News for 18 June 2016
All the news for Saturday 18 June 2016
Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016: Australia break Indian hearts in final
Australia are the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 champions following a shoot-out victory over India in the showpiece final at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London.
Goalkeeper Tyler Lovell was the hero of the hour, conceding just once in the shoot-out to help the World champions to glory.
A pulsating game finished with the score locked at 0-0, although it had been packed full of drama. Australia’s Blake Govers missed a penalty stroke, while India were dominant in the third and fourth quarter before losing the shoot-out.
Following an official protest from India against a situation which occurred in the shoot-out, there was a delay in the official confirmation of the result. The protest - in relation to an unintentional foul that had lead to the shoot-out being retaken - was rejected by the Technical Delegate.
The FIH would like to express appreciation to the teams, media and fans for their patience and understanding of the need to follow due process in line with the competition regulations. The FIH would particularly like to thank the Indian team for graciously accepting the outcome, and congratulate Australia on claiming their 14th Champions Trophy title.
Earlier in the day, Germany edged past Great Britain to win the bronze medal thanks to a solitary strike from tournament top scorer Marco Miltkau. It was a sad ending for the well-supported hosts, who gave it everything but could not find a way past inspired goalkeeper Nico Jacobi.
In terms of the individual awards, Germany’s Tobias Hauke was named as the best player in the competition, with Great Britain’s George Pinner taking the best goalkeeper award. India’s Harmanpreet Singh was named as the best junior player.
As one Champions Trophy concludes, another one is all set to begin. The Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 starts on Saturday (18 June) with USA taking on Australia at 1200 (UTC/GMT +1) before title holders Argentina and Great Britain go head-to-head at 1400. The first day of the women’s event will be concluded with World and Olympic champions the Netherlands playing New Zealand’s Black Sticks at 1600.
Final standings - Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016
1: Australia
2: India
3: Germany
4: Great Britain
5: Belgium
6: Korea
Individual Awards
Best player: Tobias Hauke (GER)
Best junior player: Harmanpreet Singh (IND)
Best goalkeeper: George Pinner (GBR)
Top scorer: Marco Miltkau (GER)
#HCT2016 #BestOfTheBest
FIH site
Kookaburras are victorious at Champions Trophy 2016
Kookaburras defeat India in shoot out
By Holly MacNeil
The Kookaburras have been victorious at the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 after a tense shoot-out with India which saw the final score AUS 0 – 0 IND (3- 1 on shoot out). The victory was confirmed after a protest by India was overruled.
Ten minutes in and the Kookaburras had the first chance at a penalty corner for the match, followed in quick succession by three more opportunities. The shots went unconverted, and the ball ended up back down in India’s circle.
With two minutes to go in the first quarter, India’s chance to crack the scoreboard came with two penalty corner opportunities, the second of which Andrew Charter knocked well out of range.
Minutes into the second quarter and Australia had a shot on penalty corner. The opportunity was blocked, and Australia were awarded a penalty stroke opportunity which narrowly missed goal.
Two more penalty corner chances for Australia in as many minutes. India fired back with a follow up penalty corner of their own. After a fast paced half, the score remained at nil all going into half time.
With three minutes to go in the third quarter, Australia were down to nine players with both Flynn Ogilvie and Trent Mitton sent off with green and yellow cards respectively. The opportunity was missed by India and going into the last quarter the score remained at 0 – 0.
With just over ten minutes to go Matt Dawson was given a ten minute card, leaving Australia to play the rest of the match a player down. With three minutes to go Chandanda Thimmaiah was given a yellow card and both teams were both down to ten.
As full time came, the score was still deadlocked and the gold medal match went to a sudden death shoot out.
Aran Zalewski was up first and knocked the ball into goal with ease. Goalkeeper Tyler Lovell defended Uthappa Sannuvanda leaving the score at AUS 1 – 0 IND.
Daniel Beale followed up and was obstructed by the keeper, therefore taking his shot again – he scored.
Sunil Sowmarpet and Trent Mitton both followed up and missed their shots. Harmanpreet Singh then scored for India leaving the score at Australia 2 – 1 India.
Simon Orchard was next up for Australia and easily scored. Surender Kumar was up last for India, with the shot blocked, giving Australia the Champions Trophy title with a 3 – 1 shoot-out victory.
On the win, Australian Head Coach, Graham Reid said: “Happy with the result as far as us winning, but disappointed with the fact that we didn’t win it in normal time. We created a lot of opportunities but we couldn’t put them away.
“We gave away too many cards and it’s very hard to play hockey with nine or ten men. There’s a lot of work to do before Rio, so that’s what we will be concentrating on in the coming weeks.”
Captaining for the side Tim Deavin said: “It was an interesting game, not how we wanted to play. India played pretty well. We had the opportunity and the chances to put them away but we just didn’t score.
“That’s always going to happen with a quality team like India. If you leave them in the match they’re going to keep coming so I think great that the boys did it in the end with the one on ones, and just happy to be going home with the trophy.”
Results today
BEL 4 – 3 KOR
GBR 0 – 1 GER
AUS 0 - 0 IND (3 – 1 SO)
KOOKABURRAS 0 (0)
INDIA 0 (0)
*Australia win 3 – 1 over India in sudden death shoot out
Shoot out details
Aran Zalewski (AUS) Goal
Uthappa Sannuvanda (IND) Miss
Daniel Beale (AUS) Goal
Sunil Sowmarpet (IND) Miss
Trent Mitton (AUS) Miss
Harmanpreet Singh (IND) Goal
Simon Orchard (AUS) Goal
Surender Kumar (IND) Miss
Kookaburras’ squad v India
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) 81/15
Josh Beltz (Hobart, TAS) 15/2
Andrew Charter (Canberra, ACT) 114/0
Matthew Dawson (Killarney Vale, NSW) 47/7
Tim Deavin (Launceston, TAS) 132/6
Blake Govers (Wollongong, NSW) 32/26
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 94/35
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 278/65
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 141/6
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) 81/6
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) 92/12
Used Substitute
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) 60/17
Flynn Ogilvie (Wollongong, NSW) 34/12
Tyler Lovell (Perth, WA) 70/0
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 203/56
Andrew Philpott (Melbourne, VIC) 29/1
Glenn Turner (Goulburn, NSW) 130/93
Unused Substitute
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 188/114
Hockey Australia media release
India wins the heart at London
India finishes second in the hard fought final against Australia by 1-3 in shootouts
Pic Courtesy: Hockey India
Everyone predicted a famous Australian white wash for India. Such projection and prospects had historical, recent and past, backing.
Playing incredibly, goalie PR Sreejesh led India proved it is not only a better side than they are believed to be, but also a team of character.
India played a clam, composed and purposeful match throughout the 60 minutes notwithstanding a harsh yellow to one of its forwards in the fag end of the game.
Australians were not allowed the kind of elbow room they are used to extract especially with India.
Australians even were seen indulging in rough, physical game shades beyond acceptable norms. They even got two simultaneous greens and a long 10-minute yellow.
This was made possible as the Indians has got their basics correct, no aimless run ins, no blind shots, no unforced errors.
They focussed on ball possession, building moves, believing in geometry rather than blind belief in go all out.
The Aussies were their usual self, in creativity inside circle in particular.
They earned as many as ten penalty corners and one of them turning to be a stroke, which Daniel Beale pushed wide.
They got penalty corners in aplenty, each one result of intensity of attack.
Indians defended everyone of them, nowhere it looked the goal was impending.
As time wore out, and the chances of Aussies’ getting goal getting vanished, instead Indian ascendency in every department of the game came out glaringly, the Indians have won the heart.
The underdogs, who lost two semifinals in the last two editions, can return heads held high.
They stopped the Australian juggernaut.
After goalless 60 minutes, India and Australia fought in the shootouts for the gold medal.
Aran, Beale and Simon converted for Australia. India's lone goal came from Harmanpreet Singh whereas SK Uthappa, SV Sunil and Surender Kumar couldn't convert.
