital. Even if the Glasgow side should triumph Edinburgh`s lead would only be reduced to two points with only one game remaining, setting up another showdown on the final day of the season.

Last time out at Peffermill the students recorded a resounding 7-0 win, Sophie Maunder was top scorer with a hat-trick, and the striker is still finding the net on a regular basis.

Grove Menzieshill`s chances of the title are at a stretch after their 2-1 defeat by Western last weekend – they have two games in hand but are twelve points adrift of University. Even to grasp second spot they must take six points from this weekend`s encounters with Wildcats and Kelburne, and then hope Western drop some points.

Wildcats`s hold on the remaining top four spot looks secure, only Watsonians have an outside chance of catching them. But the Auchenhowie side will spend their weekend on Tayside, first against Grove Menzieshill on Saturday and Wanderers the following day, points here would confirm their status.

With Wanderers and Watsonians safely in mid-table, it is left for Hillhead, Grange and GHK to battle into the relegation play-offs along with the runners-up from division two. On paper Kelburne have still the chance to avoid the automatic drop, they are six points adrift of Grange, but this weekend`s double header is against Edinburgh University and then Grove Menzieshill – safety points could be difficult to grasp here.

Scottish Hockey Union media release



MJHL Div 2: Penang v Malacca final

By Jugjet Singh

KUALA LUMPUR: Malacca's MBMB Warriors and Penang's MSSP-PSHA wil play in the Division Two final of the boys Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) on Sunday.

MBMB Warriors, who had beaten TBSS Tampin 4-1 earlier, topped Group Y when they beat Anderson PHA 6-2 at the National Stadium yesterday.

And MSSP-PSHA edged KL Vipers 1-0 to top Group X, as they had beaten their Juniors 4-3 on Thursday.

Penang's winner was scored by Haikal Danial in the 35th minute. The goal also will see Penang promoted to Division One next season.

Malacca's six were scored by Fakhri Zaide (first), Hafizi Zainudin (26th), Amir Saifuddin (29th), Hariz Kamar (33rd), Hafizi Zainudin (41st), Amirul Syukri (46th),

And Anderson goals were scored by Amar Mustaqim Che Said (50th) and Rafiqul Husni 60th).

The win also saw Warriors gain promotion to Division One next season, ironically, they had declined to be promoted to the higher level this season -- 'because they were not ready yet'.

Malacca, who finished third in Division Two last season, were 'promoted' to Division One when Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) did not put up a team.

"We declined promotion when UniKL pulled out because we were not ready for the tougher division yet. We wanted to become champions in Division Two, and be promoted on merit.

"Now that we have earned it, we will play in the higher division next season. We still have one more match to claim the title, and even though some of my players are carrying injuries, I believe we can claim another victory," said MBMB Warriors coach Norikram Sulaiman.

Division Two, 20 teams divided into three groups, will see the top two teams in each group battle in Group X and Group Y, with the champions playing in the final while the second placed teams play for the bronze.

The three teams in Group X are KL Vipers, MSSPP-PSHA Jnrs and MSSPP-PSHA while in Group Y are TBSS Tampin, Anderson PHA and MBMB Warriors.

RESULTS: Division Two -- Group Y: Anderson PHA 2 MBMB Warriors 6; Group X: KL Vipers 0 MSSP-PSHA 1.

SATURDAY -- Division One: Pahang Thunderbolts v Anderson Thunderbolts (National Stadium Pitch, 5pm), Perlis Young Lions v SMKDBL-UniKL (Kangar, 5pm).

Division Two: Group X: MSSP-PSHA Juniors v KL Vipers (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm); Group Y: TBSS Tampin v Anderson PHA (National Stadium Pitch II, 7.15pm).

SUNDAY -- Division One: SSTMI v Sabah SS Resilient (SSTMI, 5pm).

Tuesday: Old La Sallians Association of Klang v Sabah SS Resilient (Pandamaran, 5pm), PJCC Tigers v BJSS Thudnerbolts (PJCC Stadium, 5pm).

