News 08 January 2014
All the news for Wednesday 8 January 2014
Germany sees World League as stepping stone for World Cup
NEW DELHI: Germany is seeing the Hockey World League Final, to be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here Jan 10-18, as a stepping stone for the World Cup which will be held in The Hague, Netherlands, from May 31 to June 15.
"This tournament is the stepping stone to the World Cup. It will be tough for us as we are coming from a situation where the team trained indoor. Now, playing outdoor will be tough," said Germany coach Markus Weise Tuesday.
Weise said that they held the Indian team in high regards and also praised skipper Sardar Singh.
"The Indian team is very strong and we hold high regards for them and especially for Sardar Singh. We are concentrating on basics rather than strategy. The team will give their best shot in the tournament."
Germany will play New Zealand Jan 10.
Speaking post a practice session, German skipper Oliver Korn said: "We are here to improve our game and this is like a run up to the World Cup. Teams competing here are the best teams of the world and hence pinpointing on one as the strongest contender is difficult.
"We see Australia, Netherlands and India as strong rivals and one to look out for. India will be playing in front of their home crowd hence they have to live up to the expectations. Sardar and Manpreet Singh are the good players in the Indian team."
The Times of India
India can reach semifinals: Dutch coach
NEW DELHI: The Netherlands coach Paul Vanass rates India as a strong team in the Hero Hockey World League Finals beginning on January 10 and tipped the home side to reach the semifinals.
"This is the top 8 teams of the world and there will no easy games for any one team. Amongst other countries India is a strong team and we are expecting them to make it to the semi finals," Vanass said after the team training session at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
"It will be interesting to see where do we stand post this tournament, as from here we then start preparing for the World Cup. The aim here is to win important matches and qualify for the finals," he said ahead of the Friday clash against Argentina on the opening day of the tournament.
Speaking about the tournament, the Netherlands captain Robert Vander Horst said, "Our pool is tough with Australia, Belgium and Argentina. This tournament is like a final test for us before we enter the World Cup which is scheduled to take place in our country."
Coach of Olympic champions Germany, Markus Weise also felt that India has world class players with captain Sardar Singh being the key.
"The Indian team is very strong and we hold high regards for them and especially for Sardar Singh. This tournament is the stepping stone to the World Cup. It will be tough for us as we are coming from a situation where the team trained indoor hence now playing outdoor will be tough for us. We are concentrating on basics rather than strategy. The team will give their best shot in the tournament," he said.
Captain Oliver Korn said, "We are here to improve our game and is like a run up to the World Cup. Teams competing here are the best teams of the world and hence pinpointing on one as the strongest contender is difficult. We see the Australians, Dutch and Indian as strong rivals and one to look out for during the tournament.
"The Indians will be playing in front of their home crowd hence they have to live upto the expectations. Sardar Singh and Manpreet Singh are the good players in the Indian team. We will take the experience of this tournament to the World Cup and which will prove vital for us."
The Times of India
India aims to win against England: Raghunath
NEW DELHI: India aim to win their Hockey World League Finals opener on Jan 10 against England, said defender VR Raghunath on Tuesday.
Speaking to the press post their practice session under coach Terry Walsh at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Raghunath said Walsh is working on the team's game.
"This tournament is an ideal platform for us to work on our skill sets and loopholes before the World Cup. Terry Walsh is working very hard on our game and we are feeling the improvement in the manner we are playing in a synchronised manner. The team is looking at winning its first match against England and this will help boost our spirit going ahead in the tournament," said Raghunath.
Speaking about getting a big opportunity, youngster Nikkin Thimmaiah said: "I am the youngest in the squad and it's a big opportunity for me to be playing with the seniors and on such a huge platform.
"While playing with the seniors you learn a lot in the process and automatically improve on one's game. This will help me evolve into a good player. The team is concentrating on the first game and we will take each game as it comes."
The Times of India
Argentina aim to reach final of HWL: Asst Coach Corradini
NEW DELHI: Argentina have fixed their sights on reaching the summit clash of the Hockey World League Final to be played at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium from January 10 to 18 here, said assistant coach Agustin Corradini.
