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News for 01 August 2016

All the news for Monday 1 August 2016


Green Army Beat Higher Ranked Belgium


 
A determined performance saw Ireland secure a 3-2 victory over higher ranked Belgium at the Merrion Fleet Arena in Rathdown School.

An early error in the Irish defence meant Ayeisha McFerran was called into action in the opening minute and the Irish backline came under consistent pressure for the first 10 minutes. As Hannah Matthews hobbled off injured Zoe Wilson cleared the ball of the line but the resulting Penalty Corner saw Anouk Raes give her side the lead as she slapped the ball into the corner. The Green Army needed only one minute to draw the game level; Ali Meeke found Anna O’Flanagan in the circle who volleyed the ball goal-bound in the 17th minute. Ireland were perhaps unlucky to go into half time 2-1 down; Jill Boon gave her side the lead in the 33rd minute as she hit the ball high into the net from a rebounded PC drag flick.



Ireland rarely struggled to create chances but the final execution seemed to be lacking as the second half ticked by. Both O’Flanagan and Meeke pirouetted into the circle from opposite sides with the same outcome; one touch too far saw the Belgian defence clear their lines. The equaliser came courtesy of Katie Mullan who was quickest to a rebound from Deirdre Duke’s initial shot. Ireland looked the more determined for the remainder and the deserved winner came in the 63rd minute from a routine penalty corner. The ball slipped to McCay who swept it onto the waiting stick of O’Flanagan to deflect it home. Wilson was called on to make a diving save in the closing minutes to prevent a Belgian equaliser.

After the match, head coach Graham Shaw said “As the game went on we showed a lot of character and played ourselves back into the game. To get three goals against a Belgium side is a real plus but there’s a lot of improvements to make, and we’re looking forward to the next match.”

Ireland face Chile on Tuesday at 7pm in Rathdown School.

Ireland 3 (O’Flanagan x2, Mullan)
Belgium 2 (Raes, Boon)



Squad: Frazer (Captain), McFerran (GK), McCay, Tice, Pinder, Whelan, Watkins, Colvin, A O'Flanagan, Wilson, Duke

Subs: G O'Flanagan (GK), O'Bryne, Mullan, Matthews, Meeke, Barry, Carroll

Irish Hockey Association media release



Samba stats - Men's Olympic hockey by numbers



With six days to go, we give you a quick look at some of the numbers that are sure to make the Olympic hockey competition at Rio 2016 truly exceptional.

Hockey at Rio 2016 is …

...the ultimate competition

There are 384 hockey athletes competing at the Games, with the 192 male and 192 female players ensuring that the sport is completely gender balanced. A total of 24 teams will take part in the event, 12 in each of the men’s and women’s competitions, with 16 different nations having earned qualification to compete at the greatest show on earth.

There are 60 minutes of non-stop action in matches divided into four thrilling quarters, a format which will be making its Olympic debut in Rio. Another first for Rio 2016 is the introduction of Quarter-Finals, which serve to provide all the drama and excitement of an immediate knock-out competition from the end of the pool matches onwards.

… High-speed

According to FIH Innovation Partner Loughborough University, the top recorded speed of hockey ball is an incredible 160 kilometres per hours (kmh).  Many international athletes are capable of hitting speeds of 35kmh on the field, which is only 9kmh slower than the foot-speed record of 44.64kmh held by legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. The players have a staggering amount of stamina too, running at a high intensity (above 19kmh) for around 30% of the game and covering on average over 140 metres per minute. Wow.


...Action-Packed

We only need to look back to the London 2012 Games to prove that hockey is one of the most action-packed and exciting Olympic sports. In the 76 matches played, an incredible 303 goals were scored at the 2012 events, with a breathtaking 155 different scorers. It equates to an average of 17 minutes between goals, and four goals a match. You certainly won’t be bored!

Men's hockey at the Olympics...

First played: 1908 (22 Editions)

Total no of nations participated: 43

Most appearances in men's Olympic hockey: 19 (India)

Total matches played in men's Olympic hockey: 750

Top five teams in terms of matches won at men's Olympic hockey events:
75 - India
72 - Netherlands
70 - Pakistan
65 - Australia
47 - Spain

Total goals scored in men's Olympic hockey: 3,094

Top five teams in terms of goals scored in men's Olympic hockey:
423 - India
294 - Pakistan
289 - Australia
282 - Netherlands
213 - Spain

Max goals scored in an Olympic men's hockey event: 228 (1972)

Max goals scored by a team in a men's Olympic hockey event: 43 - India (1980)

Min goals conceded by a team in a men's Olympic hockey event: 0 - India (1928 & 1956)

Biggest winning margin in a women's Olympic hockey event: India 24, USA 1 (1932)

Biggest winning margin in a gold medal match: India 8, Germany 1 (1936)

Make sure that you use #Hockey, #SambaSticks and #Rio2016 on social media when showing your support for your nation during the events, and follow FIH for all the latest updates as teams and fans get ready for the biggest show on earth – the Olympic Games. For more information about hockey in Rio, visit Rio2016.com.

FIH site



Samba stats - Women's Olympic hockey by numbers



With six days to go, we give you a quick look at some of the numbers that are sure to make the Olympic hockey competition at Rio 2016 truly exceptional.