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey



Four months in - an interview with Renata Carneiro, PAHF Managing Director

Sarah Juggins


Renata Carneiro   

Renata Carneiro came into office as Managing Director of the Pan American Hockey Federation in January 2018. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge gained after 13 years with Olympic Solidarity for Brazil.

Simultaneously leading the project that took off six years later to become Secretary of the Women in Sport Commission for Brazil and her work on the organising committee of the 2007 Rio Pan American Games – and you just know this is a woman who is capable of wearing many hats and, importantly, working very hard to make things happen.

Renata’s love of sport goes back to when she started swimming at 4 years old, practicing synchronized swimming during her development years to reaching high performance in 1991 when she competed in swimming for Brazil at the Pan American Games. She never had the chance to go to the World Cup or Olympics, but there is a real note of pride in her voice as she says, “I can call myself a Pan American athlete”.

“My whole life has been driven by sport,” she says, explaining that she won a scholarship to graduate in the USA on the back of her swimming career and a Master Executive in the Sports Management degree beckoned following her involvement with the Brazil Olympic Committee.

To date, although she has a lot of career highs, there is a sense that getting the Women in Sport Commission from being a paper exercise to becoming a tangible reality is among her most favoured achievements. “Six years of a project on paper, and then we were finally able to launch it - after gathering the right crew,” she says.

You just know it was a tough ask as she says with a hint of ruefulness: “Brazil is a male dominated sporting society with many male leading the sports organizations, so I was pleased we were able to get some negotiations going and get the project off the ground. Before it became a Commission it was just a working group but once we were acknowledged by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) we got a lot more credibility and support.

“It was a long time on the paper, so it was a big deal for us to get things going. It was very embryonic but we had a very clear understanding of what we wanted and we worked incredibly hard to make it happen.”

So what can hockey expect of its new Managing Director?

Renata has spent the past three months getting to know the sport, the organisation and the wider hockey world. Her time has been spent meeting people, dealing with heaps of emails, sorting problems into priorities for getting dealt with, and planning – this is a woman who believes in planning very carefully to ensure a smooth journey in order to focus on what is really important and priority.

“This year we [PAHF] had one competition from our portfolio, so the next few months are all about planning. We will focus this year on our strategy and produce something to execute in the next years. I will spend a lot of time planning for a good execution to attain the main goals.”

The new Managing Director has so far been excited and pleased by what she has seen of the PAHF and the wider hockey family. “I have worked in other situations where everything is restrained and it is all obstacles but that is definitely not the case with hockey. It is a very positive environment, not just at PAHF level but with the International Hockey Federation and the other Continental Federations as well.”

Renata is particularly delighted at hockey’s willingness to innovate. Not just with initiative such as Hockey5s, which is proving such a hit in developing countries, but at all levels of the game. She attributes this in part to the skilfulness and agility needed on the pitch. “Hockey is a very skilful sport and you have to be creative to succeed. That follows through at all levels, from the hockey field to the boardroom.”

There will be constant strive to constructive improvements under the new Managing Director. She is determined that the PAHF organisation itself will get stronger and this is her first mission. To be able to help and support others, the PAHF needs to be working from a strong base and Renata is keen to get every one of the PAHF nations buying into this ethos. She says the first steps have already been taken with key leaders and partners proving themselves to be open to ideas and willing to discuss things rationally to enhance the strategic, the marketing and commercial aspects of the management.

“We are coming getting together as leaders. We know there does not need to always be consensus, in fact we need healthy debate to get things moving and to make changes. But we need to hear and listen to each other’s viewpoints and allow each other to speak. So far, this has been a very positive experience.”

Renata brings a remarkable curriculum vitae to the role but it is her unquantifiable skills that will help her succeed in what is a tricky role.