"We are focusing on reaching the finals of this tournament. Teams like Netherlands, Belgium, Germany are strong opponents. At present, we are analysing the situation and have our back-up plans in place which hopefully work for us in the tournament," Corradini said after his team's practice session at the National Stadium today.
Argentina will play The Netherlands in their tournament opener on January 10.
Argentina captain Facundo Callioni said their immediate target is to reach the quarter-finals of the eight-nation event.
"Our first target is quarters and we will then take each match as it comes. Netherlands, Germany and Belgium are the teams to look out for as they have been in good form in the recent past," he said.
The Times of India
HI announces complimentary tickets for Olympians
NEW DELHI: Hockey India on Tuesday announced complimentary tickets to hockey Olympians and international players for the forthcoming Hero Hockey World League Final from January 10-18.
Eight nations are participating in the tournament which will be held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
Former players will have to contact Ajit Pal Singh and R P Singh, selector Hockey India to request their tickets.
Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra said it would be a privilege for them to invite all hockey Olympians and international players to witness the top teams of world in action.
"Their presence will encourage the Indian team who is ready for the challenge and all the organisers of the tournament. Keeping in mind the immense contribution of hockey Olympians and international players have made to our great game, Hockey India is continued to recognise their efforts," said Batra.
The teams have been divided into two groups. Pool A will feature Germany, England, New Zealand and India while Australia, Argentina, Belgium and Netherlands are in Pool B.
The opening day of the event will feature all eight teams including India who will open its campaign against England, followed by matches against New Zealand (Jan 11) and Germany (Jan 13).
The Times of India
Delhi Waveriders Cup finishes on strong note
Arani Basu
In its bid to promote hockey at grass root levels, under the aegis of Hockey India, the Delhi Waveriders School Cup 2013 came to an end on December 24 at the historical Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.
32 schools across Delhi/ NCR battled against each other to win the Best Hockey School team in the city.
The closing ceremony was attended by Ajit Saran (Secretary Sports, Government of India). The winning team is proposed to play an exhibition match against last year's HIL runner up, Delhi Waveriders, at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.
To help the cause for poor children, Hockey India offered its full support to the tournament, providing all the technical assistance to the organizers and the participating players.
The young buds got a chance to showcase their talent in front of national selectors, who were present for the matches.
The Times of India
Scots face Belgium and England in Tri-Nations Euro warm-up
Scotland Senior Men’s preparations for the forthcoming EuroHockey Indoor Nations Championship II continue this weekend with a testing Tri-Nations indoor event against hosts Belgium and England in Brussels on 11 and 12 January.
Scotland Senior Men Head Coach Derek Forsyth names twelve players in his squad for the trip, including East Grinstead siblings Niall and Ross Stott, and brothers David and Alan Forsyth.
The Scots will face two matches against this weekend’s opponents before they fly out to Berne, where hosts Switzerland, Belarus and France stand in the way of Scotland’s promotion push from the second tier of the European Hockey Federation’s indoor competition.
Looking forward to the weekend, Scotland Senior Men Head Coach Derek Forsyth said, “The tri-nations against Belgium and England is very much about training and preparations for the European tournament in Switzerland. I’m not placing focus on the results this weekend, more the opportunity for the players to have pitch time both in training and in competitive matches.”
Scotland Senior Men: Allan Dick (Holcombe), David Forrester (Old Loughtonians), Chris Grassick (Inverleith), Michael Ross (Grove Menzieshill), Iain Scholefield (Qui Vive), Gavin Byers (Doncaster), Alan Forsyth (Glynhill Kelburne), David Forsyth (Qui Vive), Niall Stott (East Grinstead), Ross Stott (East Grinstead), William Marshall (Glynhill Kelburne), Kenny Bain (THC Hurley).
Match Schedule:
11/01/14 11.30 Scotland v England
11/01/14 15.00 Belgium v Scotland
12/01/14 09.30 England v Scotland
12/01/14 15.00 Scotland v Belgium
Scottish Hockey Union media release
Four added to Men's Spanish Tour.