India lodged an official protest on neutral umpire on giving another chance to Beale in shoot out.
After an hour or so, FIH confirmed Australia as the winners with final score remaining unchanged, 3-1 in shootouts.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Best Junior Player of the tournament: Harmanpreet of India
Best Goalie: George Pinner of Great Britain
Top scorer: Marco Miltakau of Germany
Player of the tournament: Tobias Hauke of Germany
Stick2Hockey.com
India settle for silver, lose 1-3 in controversial shootout to Australia
LONDON: India muffed three tries in the title-deciding shootout to settle for a silver medal in the 36th Hero Champions Trophy as they lost the final 1-3 against world champions Australia, here on Friday.
Only Harmanpreet Singh was able to score in the shootout, while SK Uthappa, SV Sunil and Surender Kumar all shot wide off the target. Just four attempts were required from the two teams as Australia had gained a winning 3-1 lead.
Aran Zalewski, Daniel Beale and Simon Orchard scored for Australia, while Trent Mitton's try was blocked by goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh.
There was plenty of drama in the shootout as Beale's shot was re-taken after he failed to score and sought a video review. The video umpire asked the shot to be taken again, leaving Indian coach Roelant Oltmans fuming on the sidelines.
At the end of the match India protested against the second successful attempt awarded to Beale, delaying the final announcement on the result of the match.
The officials assembled to decide on India's appeal as trophies were removed from the ground and the fans also left the stadium.
After discussing the appeal for more than an hour, the jury declared that there was unintentional obstruction on part of Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh in the seventh second thus the re-take of the shot was justified.
The presentation ceremony was later held indoors.
Fancied Australia, looking for their 14th Champions Trophy title, faced a stiff fight from the Indians, who were playing their first final, but raised the level to come within striking distance of the title.
Australia wasted a penalty stroke in the second quarter and India failed to capitalise on their superiority in numbers when Australia were down to nine men for a short while in the third quarter.
India's lone previous medal in the Champions Trophy came 34 years ago, when they got a bronze at Amsterdam in 1982. India made the first foray into the circle in the ninth minute when Mandeep Singh broke in from the right flank and his shot rebounded off Australian goalkeeper Andrew Charter.
The ball went to Uthappa, who had the opportunity to have a measured crack at the goal, but sent a rushed reverse-hit wide to the right.
In the next minute, Australia laid seize on the Indian citadel through four successive penalty corners, but goalkeeper Sreejesh brought off two fine saves. In the end, it was defender Surender Kumar who rushed out to block the penalty corner flick and the ball went out of the circle.
Talwinder Singh exchanged passes with Nikkin Thimmaiah and went into the circle from left, but he got into a very narrow angle and posed no danger as he shot straight into the goalkeeper's pads.
India forced two consecutive penalty corners in the 13th minute, but goalkeeper Charter averted danger by palming away V.R. Raghunath's rising flick.
Australia got a penalty stroke three minutes into the second quarter when Glenn Turner's shot during a penalty corner hit defender Pradeep Mor's foot. The umpire immediately signalled for a penalty stroke, although the ball slowly trickled over the goalline.
Blake Govers failed to convert the penalty stroke as he flicked wide to the left and India survived the anxious moment.
Indian defender Raghunath was quick to cover some ground when unmarked Govers got a ball on top of the Indian circle in the 24th minute. Raghunath deflected out the reverse hit.
Goalkeeper Sreejesh then made another good save on a penalty corner shot before India mounted a raid after a long time on a quick counter, but only for Akashdeep Singh to send a wayward pass from top of the rival circle.
Both teams were down to 10 men for a while in the second quarter when Indian defender Pradeep and Australia's Beale were sent off following a stiff tackle.
Harmanpreet could not make the third Indian penalty corner count in the 29th minute and the title encounter remained goalless at half-time.
Raghunath's quick diagonal forward pass following an Australian penalty corner in the 37th minute saw India surge forward. The Indian strikers switched the ball around to find a leeway past the opposition defenders, who held their ground grimly.
India had a brief period of territorial dominance in the third quarter, mounting three raids into the circle and also forcing two penalty corners in as many minutes. The penalty corners did not pose a threat as the ball was not stopped on the first occasion and the feeble shot was easily cleared on the next one.
India failed to capitalise when they had an advantage in numbers as Australia were down to nine men in the third quarter with Matthew Swann and Trent Mitton shown green cards in quick succession.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Akashdeep Singh took a reverse shot from top of the circle that got palmed away by the custodian. Australian defender Matt Dawson was sent off with a yellow card in the 50th minute for a deliberate foul on Indian winger Sunil and they had to play the last 10 minutes with 10 players.
Again, India failed to capitalise from an extra player on the pitch, and the advantage was negated with three minutes remaining as Indian player Thimmaiah also had a yellow card flashed at him.
The Times of India
India protest exposes skeletons as jury looks for escape route
It took the jury multiple replays to find a way out of the embarrassing situation that kept the result pending.
Daniel Beale of Australia asks for a video referal during the shootout of the FIH Men's Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 final against India at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London on Friday. The penalty was ordered to be re-taken. After the match India protested the decision delaying the awarding of the trophy to Australia. Photo: Joel Ford, Getty Images
Off-field drama marred the controversial Champions Trophy Hockey title showdown as the tournament jury spent one hour and a half to find a way out to India’s protest against a shootout infringement against Australia in London.
The tournament jury seemed to be in a fix when India filed an appeal against the video umpire’s decision to re-take the second attempt in the shootout. India had lost the shootout 1-3 after holding world champions Australia goalless in 60 minutes of regulation period last night.
It took the jury multiple replays to find a way out of the embarrassing situation that kept the result pending.
India had complained that Daniel Beale’s shootout attempt was allowed to go on for more than 14 seconds and the obstruction that was cited took place outside the eight-second limit for such attempts. The score then was 1-0.
After an hour and a half of the match’s conclusion, the jury eventually discovered that the ball had rolled under Indian goalkeeper’s pad for a couple of seconds. The jury now cited this as the cause why the shootout was re-taken. But it still took the jury a lot of explanation to the Indian captain and coach before announcing that the result would stay.
Australia thus won the title, but both teams had to be ushered out of the ground, to send a signal for the crowd to go home.
The medal presentation was then staged in the media interview room, away from the spotlight in the middle of the pitch.
“The umpires have failed,” said Narender Batra, president of Hockey India, who vehemently protested from the VIP galleries.
“Is this the quality of umpires you post in the final of the Champions Trophy?” asked Batra.
“The shootout attempt went on for over 14 seconds, and then it was re-taken. Just to cover up their shortcomings, they are now pointing out at a different incident,” he said.
“If the goalkeeper had made an infringement, that a penalty stroke should have been awarded,” Batra emphasised.
Indian coach Roelant Oltmans said it was “an unusual end to the tournament”.
“To be honest, the set process should be followed. Our protest was not about the result, but important tournaments should follow the process,” said Oltmans.
“If something like this happens at the Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, just imagine the embarrassment for the game,” he said.
The Hindu
India feel robbed by FIH jury
Off-field drama marred the Champions Trophy hockey title showdown as the tournament jury spent an hour and a half to find a solution after India protested against a shootout infringement against Australia.
The tournament jury seemed to be in a fix when India filed an appeal against the video umpire's decision to re-take the second attempt in the shootout. India had lost the shootout 3-1 after holding world champions Australia goalless in 60 minutes of regulation period.
It took the jury multiple replays to find a way out of the embarrassing situation that kept the result pending.
India had complained that Daniel Beale's shootout attempt was allowed to go on for more than 14 seconds and the obstruction that was cited took place outside the eight-second limit for such attempts. The score then was 1-0.
After an hour and a half of the match's conclusion, the jury eventually discovered that the ball had rolled under Indian goalkeeper's pad for a couple of seconds. The jury then cited this as the reason why the shootout was re-taken. But it still took the jury a lot of explanation to the Indian captain and coach before announcing that the result would stay.