“I am fast-thinking and agile when it comes to collecting and processing information. That will be very important because I have to be able to stay on top of all information and be able to present concisely to the PAHF Executive Board. It is not for me to necessarily make decisions but I need to be able to take proposals for solutions and alternatives, disseminate it quickly and feed it to the board with clarity.

“In line with that, I will be digging deeply on my ability to multitask: good thing I am a woman,” she laughs.

The third quality that Renata has, and will need, is the ability to stay calm and rational in the face of pressure. “I might be churning up inside but I need to calm myself to a point where I can process things in a rational and fair way,” she says. “You have to be able to remove the emotion and separate out the political and the strategic and be able to communicate the situation with clarity.”

While sport has been the driving force behind Renata’s working life, she is also aware of an innate desire to help out and it is this quality that persuaded her to apply for the position at PAHF. “I was looking for a new and challenging project with potential,” she says.

“I felt, with my experiences, I could definitely collaborate and help out. Seriously, I have always liked to help people achieve their potential - be all they can be. The Olympic Solidarity was all about helping others and all of my life I wanted to return what sport has given me - all youngsters should have this opportunity. In Brazil, Olympic Solidarity was used to develop sport, so hockey was already on my radar as it has been attempting to grow sport in Brazil for a number of years.”

The question of Brazil’s hockey legacy causes a momentary vexation for the Managing Director. “The Brazil sport legacy project as a whole should have started much earlier,” she says. “There were recent changes at the top, but they have always been open to promoting hockey. It is a classic case of not getting the strategy quite in place. Sometimes it is not a matter of resource or finance but instead a matter of strategy and will.”

All of which brings us neatly back to Renata’s starting point about needing to plan for success. With people on board and willing to implement ideas, the new Managing Director looks well placed to move PAHF to a new level of innovation and development.

Pan American Hockey Federation media release



IOC President Thomas Bach Attends Hockey5s Mixed Team Exhibition Match in India

Article courtesy of Hockey India


FIH CEO Thierry Weil and President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra attended a Hockey5s match in India with the IOC President Photo: Hockey India

Hockey India today hosted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Dr Thomas Bach for a special Hockey5s mixed team exhibition match at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium which was also attended by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) President H.E. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, FIH CEO Thierry Weil and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra.

The distinguished guests paid witness to a cultural performance by 40 performers who represented the South, East, West and North regions of the country.

The futuristic and fast-paced hockey five-a-side match was contested between Hockey India Team White and Hockey India Team Blue and was won by Sardar Singh-led Hockey India Team White by a margin of 10-7 as Sardar (2’, 14’ and 19’) scored a hat-trick of goals for the victors.

Armaan Qureshi (10’, 13’), Anupa Barla (14’, 14’), Simranjeet Singh (15’, 18’) and Dipsan Tirkey (19’) were the other goal scorers for the winning team while Ramandeep Singh (4’, 9’, 10’ and 18’) struck four goals for the runners-up. Harjeet Singh (10’) and Sumit Kumar (3’,9’) too scored for Hockey India Blue.

Hockey India has over the past year promoted Hockey5s through their annual National Championships which has elevated the popularity of the new format not just among players but also among spectators who turn up in big numbers to watch the short and exciting format.

The Federation has also developed India’s first ever Hockey5s artificial field in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, where the Indian Junior Men and Women’s team are preparing for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers to be held in Bangkok, Thailand.

OCA President HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah presented the runners-up team captained by Renuka Yadav with mementos while IOC President Dr Thomas Bach presented the winning Team with the winners’ trophy.

The match took place on the back of Dr Bach’s visit to the country to meet the newly-elected members of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Executive Board and to discuss his vision for the Indian Olympic Movement.

“Hockey5s is no doubt exciting and can be pulsating for spectators. This version is good to engage spectators and promote the game among those who don’t necessarily follow or watch the conventional 60-minute format. It was good of Hockey India to host the President of IOC Dr Thomas Bach and His Excellency to this very interesting mixed team match today,” stated Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra, President Indian Olympic Association and FIH.

FIH site

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