Interim Coach, Mick McKinnon, has added four more to his tour for Spain, Kirk Shimmins (UCD); Harry Spain (Pembroke Wanderers); Mark Ingram (Pembroke Wanderers); Gary Shaw (Glenanne)
Meanwhile unfortunately, Alan Sothern, has had to withdraw due to an injury. The squad of 20 will travel out this Friday until Thursday 16th and will take in 3 test matches against the higher ranked Spanish side. Original PR
Ireland Squad – Spain 2014
David Fitzgerald (Monkstown)
Stephen West (TRR)
Richie Shaw (Glenanne)
Stephen Brownlow (Glenanne )
John Jackson (Reading)
Mark Loughrey (Pembroke)
Drew Carlisle (Banbridge)
Michael Robson (Annadale)
Peter Brown (UCD)
Jason Lynch (Lisnagarvey)
James Corry (Instonians)
Nick Burns (UCD)
Ross Canning (UCD)
David Carson (Monkstown)
Shane O’Donoghue (UCD)
Jeremy Duncan (UCD)
Kirk Shimmins (UCD)
Harry Spain (Pembroke Wanderers)
Mark Ingram (Pembroke Wanderers)
Gary Shaw (Glenanne)
Match Schedule (Spanish Time)
11 January – 15:30. At RC Polo Barcelona.
13 January – 15:30. At Club Egara.
15 January – 15:30. At Atlètic Terrassa Hockey Club.
Irish Hockey Association media release
Now a 'Senior' job for Dharmaraj
By T.N. Alagesh
MALAYSIAN Juniors coach K. Dharmaraj, who led the team to a creditable fourth place at the Junior World Cup in New Delhi last year, has been roped into the senior coaching side to help the team prepare for five tournaments this year.
Joining Dharmaraj will be his assistant coaches, K. Gobinathan and Nor Azlan Bakar, who will now be part of the six-man coaching team alongside national coach Paul Revington, his assistant Arul Selvaraj and goalkeeper coach M. Nadarajah.
The announcement by Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah in Kuantan yesterday also ended the speculation surrounding Dharmaraj, who was expected to retain his current post and take charge of the 2016 Junior World Cup squad.
Tengku Abdullah said Dharmaraj's inclusion into the senior coaching set-up, led by Revington, will allow the latter to have a bigger pool of assistant coaches to conduct training sessions for the 45 players called up for tournaments this year.
He said it was going to be a busy year for hockey and the players have a tight schedule with five tournaments slated between March and October.
The team will kick off with the 23rd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (March 13-23) in Ipoh, Men's Champions Challenge I (April 26-May 4) in Kuantan, 13th World Cup (May 31-June 15) at the Hague, Netherlands, Commonwealth Games (July 23-Aug 3) in Glasgow, Scotland and the Asian Games (Sept 19-Oct 4) in Incheon, South Korea.
Tengku Abdullah hopes the blend of talented coaches will be able to help the team do well in the World Cup and go on to become champions in the Asia Cup, which offer the winners direct entry into the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
"All the tournaments are important but our ultimate target is the 2016 Olympics.
"It will be nice to go through as the Asian champions," added Tengku Abdullah who confirmed that the MHC will look for a junior chief coach with priority given to a local.
"Until we get a suitable person for the job, Lim Chow Chuan and Tai Beng Hai will be involved in scouting for new talent during the upcoming junior hockey league."
Tengku Abdullah said there will be no changes to the national women's hockey coaching setup with Nasihin Nublin as the head coach with Jiwa Mohan as his assistant while the women juniors will be led by Lailin Abu Hassan.
New Straits Times
Juniors coach Dharmaraj moves up to senior side
By Aftar Singh
National Juniors coach, K. Dharmaraj (centre) speaking to his charges after the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup last year, has been promoted to one of the assistants to senior squad head coach Paul Revington. - Filepic
KUALA LUMPUR: K. Dharmaraj, who guided Malaysia to finish a creditable fourth in the Junior World Cup in New Delhi last month, has been “promoted” to the senior hockey team.
He has been picked to be one of the five assistant coaches to national coach Paul Revington.
The national hockey team will now have a panel of six coaches to help them put up a strong challenge in tournaments.
The other assistant coaches are S. Arulselvaraj, K. Gobinathan, Nur Azlan Bakar and M. Nadarajah.