Australia thus won the title, but both teams had to be ushered out of the ground, to send a signal for the crowd to go home.
The medal presentation was then staged in the media interview room, away from the spotlight in the middle of the pitch.
"The umpires have failed," said Hockey India president Narender Batra. "Is this the quality of umpires you post in the final of the Champions Trophy? The shootout attempt went on for over 14 seconds, and then it was re-taken. Just to cover up their shortcomings, they are now pointing out at a different incident. If the goalkeeper had made an infringement, that a penalty stroke should have been awarded."
Indian coach Roelant Oltmans said it was "an unusual end to the tournament". "To be honest, the set process should be followed," he said. "Our protest was not about the result, but important tournaments should follow the process. If something like this happens at the Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, just imagine the embarrassment for the game."
The Times of India
Whining hockey officials deflect from India's brilliant display
Bikram Vohra
The Indian team walk round the pitch after lodging a protest concerning the penalty shoot out. AP
Indian sports officials did it again. Puffed with self-importance, they took the sheen off one of India’s finest displays of field hockey in recent years after we lost the penalty shoot out by missing three out of four shots and then whining about the third umpire’s decision on the retake of the second Aussie try.
We outplayed the Aussies for a whole hour. We were unlucky not to score but we looked like the champions we will become and it was a matter of great pride seeing we had lost to them yesterday 4 goals to 2.
By becoming cry babies after the event, we deflect from the way our boys played. Complaining gets you nowhere. Even if that second flick had been awarded, we had lost the shoot out. So what exactly is the point of creating this froth of indignation?
Forty minutes have gone past and the prize-giving has been delayed and everyone is just sort of hanging around and it is not as though India are going to be awarded the cup so let’s not do this sort of thing. The commentators are now making jokes and being a bit mocking and you cannot blame them. The game is over and done with. Take the silver and let it go.
Uh oh, now they have decided to call off the prize-giving and everyone is going home. Talk about bizarre. The FIH has taken the foolishness a step further. There is no Cup being given. They cannot decide on the complaint. What? So the Champion Trophy ends without a presentation. This is unbelievable.
Let’s be honest. Since we had not expected to play so well the penalty shootout option was not on the cards so chances are we never factored it in or practised it.
Australia practices it diligently because they accept that sort of a scenario. We went in like losers and came out tops but then the fable unravelled and we looked petty and pathetic.
Our hockey team made us so proud today despite there being practically zero interest back home. I cannot imagine too many people are up at 2 am watching India play its first ever Champion’s Trophy finals. We won a bronze in 1982 and we got our first silver today and it was gilded with gold...the Aussies know they were well and truly outplayed.
So let’s go to Rio and show them what we are made of and let’s give them a rousing welcome home for a brilliant and heart-warming game. India ran non-stop for sixty minutes making rings around the world champions who were unbeaten.
Why do we do this? Who gives our officials the permission to make a scene in public and whinge and whine and make these complaints?
Time to tell the players they did not lose, the Aussies won fair and square even though you guys were better. It has been so long so very, very long since Indian hockey glittered the way it did today in London. More’s the pity that our support is so niggardly, our fans so few, the financial support such a pittance...what a memorable game and what a foolish and self indulgent conclusion.
Good for you Indian hockey and sit down you officials, it’s over...or as the case is, stay home. Imagine it all ending in such a shabby manner.
Firstpost
Performance shows team on right track
Uthra Ganesan
The Champions Trophy was instituted as an elite tournament for the world’s top hockey-playing nations in 1978, and within four years India had a medal to boast of.
It had, however, not made it to a title-clash, until Thursday night when a draw between host Great Britain and Belgium cleared India’s path to its maiden final, against World champion Australia.
With every team in preparatory mode 50 days before the Rio Olympics, the Champions Trophy, this time around, has been more of a fine-tuning event instead of an all-out competitive tournament. Understandably there is cynicism and applause in equal measure for India’s achievement in London.
Merwyn Fernandes, part of the team in the 1982 edition, preferred to look at the positives. “I applaud the boys for what they have done, and it will be a big morale booster ahead of the Olympics. Let’s not run down the performance by claiming the other teams were not full strength. Even we were without four or five main players,” Fernandes said.
“To be among medals on the back of several juniors is not easy.”
At London, coach Roelant Oltmans rested Sardar Singh, defender Rupinder Pal Singh and striker Ramandeep Singh while Birendra Lakra was out due to injury. In their absence, the younger lot has done well to stand up and be counted.
“The best outcome of resting the big guns is that they will now know no one is indispensable. That makes every player give more than 100 per cent to keep his place,” Fernandes said.
Former India coach Rajinder Singh, who scored a hat-trick against Pakistan to win that bronze in 1982, said goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh was the key to India’s fortunes while the four-quarter match format had also helped. “It has helped do away with the fatigue in last 5-10 minutes,” he said.
India has always done exceedingly well in the run-up to the Olympics while the other teams focus on the big picture. Peaking early has mostly backfired as India tends to lose out when the Games come around.
India’s performances at the Champions Trophy in London have wavered between sublime and surreal. Easy goals were conceded but some were scored too from acute angles.
Notably, it braved the crowd pressure and a bitterly hostile host team to win a critical contest.
The midfield was a concern, and it was virtually invisible in a couple of games with the players oscillating between attack and defence.
In a throwback to old times, India’s penalty-corner conversion was the lowest in the competition.
With most teams, including India, focussed on experimentation, the discerning followers agree that it would be premature to predict what lies in store at Rio.
The performance does, however, reiterate that the team is on the right track. Two medals at the world-level events in six months paints an encouraging picture.
While the rested players are set to join the team at the six-nation tournament in Valencia immediately after this, strong teams like New Zealand, the Netherlands and Argentina would also be present there, giving India a much better idea of both the opposition and its own strengths.
The results:
Australia 4 (Mitton 20, Zalewski 23, Ogilvie 35, White 45) bt India 2 (Raghunath 45, Mandeep 49).
Germany 7 (Staib 12 & 60, Grambusch 27, Deecke 29 & 35, Herzbruch 32, Miltkau 58) bt Korea 0.
Belgium 3 (Briels 1, Luypaert 30 & 42) drew with Great Britain 3 (Middleton 25 & 59, Ames 57).
The Hindu
PM Modi leads country's praise of Indian hockey team
NEW DELHI: From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eminent sports personalities, the country was wholesome in its praise for the Indian hockey team's gutsy effort that saw it clinch a historic silver medal in the Champions Trophy in London.
The Indian team settled for a silver medal in its best ever performance in the prestigious tournament after going down fighting 1-3 to world champions Australia in a controversy-marred summit clash penalty shootout late last night.
"Congrats to our Hockey Team for a spirited performance in Champions Trophy finals. Their effort has been brilliant. We're proud of the team," the PM wrote on his official twitter handle.
Only Harmanpreet Singh was able to score in the shootout, while SK Uthappa, SV Sunil and Surender Kumar all hit wide off the target. Just four attempts were required from the two teams as Australia had gained a winning 3-1 lead.
Indian cricket greats Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman also lauded the team's performance.
"Great effort by @TheHockeyIndia ,went right down to the wire.Lost a great final in Penalty Shootout but won our hearts," Sehwag said.
Laxman tweeted, "Congratulations 2 Indian Hockey team on a well fought finals & a fantastic #HCT2016 ?? All the best for the future matches??
Olympic silver-medallist shooter and union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said, "Fighting performance by Hockey Team India in Champions Trophy. Deserves applause. Congrats for bringing glory to India."
Ace shuttler Parupalli Kashyap and shooter Joydeep Karmakar expressed their happiness over the team's performance.
Kashyap said, "India Hard luck guys! Super show! @TheHockeyIndia @raghuhock @16Sreejesh #RoadToRio #HCT2016 #silvermedal."