Gobinathan and Nur Azlan assisted Dharmaraj for the Junior World Cup while Nadarajah is the goalkeepers coach.
Last year, South African Revington was only assisted by Arulselvaraj.
The coaches learnt of their new appointments after a meeting with Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah in Kuantan yesterday.
The 45-year-old Dharmaraj, who has been the National Juniors coach since 2010, said that he is happy with his new duties.
“I have carried out my duties and responsibilities well at the junior level and I hope to do much better with the seniors,” said the former international, who was set a target of guiding the team to a top six finish among 16 teams in the Junior World Cup last year.
“I had a stressful three years as the National Juniors coach but I always look forward to new challenges.
“I always wanted to be the national seniors coach and I am honoured to be given the chance to be part of the national team,” added Dharmaraj, who will take up his new role some time this week.
Dharmaraj, who guided Malaysia to victory in the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca in 2012, said that his main task would be to help Malaysia qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Malaysia have qualified for the World Cup (in The Hague, Holland, in May) but have not qualified for the Olympics since Sydney in 2000,” said Dharmaraj, who featured in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
MHC secretary Datuk Johari Aziz said that Lim Chiow Chuan and Tai Beng Hai had been named as the caretakers of the National Juniors.
“They will use the Under-19 MJHL (Malaysian Junior Hockey League) starting this Friday to call up players for the National Juniors.
“We are in the midst of naming locals as the national junior coaches to help Malaysia qualify for the 2016 Junior World Cup,” said Johari.
Former international Mohd Nasihin Nubli will continue coaching the national women’s team and he will be assisted by Jiwa Mohan and Ernawati Mahmud while another ex-international Lailin Abu Hassan has been appointed as the national women’s juniors coach.
Johari said that Lailin has been asked to name his two assistants.
The Star of Malaysia
Meor raring to play in World Cup
By Aftar Singh
Meor Mohamed Azuan Hasan in a file photo. He wants to be among the few players who has played in both the junior and senior World Cups.
KUALA LUMPUR: After a successful outing in the Junior World Cup in New Delhi last month, midfielder Meor Mohamed Azuan Hasan is all fired up to represent Malaysia in the World Cup in The Hague, Holland, in May.
Malaysia last competed in the World Cup as the host in Kuala Lumpur in 2002.
Last month, at the Junior World Cup in New Delhi, national juniors coach K. Dharmaraj guided Malaysia to finish a remarkable fourth place among 16 teams.
The Kuala Kangsar-born Meor, who weighs 58kg and is 165cm in height, is among 45 players to attend the national training, which begins today in preparation for five major assignments this year.
The players will undergo a physical test on Friday to check their fitness level.
The national team will feature in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh from March 13-23, FIH Champions Challenge 1 in Kuantan from April 26-May 4, World Cup in The Hague from May 31-June 15, Glasgow Commonwealth Games from July 23-Aug 3 and the Incheon Asian Games from Sept 19-Oct 4.
Meor, who will turn 20 come Feb 16, is still eligible to feature in the Junior Asia Cup next year, which is the qualifying tournament for the 2016 Junior World Cup.
Meor, who earned his first two senior international caps by playing two of the five Test matches against South Africa last June, said that he is looking forward to featuring in the World Cup in Holland.
“I had a splendid outing in the Junior World Cup and was more than happy with my performance in New Delhi.
“And it will be a real great achievement for me if I can also represent Malaysia in the World Cup.
“I want to be among the few players who has played in both the junior and senior World Cups,” said Meor, who plays for Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).
Meor said that he will also feature in the national junior team in the Sultan of Johor Cup in October and in the Junior Asia Cup next year.
“I want to help Malaysia qualify for the 2016 Junior World Cup in India although I will not be eligible to play in the Finals,” said Meor.
Besides Meor, midfielder Mohd Haziq Samsul and forward Mohd Shahril Saabah, who also featured in the Junior World Cup in New Delhi, are also eligible to play in the 2015 Junior Asia Cup.
The Star of Malaysia
PHF seeks President’s help for wooing PM to get money
Mohsin Ali
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool Tuesday asked President Mamnoon Hussain to play his role in urging Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to allocate Rs 500 million in PHF next budget.