While Karmakar wrote, "No final results today, no ones taking the trophy back tonight? #HCT2016 drama unfolding in the most unprecedented way! Unbelievable!"
The hockey fraternity too was delighted with the historic result. Regular skipper Sardar Singh said, "Great effort by our team in the finals of #HCT2016 and congrats for Silver medal. We will continue to work hard to make our country proud."
Former captain Viren Rasquinha, who is now involved with non profit organisation Olympic Gold Quest, said, "Woke up feeling very proud of our hockey team. Well done. The Indian team can stand tall with their heads held high. Proud of the boys. You played your hearts out. Can't remember the last time India did not allow Aus to score in normal time in a tment match (not test series).
Coach Roelant Oltmans was also satisfied with the result.
"What a great day in London. Unfortunately we lost the Finals on shoot-outs but we won confidence on our way to Rio. Congratulations Aussies."
Rupinder Pal Singh tweeted, "Feel proud for your efforts boys! You all played your hearts out today! ??
PR Sreejesh, who led the team in the absence of Sardar, said, said, "We lost the match ..But .. We won millions of heart ..Be proud boys #silver #HCT2016 #BestOfTheBest @TheHockeyIndia."
Hockey India was not left behind and said, "A very big congratulations to the @Kookaburras on winning their 14th Men's Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016.
The Times of India
Hockey India rewards team for claiming silver medal
LONDON: India's silver medal winning performance in the 36th Hero Champions Trophy has earned the players and team officials a reward from Hockey India.
Immediately after the medal presentation, Narender Batra, President of Hockey India, went to the dressing room and announced the rewards. "Australia did well to win the title, but for me you too are winners today," said Batra soon after the Champions Trophy jury had rejected India's appeal against a shootout infringement.
India lost 1-3 in the shootout to world champions Australia after the title encounter remained goalless in regulation period. Hockey India's chief announced that each player and the chief coach would receive a reward of Rs 2 lakh, while the remaining support staff shall be rewarded by Rs 1 lakh.
Young defender Harmanpreet Singh, who was adjudged the Youth Player of the Tournament, will get an additional Rs 1 lakh as reward.
The Times of India
MM Somaya, Zafar Iqbal laud India’s Champions Trophy silver
Jamie Alter
NEW DELHI: The Indian men's hockey team's silver medal performance at the 2016 Champions Trophy in London, where they made the final for the first time in the tournament's 38-year existence, has left two former national captains and Olympic gold medalists with renewed hopes about the health of the sport in the country.
An India team missing its regular captain and Sardar Singh and ace drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh finished second to claim silver, finishing behind No 1 ranked Australia who beat them 3-1 after PR Sreejesh's team missed three tries in the deciding shootout of the hard-fought final.
Former India captain MM Somaya, who went to the Olympics thrice and was a member of the team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Games, rates India's performance in London as "a fantastic achievement".
"If certain teams did not send their best sides, let's not forget that India were without four of their top players too, most importantly Sardar and Rupinder. These are world-class players who we haven't taken along to London, and still did so well," he told TOI Sports. "When we won the bronze at the 1982 Champions Trophy it was considered a great achievement, but this is much better. The quality of the game has improved so much [during the tournament] under Oltmans. I'm really happy that he's helped change the style of play, the tactics," he said.
"There's no focus on individual performances and individual forays, and that gives the team more width. You're playing all 16 players, encouraging them to be positive, backing the ones you've picked, getting them to play some aggressive and fast-paced hockey. The vibe coming from this team is very positive and I would like to believe that Oltmans has had a lot to do with that. It's really commendable what this team has done at the Champions Trophy."
A somewhat experimental India won two matches, lost three (including the final) and drew one. They made the final thanks to hosts Great Britain, who drew 3-3 with Belgium in the final league game. In the summit clash, they pushed world champions Australia but ultimately didn't have enough firepower to consistently win the pivotal moments. Muffing three tries at the end left India to claim silver, though not before they protested against the second successful attempt by Australia's Daniel Beale.
The idea behind resting regular Sardar and Rupinder, as Hockey India president Narinder Batra stated, was to give head coach Roelant Oltmans a chance to see the younger players and analyze what India's best combinations could be going forward. To that degree, the likes of Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Surender Kumar have been very impressive. The trio was hugely influential to the 2-1 win over Great Britain and have done well overall to showcase their skills on a tough stage, day in and day out. Harmanpreet was named Best Junior Player, a testament to how good he was in London.
"Youngsters like Harmanpreet and Mandeep have really impressed me, mostly with their ball control and knowledge of game situations, and not buckling under pressure. It is a good sign for Indian hockey that we have such promising talent shining through and getting an opportunity at this level," said Somaya. "What they stand to have gained from this tournament before Rio is significant."
Somaya's former captain Zafar Iqbal, who led India at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and was also part of the team that won gold in 1980 - the country's last medal in hockey - is pleased as well, but more cautious in gauging the team's success ahead of the Olympics.
"It's a good result. We played some good hockey overall, against some good teams. Beating Great Britain at their home, drawing with Germany - though we had the lead - and then Korea, these are good results," he said. "There were some shaky moments too, especially with that old problem of not being able to finish strongly. We get attacking, then slip into a different mode towards the end. How India can handle that pressure at the Olympics will be very crucial. Things need to be tightened, especially when attacking. We struggle to convert penalty corners and our conversation rate is also worrying. But yes, there was some very good hockey on display."
One aspect of Sreejesh's team that impressed Iqbal, also a former India coach, was their calmness.
"I like that the team is playing more calmly. That's how the best teams play. You see that with the best players - that they are confident yet calm. I saw that in our team this time; when they were passing, it was clean and calm, they were not in a hurry and then getting jittery. This is one of the positives from the Champions Trophy before the Rio Games," said Iqbal. "Otherwise the team looked very fit, and that is the key for Rio. They should be in top gear. It shouldn't be the case that we have peaked now, and then drop in the Olympics.
"Olympics is a different level, and you will see teams come in with different tactics and players, so we cannot compare these two events. India finishing second here does not obviously mean that we will be second at Rio. Teams do not disclose too many cards before the Olympics. We too will add Sardar and Rupinder. The team will take confidence from this performance and playing the final against Australia and almost winning means that you should not be shaky at the Olympics."
Somaya, who later captained India at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, is hopeful of Oltmans proving the coaching spark that India need. "He is doing a very good job, tactically and with the environment," he said. "He has addressed the defence and you see it in how the players focus on the field, and also getting players involved. This has resulted in better coordination and competitiveness."
The Times of India
Finalist India work in progress
Sudheendra Tripathi
India hockey players with their second place medals during the FIH Men's Hero Hockey Champions Trophy. (Getty Images)
MUMBAI: India will return home with a Champions Trophy medal for the first time in 34 years. The last time was in 1982 when they won a bronze and there's nothing to show since then. But while everyone seems excited about the team breaking the medal jinx, most Olympians feel not much should be read into the historic achievement. The Indian hockey team, they say, is still a work in progress.
"Let me start with the negatives first," member of India's 1996 Atlanta hockey team, Rahul Singh, began. "We have conceded way too many short corners too early in the matches in this Champions Trophy. Had it not been for Sreejesh (goalkeeper) and V Raghunath (defender), we would have conceded early goals and then spent the entire duration trying to come back in the game. Sreejesh made some excellent saves while Raghunath has very smartly given an early charge and thwarted the short corner attempts," Rahul said.
Having said that the former midfielder agreed that the team is playing good hockey of late. "The brand that we are dishing out currently is a mix of robust hockey and skill. The 43-3 combination is working for us. Other than the four defenders, three midfielders also come back and help during attacks. During such a scenario, we have at least seven people defending the goal," the former midfielder said.
Echoing Rahul's line, former captain Viren Rasquinha felt returning home with a medal in such a high-profile tournament was not a mean task, but there was still plenty of work left for Roelant Oltmans' men heading into Rio Games.
"We have been going to play the Champions Trophy for years now and coming back with a medal after 34 years is a great thing," Rasquinha said. "Without taking anything away from the boys, I would say we still need to go a long way. There are areas where we need to improve. Short corners, for example, are one of the major concerns.
"We are conceding way too many and when we get them, our conversion rate is not that good. Olympics is a different ball game altogether. Small things make a big difference. Ideally, our top priority should be to reach the quarters in Rio," Rasquinha added.
How Britain helped team make final
India would be indebted to Great Britain, who rallied from a two-goal deficit to hold Belgium 3-3 at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre late on Thursday night. India had earlier lost 4-2 to Australia in their last round robin encounter. The draw between Great Britain and Belgium meant both sides finished behind India in the round-robin league (on six points), paving the way for India (seven points) to play world champions Australia in Friday night's final.
The Times of India
Great Britain edged out by Germany in bronze medal match
Adam Dixon
Marco Miltkau’s 40th minute goal was enough to down Great Britain and hand Germany the bronze medal from the Hero Hockey Champions Trophy. The German No22 struck his fourth goal of the tournament to see off Great Britain who despite a number of chances could not find an equaliser.
Great Britain showed great attacking intent from the first whistle. Within the opening minute they had won a penalty corner. Ashley Jackson stepped up and rifled a rocket drag flick at goal but Nico Jacobi turned it over the bar with a stunning save. Nick Catlin looked lively and did well to find some space in the circle but his backhand shot hit the woodwork. Bobby Crutchley’s side were in the ascendancy but Germany were still dangerous on the break. A lovely individual run from Florian Fuchs almost gave them the opener but George Pinner got a toe on the ball to make a fine stop. Great Britain won another penalty corner and worked a different routine with Jackson slipping the ball to Sam Ward who couldn’t quite find the power to beat Jacobi.
Germany came back into the contest in the second quarter and a good run along the baseline from Tom Herzbruch forced Pinner into the action, smothering well. Miltkau hit a nice snapshot but it only found the side netting. Germany soon won their first penalty corner and Lukas Windfeder thought he’d given his side the lead, but somehow Pinner diverted it around the post. Great Britain’s best chance of the second quarter came from some good link up play between Barry Middleton and Ward but the latter’s shot flashed wide and it was goalless at the break.
Right at the start of the third quarter Herzbruch showed the defence a clean pair of heels and smashed a backhand shot against the cross bar, a great effort on goal. Undeterred, the hosts broke forwards and Gleghorne’s run almost set up the marauding Harry Martin but he couldn’t quite apply the finish.
Germany then forced two penalty corners in quick succession. Tom Grambusch went for goal both times but Pinner stood firm to keep both out. Germany had the ball in the net with five minutes left in the quarter. Herzbruch broke into the circle and slid the ball to Miltkau who applied the finish, ensuring Germany were ahead going into the last 15 minutes.
At the start of the fourth quarter Oliver Korn threatened to make it 2-0 but Pinner dashed from his line to snuff out the danger. Great Britain were pushing hard for an equaliser but were finding it difficult to break the Germans down. Lewers’ hard hit cross was almost diverted in by Weir as the pressure increased. As they did against Belgium, with four minutes left, Great Britain went to a kicking back. Immediately they were on the front foot and another Lewers long pass found Jackson but his attempted tip in went the wrong side of the post. With the seconds ticking down, Mikey Hoare cut into the circle and with the crowd roaring him on, his backhand shot was deflected wide, taking with it Great Britain’s chances of salvaging the game and the bronze medal.
In the earlier game, Belgium took fifth place after beating Korea 4-3. The gold medal match between Australia and India is currently taking place.
Adam Dixon, Great Britain:
“It’s hard to play against Germany; they're arguably the best defence in the world. We controlled vast parts of the game, and to put them on the back foot is a positive. It's a shame that we couldn't convert that possession into real chances and good opportunities. We got into the circle a bit, but it would have been nice to get more shots on target and more penalty corners, and that's something we're going to have to work on if we want to be successful in tournaments.
To have this many games so close to Rio is really important for us - even better that it's on home soil. It's great to have hockey in London, in front of family and friends to showcase what we're about. We would have struggled for games if this tournament wasn't on - so we're really glad the fans have all come out to support us, and for the volunteers that help make this tournament happen.”
Sam Ward, Great Britain:
“At the end of the day, you come out here and try and perform the best you can, so that's what I've done. The team have stuck together and we're disappointed with today's result. We did everything today but score, so we can hold our heads up high.
Playing at home is a fantastic experience; to get the home support is incredible. People really want to cheer us on, and the sport is getting bigger, which is a big thing for us - growing the game and making sure that people want to take part.”
Great Britain 0 (0)
Germany 1 (0)
Marco Miltkau 40 (FG)
Great Britain Hockey media release
Marco costs GB
By Mike Haymonds
GREAT BRITAIN missed out on a bronze medal after losing 1-0 to Germany at the Hero Champions Trophy in the Olympic Park.
Marco Miltkau struck the German winner in the 40th minute after GB had marginally more possession in a closely fought game in which both sides won three penalty corners.
Ashley Jackson was denied at GB's three corners, all in the first period, while their goalkeeper George Pinner, who was voted goalkeeper of the tournament, continued his superb form with two saves from Tom Grambusch.
GB's best chances fell to Sam Ward, who fired wide, in the first session while Michael Hoare's late backstick effort was also off target.
GB replaced their keeper with an extra outfield player for the last four minutes but to no avail.
Coach Bobby Crutchley said: "We had lots of good play and dominated for periods but we weren't as effective in the final third as we wanted to be.
"We defended well and had a good physical presence but we are not having our little bit of luck.
"However, we are still a group who can challenge in Rio."
GB captain Barry Middleton, who aggravated a shoulder injury, said: "It was a frustrating result. We made a strong start but are not converting our chances.
"It comes down to those small moments. We know our game is on the right track and we need to get it in the right shape for Rio."
Daily Express
Germany beat Britain, finish third
Marco Miltkau
London: Germany finished third in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament when they beat hosts Great Britain 1-0 in the bronze-medal match tonight.
Marco Miltkau scored the winner for Germany in the 40th minute. Earlier, Belgium came back from 1-3 down to beat South Korea 4-3 to finish fifth.
A second quarter penalty corner strike from Simon Gougnard gave Belgium the advantage before Korean legend Seo Jongho restored parity.
A third quarter double from Yang Jihun put Korea into a commanding 3-1 lead. However, strikes from Gougnard, Tanguy Cosyns and Florent van Aubel turned the result in favour of the Belgians.
The Tribune
Pinner awarded Chris Moore Trophy
By Patrick Rowley
George Pinner, after an outstanding display of goal-keeping, was today named Britain’s best player in the Hero Champions Trophy at Queen Elizabeth Park, by the Hockey Writers Club.
He won the Chris Moore Salver which is presented annually at a major event in memory of the former Daily Telegraph correspondent.
The presentation was made at the Olympic media centre by Lisa Wilson, whose husband Graham, the HWC Chairman, died a few weeks after their22-year-old son Tom tragically died after a freak accident while at hockey training. Lisa was accompanied by her daughter Pippa (20).
Tom would have been proud that Pinner with whom he trained when both were at university in Nottingham, won the award.
Pinner (Holcombe HC) who was reserve for the GB 2012 Olympic team, is expected to learn next week that he is to make his Olympic debut in Rio.
Tom Wilson was a registered organ donor and his mother and sister take great consolation that 20 people have benefitted from his major organs, skin grafts and bone tissue. They have set up the Tom Wilson Memorial Fund to support medical related charities.
Hockey Writers Club media release
'Indian hockey's dilemma makes them an interesting team'
LONDON: India's appearance in their maiden Champions Trophy final has brought into focus the team that almost fell off the world map after decades of international domination.