In an interview with The Nation on Tuesday, Rasool said: “I have told President Mamnoon Hussain that Quaid Azam had declared hockey as national game so this grant will ensure the PHF high command to focus on working on ways and means to take Pakistan hockey back to same heights, where we were once.”
Rasool said he had also requested President Mamnoon Hussain to play his role in urging the educational sector to play their due role in promotion of hockey, as the main reason of Pakistan hockey teams past success was due to schools, colleges and universities, who not only used to conduct different events on regular basis but also had set an admission quota of 7-10 percent on sports basis, which is now reduced to only two percent.
“I have given top priority to domestic tournaments that is the main reasons we have announced to conduct 10 domestic hockey tournaments. We will also revive President Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Karachi, which was previously not held since long,” he added.
Rasool said the President had promised to help them out and assured his all-out support to the federation.
When this scribe asked Rasool whether Pakistan hockey team would participate in Commonwealth Games in Scotland or not, he replied: “It is my utmost priority to not only send hockey team to Commonwealth Games but also to other international events as well. I have already written a letter to government and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and sought their advice, as we want to abide by the government sports policy and also want to fulfill our international obligations. We are waiting for response and I am sure the reply will be positive one.”
He further said the annual grant which the federation received was by no means enough even for domestic commitments, so holding training camps and thinking about participation in international events are a far cry. “If government like past helps out the federation, it is my promise that we will fulfill our task to take Pakistan hockey to new heights.”
“I have personally visited the PSB and met with DG Syed Amir Hamza Gilani, who have assured his help and promised to raise the annual grant significantly. I am very optimistic the PSB will lend a helping hand to the federation and more than confident that President Mamnoon Hussain will take up the issue of reviving hockey events at school, college and university level and also raise the admission quota of sports to at least seven percent, which will help not only educational institutes but also will be in great benefit to the grassroots level players and help the federation to raise the pool of players and give country a number of international future hockey stars,” Rasool asserted.
“I have visited past greats personally and offered them to join hands with the federation and work for a cause to help Pakistan hockey. My doors are always open for them and if they come up with positive suggestions, they will be welcomed. I am also open to healthy criticism and will try to overcome shortcomings sooner rather than later,” Rasool concluded.
The Nation
Memorandum to Prime Minister of India
s2h team
A public rally will be taken out today in Delhi to press Prime Minister of India to confer Bharat Ratna to Dhyan Chand. The copy of the Memorandum is reproduced here for the benefit of media
To
Prime Minister
Government of India
New Delhi
An appeal to expedite conferment of Bharat Ratna on the hockey legend Dhyan Chand
Respected Sir,
We, a volunteer based NGO, Hockey Citizen Group, appeal and urge to confer top civilian award Bharat Ratna to hockey legend Dhyan Chand. Government of India has already declared his birthday as Annual Sports Day when the sporting excellence award such as Arjuna and Dronacharya are given away by the President of India.
Dhyan Chand’s contribution in building our nationhood does not just lie solely on the three Olympic Gold medals India obtained in pre-colonial India due to his great game, but the idea and the impetus his very game and persona gave it to the Indian Olympic Movement itself, is more important.
Indian hockey’s first foreign tour (‘Whites Only’ New Zealand) in 1925 was such a success due to Dhyan Chand’s wizardry that the idea of Indian sport getting a medal at the Olympic caught the imagination of colonial India’s sports administrators. This is how the legacy of Indian Olympic Movement started, a legacy that saw India winning 8 Olympic Gold Medals and then many other sports stars coming into picture.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, various Chief Ministers of the States, national governing body of the sports, Hockey India, have already recommended Dhyan Chand’sname for the award.
We, public of India, therefore urge your good offices to expedite conferment of Bharat Ratna posthumously to Dhyan Chand so that his role in national building gets its due recognition and is presented on this year’s Republic Day.
This Memorandum is submitted after a public rally we organized today in Delhi in which many Olympians took part.
With warm regards and expecting favourable decision
Yours sincerely
K. Arumugam
Author, Historian
Founder and CEO, Hockey Citizen Group
Stick2Hockey.com