Winning a medal ahead of the Olympic Games was the agenda set for the Indian team heading for London, where four years ago they had finished at the bottom of the 12-team Olympic competition.
Returning to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Indian team is viewed by hockey observers as an attractive side in the manner they are playing.
Ex-England captain and international coach Gavin Featherstone finds India the most interesting outfit in the Champions Trophy.
"Indian hockey seems in transition between the free-flowing Indian style and the strict Dutch style," says Featherstone, who turned to coaching after his playing days and went to two Olympic Games as coach of different international teams, beside several junior and senior World Cups.
In Featherstone's opinion, India have some issues about their priorities on the field, and it has to do with the dilemma about what style to play.
"I see a lot of Holland in the way India are trying to play," said Featherstone. "It could be influence of the Dutch coaches, but there's evidently a bit of dilemma in mixing the two styles."
"It is because of this dilemma that India are the most interesting team," he said.
"Going forward, this should also give India more options. What's been very impressive is that the boys on the field have not been pushed around by rivals. That is a new feature in this side compared to some earlier Indian sides."
Featherstone said it went to the credit of the Indian team that they have made the Champions Trophy final without Sardar Singh, their regular captain and standout player.
"One and a half year ago, I saw Sardar as the domineering figure, but the team here has got used to playing without him. It will be interesting to see how the Indians play when he returns to the team for the Olympic Games," Featerstone said.
"It is in the nature of the Indian players to give the ball back to the standout players. There's a hierarchy at play in some countries," he said.
Observing the Indian team leaving huge gaps in their defence when the rivals mount counter-attacks, Featherstone said this is where the Indians suffered setbacks.
"When the Indians go forward, they really go forward. But there seems trouble when they lose the ball when going out into the attack," Featherstone said.
"It's the reaction of a side when they lose the ball that has a big bearing on handling that situation. In the transition from having the ball and losing it, there always seem to be some culprits in this Indian team."
Featherstone felt that the Indian team was not playing at the same pace throughout any match.
"One thing I've noticed is that in every match the Indian team needed one quarter of rest. That's when they pull back and seek to hold on," he said.
"It seems as if they can play three quarters and then the pace dips. This could be a mental or a physical thing, because they have then come back and shown that they can match the pace in the next quarter," he said.
Featherstone asserts that the Indians have the ability to resolve some of these issues by improving their fitness and maintaining structure during play.
"India are always an interesting team, with or without the dilemmas confronting them," he said.
The Times of India
Champions Trophy 1982: When a Pak stick did trick for India!
Manuja Veerappa
BENGALURU: When people talk about India's performance in Champions Trophy over the years, one of the first names that comes to mind is Rajinder Singh (Sr). The robust defender of yesteryears, who went on to coach the Indian hockey team, left a lasting impression with a hat-trick at the 1982 Champions Trophy bronze-medal encounter against Pakistan.
Speaking to TOI on Friday, Rajinder said, "A podium match is always crucial and when you play Pakistan in a match like that, it is always a high-intensity encounter. We didn't have the best of starts and were left reeling 0-3 within the first 17 minutes of the match. As a team, we always had a never-say-die attitude and regrouped to stun Pakistan. I scored a hat-trick in that match and it is a performance I rate among my best."
In that high-intensity match, Rajinder converted three of the 12 penalty corners India earned, sounding the board in the 25th, 32nd and 46th minutes. Considered among the best penalty corner specialists of his times, the Olympian recalled playing the match with a stick made in Pakistan! "Khwaja from Grays Karachi King, manufacturers of hockey sticks, had given me three sticks in appreciation of my performance at the World Cup, and the irony of the situation was that I scored the goals with one of those sticks."
The match wasn't without accidents and injuries. "During one of the penalty corners, my stick hit the wrist of rusher Kalimullah and he had to leave the field with a fracture," recollected the 57-year-old.
The Times of India
Can Rebecchi rule the roost in London?
Argentina Captain Carla Rebecchi and her team are aiming to defend their title in London Photo: FIH/Getty
Argentina are the most successful team to have contested the Champions Trophy in the past decade. They have won the title in five of the past six editions, including an emotional victory in 2014 in what was to be Luciana Aymar’s last game for Las Leonas.
Currently, Australia, Netherlands and Argentina have all won the trophy six times apiece and, in an Olympic year, all three will be hoping to stamp their mark by winning this event, and in doing so, set down a challenge for Rio 2016.
Carla Rebecchi is a superstar forward for Argentina and, after Aymar’s retirement, she has been captaining the side, most notably to Hockey World League success in Rosario, Argentina last year. She has her eye on two big trophies this year: “Things are going really well with training and test matches. I would like to win the title again at the Champions Trophy and, of course, to win an Olympic medal, gold if possible. It would be a dream come true.
“We started our preparation for Rio on January 25th. We are training a lot, we played six test matches against New Zealand in February and we just played in Europe - we played two tests against Belgium and three against Germany.”
Rebecchi says the team has altered little from the squad that won the Hockey World League title. It is a squad that has been building since the last Olympics, with some of the older members retiring and some “really very good” young players coming into the squad. A disappointing hockey World League Semi-Final in Valencia, Spain seemed to provide the impetus that Las Leonas needed to start firing again and, by last December’s Argentina Hockey World League Final, the squad looked worthy of its ranking as number two in the world.
“Our biggest challenge in London, and in Rio, will be the top seeds – Netherlands, Australia. But New Zealand are also always very tough and, in London particularly, Great Britain will be a big threat.”
#HCT2016 #BestOfTheBest
FIH site
From silver to gold, a Hockeyroo’s hopes
Hockeyroos star Georgie Parker and her team are focused on taking home gold in 2016 Photo: FIH/Grant Treeby
One team heading to London with dreams of a gold medal is Australia. Ranked number three in the world, in the past few major tournaments they have been thwarted by either a consistently successful Netherlands or the sporadically brilliant Argentina.
Title victories at the 2013 Oceania Cup and another at the 2014 Commonwealth Games are the only gold medals the Hockeyroos have won for more than a decade and they are a team that desperately would like to turn silver to gold.
Approaching her 100th cap in the famous gold and green of Australia, Georgie Parker is a player who knows the pain of defeat at the top level. She was part of the team that won silver at the Hockey World League Finals in Tucuman, Argentina in 2013 and then again against the Dutch at the Hockey World Cup final of 2014.
“We took a very young team to the Hockey World League Finals last year, and our results showed that, [Australia finished sixth in the Argentina Hockey World League Final]" says Parker. “With every international experience you have as a player you learn and grow, so we have matured as a playing group. We now have a much larger group of players, with many more international caps all willing to put their hands up in big games. It is an exciting time for us and the future of Australian hockey.”
There is a note of steely determination in Parker’s voice as she says: “Every event we go to we are aiming to be the best we can be. With the Hockey Champions Trophy being so close to Rio we are hoping to be performing close to our best hockey, however we still need to keep our cards close to our chest for the big event. You don't win an Olympic games in June.”
And Adam Commens and his coaching staff has certainly been putting the team through its paces. “The past few months of training has been some of the hardest I have ever been involved in,” says Parker. “We are getting pushed to our limits physically and mentally, both on and off the pitch and are progressing really well as a unit. We are wanting to leave no stone un-turned and want to be the most prepared team heading to Rio.
“The only thing you can expect is the unexpected. We have no idea what will get thrown at us in Rio, or any tournament for that matter, so that is why we are planning and preparing for any and every situation. There is nothing more motivating than the prospect of winning a gold medal, and we are all putting everything into doing that.”
The past few months have not been easy for the 27-year-old. She explains: “I had a pretty rough 2015 with injuries and illness, and my passion for hockey was affected. I am back on track with my fitness and form, and my love for the sport has been reignited. My goal is to be part of the successful team heading to Rio, and if not part of the team, doing everything I can to push the team to success.”
#HCT2016 #BestOfTheBest
FIH site
Underdogs USA fear no-one thanks to solid preparation
USA's English Coach Craig Parnham has prepared his team well for the upcoming challenges Photo: FIH/Stanislas Brochier
The USA are the lowest ranking team participating in the Hockey Champions Trophy, but that has never stopped the women wearing the red, blue and white from eyeing the main prize. Katelyn Falgowski is a hardened campaigner for Team USA and she spoke with her customary enthusiasm about the challenges ahead.
“Whether training for the past 11 years or the past 11 months, as a united front, we are ready to enter the battle field. We have trained hard and are ready to draw on our training for strength, encouragement and determination. We view every opportunity as a chance to get better one day, one game at a time. We are preparing ourselves to the best of our abilities and are excited to see what this summer holds in store for us, both in London and Rio.”
USA coach Craig Parnham added: “Following our gold medal win against Argentina at the Pan Am Games in 2015 which qualified us as Continental Champions for Rio, the team has had a strong start to 2016. Our preparations are going well, the squad has continued to develop both on and off the pitch, and we are looking forward to the competitive matches that we have in June and July ahead of the Olympics.
“The squad that we will take to London for the Champions Trophy will likely feature a good proportion of the Olympic group. Obviously injury can always play a part, though we have a very established player pool and have contingencies in place.”
Asked about her aspirations for the Olympics in Rio, Falgowski was quick to deflect the question: “We have always been a one-game-at-a-time kind of team. We try to control what we can, and looking too far down the line can cause us to loss sight of the details that will get us to the big picture.”
The USA team has won plaudits for its hard working ethos. Opponents have learnt over the past few years that if there is one thing the American squad will never do, it is stop running.
Falgowski explains the mindset further: “We strive every day in training to break the ceiling of what we thought was possible in terms of our own strength, endurance and skill. Whenever you think you have reached your point of exhaustion, as a team we draw strength from one another and realise there is always more to give. Every day we ask the question to ourselves, how will we make this ordinary Tuesday into something extraordinary?”
#HCT2016 #BestOfTheBest
FIH site
British women aiming for flying start at Champions Trophy
Tom Cary
Kate Richardson-Walsh will lead the British team Credit: Alchetron
After the men faced off against Germany in the bronze medal match last night, Great Britain’s women will look to get off to a flying start when they get their Champions Trophy tournament underway against Argentina at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday afternoon.
A squad of 18, led by GB’s 2012 bronze medal-winning captain Kate Richardson-Walsh, has been named for the event in London. And while there will be, in the words of defender Crista Cullen, “a certain amount of cat and mouse going on” between nations, given the proximity of the tournament to this summer’s Rio Olympics, everyone within the GB squad will also be going all out to prove themselves worthy of the trip to Brazil.
Selectors are due to slash the overall squad of 31 down to 16 (along with three reserves) at the end of the month.
“It’s an interesting dynamic,” admitted Cullen, who quit hockey after London 2012 but returned to the squad last year after GB won the European championships.
“You want to put down a marker. I don’t think you go into any tournament not wanting to win it. And it would be a great high to go into the Olympics with. But it’s not the big one of the year is it? You don’t want to show all your cards. Plus selection has not been finalised yet.”
Richardson-Walsh admitted earlier this week that there would be some “hearts broken”, with almost half the squad being told they are surplus to requirements, but Cullen said the return to the Olympic Stadium, where GB’s women won the Europeans last year, would ensure everyone approached the tournament in the right frame of mind.
“London 2012 feels like an eternity ago, but it was so special,” she said. “Going back to Lee Valley will be amazing. I personally haven’t been back since 2012. And the spirit in the camp is brilliant.”
The Champions Trophy features the world’s top six teams – Great Britain, United States, Australia, Argentina, the Netherlands and New Zealand – competing over six days in group and knockout format. The Netherlands are the reigning world and Olympic champions but Cullen said there was belief in the squad that GB could beat them, as they did in the Euro finals last summer and again in Amsterdam last month.
"There's a really strong sense of belief in our squad that we've got an edge," added striker Alex Danson, who will be making her sixth Champions Trophy appearance after returning to the squad last month following a hand injury.
“We've beaten the Dutch on our last two occasions, so we have that in our mental locker. We know on our day we can beat the big teams in the big tournaments."
The Telegraph
Kate Richardson-Walsh: some hockey hearts will be broken in bid for Rio Olympics
The Great Britain captain is relishing a gruelling schedule in the Champions Trophy as her side refine their preparations in the battle for places at Rio 2016
Henry Valantine
The Team GB hockey captain Kate Richardson-Walsh, left, in action against Australia in Perth in February. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images
“The Champions Trophy has always been a magical tournament, it has a special sparkle about it,” says Kate Richardson-Walsh, Great Britain and England captain, looking forward to the start of the women’s edition of the event in London on Saturday.
The Champions Trophy features the world’s top six teams – Great Britain, United States, Australia, Argentina, the Netherlands and New Zealand – competing over six days in group and knockout format. It is gruelling, testing schedule, which this year also acts as a last change for Great Britain’s Olympics hopefuls to impress selectors.
“There is no respite. Every game is full-on, and in particular with this one coming just before Rio,” says Richardson-Walsh. “It will be a bit of cat and mouse; what tactics are you going to show? What might you hide away? It’s going to be a really interesting tournament.
“You look at the sides that are there, and there are no easy games. The Dutch are still at the top of the world rankings, they’re Olympic and world champions, they are the team to beat. Argentina are a really good side, they’ve been training at the Rio pitch recently and playing test matches against Chile. Other than that, they’ve been keeping themselves to themselves really, so I think it will be a really good opportunity to see what they’ve got.”
Team GB’s hockey squad for Rio will be slashed from 31 to 16 (along with three reserves) at the end of June, hence the added the importance of this year’s Champions Trophy, which is being staged at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. As Britain’s most capped female hockey player, having previously been to three Olympic and four Commonwealth Games, Richardson-Walsh knows all about the gruelling, nerve-racking nature of the selection process. “It’s always a testing and stressful phase, you really see the whole squad of 31 put under an extreme amount of pressure,” says the 36‑year‑old Mancunian. “Everybody is staking their claim, everybody has been fighting for the last four years [to get in the squad] and everybody is doing whatever they can to make sure their name is on that email, when we get it delivered,” she said.
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“It’s the hardest time in the four-year cycle but it’s also the most special. You really see the culture of the squad tested to its maximum, we’re training together towards the squad goal but at this point, it becomes you against everybody else; yet we still stick together.
“When you think how much stress everybody is under, almost half the squad are going to have their dreams broken, literally shattered. That’s going to be heartbreaking, and to see those players deal with that and continue to train through that is a real measure of their individual strength, their characters.”
Nothing is being left to chance with Britain’s preparations for the upcoming international schedule, with a replica of the Rio Olympic hockey pitch having been built and used at the team’s base at Bisham Abbey, Berkshire. For now, though, Richardson-Walsh will be leading the squad against the team second in the world rankings – Argentina – in their first match of the Champions Trophy, and she is relishing her role of responsibility when it comes to helping out the younger players in the squad. “I’m a bit of a mother hen at times,” she says with a laugh. “But I do want to make sure that everybody is in a place where they feel like they can compete for a place in the squad.
“Sometimes that’s a quiet word [with a player], sometimes it’s a stern word. It’s just reading players, reading the situation. Sometimes I’ll get it completely wrong, but I think the players, certainly do appreciate myself and other members of the leadership team taking on that mentoring role within the team.”
Having won a bronze medal in front of a home Olympic crowd in 2012, Team GB’s captain is craving a place two steps higher on the podium in Rio in August. “I think for the girls that played in the European championships, winning there, beating the Dutch on penalties, I think we’ve got a real taste for what it’s like to stand on top of the podium,” she says. “It’s your dream, it’s all of our dreams to win the Olympic gold medal, and we just want to go there and make ourselves proud, and the whole country proud as well.”
The Guardian
USWNT to Contend Among World’s Best Before the Big Show in Rio
STRATFORD CITY, London - The women’s 2016 Hockey Champions Trophy is one of the last opportunities where global powerhouses of hockey will gather in one location to compete against one another before they go head-to-head at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Six national hockey teams, including the U.S. Women’s National Team, will participate in the showcase taking place at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park between June 18-26. Each team will play a total of six matches in a round-robin format during the span of the nine-day event.
With a score of 3-1, Team USA nudged out Ireland in the 2014 Champions Challenge I finals in Glasgow, Scotland to claim gold and earn an automatic berth at the 2016 Champions Trophy after their absence in the previous 15 editions. The five other nations contending in the event are Great Britain, and as the host nation earned an automatic bid, The Netherlands, who through winning the London 2012 Olympic Games and the 2014 World Cup will be joining the action. USA’s Pan American rival Argentina took first place at the 2014-15 World League to secure a playing slot in London and both Australia and New Zealand were invited by the FIH Executive Board.
National Team FIH World Ranking
The Netherlands 1
Argentina 2
Australia 3
New Zealand 4
Great Britain 6
USA 7
The opening match of the first competition day belongs to Team USA and Australia at 7 a.m. EST. The rest of the women’s 2016 Hockey Champions Trophy can be viewed by clicking here.
From the technical table, the United States will also be represented by having Stephanie Judefind as one of the nine appointed umpires.
Live streaming for the 2016 Champions Trophy event is available at a cost through the FIH’s broadcasting partner Willow TV which can be viewed through various platforms in the United States.
USFHA media release
Hawke’s Bay principal partner of Black Sticks
Photo: www.worldsportspics.com
The Hawke’s Bay community has once again come together to support both the Black Sticks Men and Women.
The unique sponsorship agreement is similar to the arrangement in 2012 which provided the Black Sticks the financial support they needed while at the same time galvanising the region behind them.
Led by local identities Rod Miller and Bruce Mactaggart, the Hawke’s Bay Sports Events and Education Consortium [HBSEEC] - a group of business and community leaders - has committed to the deal with Hawke's Bay becoming the principal partner of the Black Sticks.
The partnership extends on Hawke's Bay’s progression as one of the country’s hockey hubs at both community and international level, thanks in large part to the popular Hawke’s Bay Festival of Hockey, which itself is organised by HBSEEC.
Hockey New Zealand interim CEO Ian Francis said the sponsorship would provide much needed additional support for the Black Sticks as they strive to win on the world stage.
“We are hugely appreciative to have Hawke’s Bay with us again as principal partner of the Black Sticks Men and Women,” he said.
“We see this as more than a one-off sponsorship, it’s about building on a strong relationship between the Black Sticks and Hawke’s Bay community.
“It’s amazing what is possible when a community comes together like this, uniting to support our national teams while also galvanising and supporting the local hockey community.”
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Canadian men pick up draw in second match of series with Spain
Shaheed Devji
Canada’s men’s field hockey team bounced back after a series opening-loss Thursday with a strong performance resulting in a 0-0 draw with Spain Friday in Madrid.
Canada began the second of three matches on the front foot, earning the game’s first penalty corner in the 2nd minute.
On the short corner, the ball was injected in the direction of Gordon Johnston, but Canada played a variation to captain Scott Tupper who attempted a shot towards goal that was blocked by a Spanish defender.
After Spain failed to convert on a corner of its own in the 7th minute, both teams defended well for the remainder of the first quarter, not allowing many more opportunities.
The Canadians began the second quarter much like they did the first, with plenty of possession and a prime scoring opportunity early.
After midfielder Mark Pearson took a quick free hit and found Sukhi Panesar on the baseline, Panesar showed great skills to get by three Spanish defenders and unleash a diving backhand, but the Surrey, British Columbia native’s attempt just missed and the game remained 0-0.
There was no letup from the Canadians throughout the course of the game and as play resumed after a scoreless first half, Canada went back on the offensive.
In the 34th minute, Gabriel Ho-Garcia exploded through the midfield to the top of the Spanish circle, where he flipped the ball over the sticks of multiple defenders before putting a backhand shot just wide of the far post.
It looked as though it was just a matter of time before Canada broke the deadlock.
In the 40th minute, Richard Hildreth found himself open at the far post. He dove for a ball that was played in his direction but his one-handed deflection went just over the goal.
Despite all the offense, the Canadians needed a spectacular defensive play late in the third quarter to keep the game tied.
On a Jordi Carerra option on a Spanish corner, the Canadian post-man Tupper batted the ball out of the air and wide of the goal.
The final chance to take the lead and win went in the favour of the Canadians in the fourth quarter, when – off the rush – Matthew Sarmento was fed a ball in prime position. He quickly turned and fired a hard hit towards goal but Spanish keeper Mario Fernandez as quick to react and turn it away to preserve the 0-0 tie.
The Canadians will be encouraged by the amount of chances they created on Friday but will likely consider themselves unlucky not to have picked up the win.
Canada and Spain do battle one more time on Sunday at 11:00am local time (3:00am PT/6:00am ET). The game can be watched like here.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Austria Bundesliga set for final four weekend
The latest European club champion will be crowned on Sunday as the Austrian Bundesliga reaches its conclusion at Vienna’s PSV HockeyPark.
Friday sees the semi-finals take place with SV Arminen, the regular season champions and recently crowned cup winners, looking for revenge against HC Wien who denied them the title a year ago.
It promises to be a thriller after their last meeting ended 3-3 though the other two meetings this season ended in wins for Arminen, 2-1 and 5-1. Wien’s Andreas Wellan is the leading scorer with an incredible 23 goals from 15 games this season and is one Arminen coach Dariusz Rachwalski needs to be wary of, especially after an injury hit run in recent weeks.
Wien’s Lescek Specjal, though, says “all the teams this weekend are very balanced, especially since the spring, and we can defende the title”.
NAVAX AHTC meet Verifone WAC in the other semi-final in a traditional classic meeting.
AHTC’s Adam Amtmanski says his side is “fit and fired up for the final four. We prepared in the best possible way and we want to have our say in the championship”.
They will be fighting for a place in the final on Sunday at 4.30pm (CET).
Euro Hockey League media release
Youth Day Hockey Festival
Hockey festival at Cecil Payne Stadium
Tarry-Ann van Rayne, Chloe Petersen and Liam Stuurman.
To expose hockey to a wider audience, South African Hockey and Gauteng Sport and Recreation sanctioned a hockey development programme for Region C. Together with In Touch, Wings, Westbury Villas and New Rovers Hockey Clubs, the programme is run every Saturday morning at Cecil Payne Stadium. With the majority of the young participants coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, the programme is run free of charge. The stadium is also the venue for the clubs’ annual Youth Day hockey festival.
Equipment to learn and play hockey was provided as almost 200 children from 26 schools from Region B and C participated. Current and former national hockey players put the children through their paces in the fun hockey games and coaching drills.
Mervyn Mooi from the Ward 70 Sports Council said he was happy with the turnout and the success of the event but lamented over the lack of public hockey fields in Roodepoort.
“Outside of Cecil Payne Stadium there are no hockey facilities that cater for children who come from disadvantaged areas. At schools the facilities are there for school children and the clubs that have an astro turf charge a fortune for outsiders to use. This is a major constraint for us as we’d love to grow the sport especially in disadvantaged areas,” he said.
The festival is not only hosted on Youth Day but other public holidays such as Human Rights. The next festival will be on 9 August, Women’s Day. This is to keep the children occupied during their free time with healthy activities.
“In numbers, hockey is bigger than soccer because it is a family oriented sport and is not biased towards one gender. It’s a marginalized in Gauteng as it faces lots of adversities in poor areas. We need funding, kits, equipment, transport and coaching resources. For the sport develop we need these things. That is what we’re working towards,” said Mooi.
Roodpoort Record