Hockey at Rio 2016 is …

...the ultimate competition

There are 384 hockey athletes competing at the Games, with the 192 male and 192 female players ensuring that the sport is completely gender balanced. A total of 24 teams will take part in the event, 12 in each of the men’s and women’s competitions, with 16 different nations having earned qualification to compete at the greatest show on earth.

There are 60 minutes of non-stop action in matches divided into four thrilling quarters, a format which will be making its Olympic debut in Rio. Another first for Rio 2016 is the introduction of Quarter-Finals, which serve to provide all the drama and excitement of an immediate knock-out competition from the end of the pool matches onwards.

… High-speed

According to FIH Innovation Partner Loughborough University, the top recorded speed of hockey ball is an incredible 160 kilometres per hours (kmh).  Many international athletes are capable of hitting speeds of 35kmh on the field, which is only 9kmh slower than the foot-speed record of 44.64kmh held by legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. The players have a staggering amount of stamina too, running at a high intensity (above 19kmh) for around 30% of the game and covering on average over 140 metres per minute. Wow.


...Action-Packed

We only need to look back to the London 2012 Games to prove that hockey is one of the most action-packed and exciting Olympic sports. In the 76 matches played, an incredible 303 goals were scored at the 2012 events, with a breathtaking 155 different scorers. It equates to an average of 17 minutes between goals, and four goals a match. You certainly won’t be bored!

Women's hockey at the Olympics...

First played: 1980 (9 Editions)

Total no of nations participated: 21

Most appearances in women's Olympic hockey: 8 (Australia/Netherlands)

Total matches played in women's Olympic hockey: 240

Top five teams in terms of matches won at women's Olympic hockey events:
37 - Netherlands
33 - Australia
21 - Argentina
19 - Germany
16 - Korea

Total goals scored in women's Olympic hockey: 823

Top five teams in terms of goals scored in women's Olympic hockey:
120 - Australia
117 - Netherlands
92 - Korea
78 - Argentina
64 - Germany

Max goals scored in an Olympic women's hockey event: 149 (2008)

Max goals scored by a team in a women's Olympic hockey event: 27 - Australia (1996)

Min goals conceded by a team in a women's Olympic hockey event: 2 - Australia (2012)

Biggest winning margin in a women's Olympic hockey event: South Africa 7, USA 0 (2012)

Biggest winning margin in a gold medal match: Zimbabwe 4, Poland 0 (1980)

Make sure that you use #Hockey, #SambaSticks and  #Rio2016 on social media when showing your support for your nation during the events, and follow FIH for all the latest updates as teams and fans get ready for the biggest show on earth – the Olympic Games. For more information about hockey in Rio, visit Rio2016.com.

FIH site



Hockey men searching for sharpness

Lawrence West


Men's Hockey training match vs Argentina © olympics.com.au

HOCKEY: The Australian Men’s Hockey Team found themselves lacking their familiar sharpness as they went down 3-0 to Argentina in the first of three practice matches in Rio de Janeiro.

With Chef de Mission, Kitty Chiller, and Deputy Chef de Mission, Matt Favier, watching on, Australia fell behind to a well-worked goal from a free hit before Jake Whetton had perhaps the best chance for Australia; his shot flying wide of the far post.

Moments later, Australia were undone by a quick counter attack for 2-0, as Argentina found space behind the Australian back line.

A penalty corner goal late in the second of the two 15 minute periods sealed the result for the South Americans.

“It was our first run out,” said defender Fergus Kavanagh. “We were a bit rusty, a bit slow and lethargic, and struggled with the pace of the game. They [Argentina] were pretty sharp and our basics weren’t very good. We didn’t play very well.”

Australian coach Graham Reid admitted that the change in time zones was a likely contributor to the performance so soon after arriving in Rio but said there are no excuses.

“Normally we travel to Europe where it’s a seven-hour time difference to our base in Perth, whereas here it’s 11,” said Reid. “This is day four for us here. When you go to Europe, day four is the day you’re fine; here it’s probably more like day five or day six.

“We’re still playing around with some things but [there are] no excuses really.”

The sentiment was echoed by Kavanagh.

“We knew we’re weren’t going to come out and be world beaters [so soon after arrival] but that’s not the point. We’re just looking to improve and build a base for the week ahead and for the tournament ahead.”

Australia’s Men’s Hockey Team will play two more practice matches – against Germany and Ireland – before their opening match of the 2016 Olympic Games against New Zealand on Saturday August 6 in Rio (Sunday 230am AEST).

Australian Olympic Committee media release



More aggressive style for women's hockey team

Lawrence West


RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Australian Olympic Team hockey player Madonna Blyth talks while attending a press conference on July 31, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. © 2016 Getty Images

After three consecutive fifth-place finishes, the Australian women’s hockey team is determined that its youthful team and a more aggressive approach will give them the consistency that has been missing from their most recent Olympic campaigns.

Australia’s women last stood on the podium on home turf at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney but failed to reach the semi-finals at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

“I think what’s happened for our group over a number of years, particularly since London, has enabled us to be in the position we are now,” said Madonna Blyth, the captain of the Australian women.

“In London, we played quite well but we probably didn’t have the depth that we have now. We’ve developed a squad that hasn’t changed a whole lot in the last two or three years, that’s had success in big tournaments.

“Before that, we probably lacked the ability to play well in big matches and now over the last few years we’ve been involved in a lot of finals, we’ve won a World Cup silver and Commonwealth Games gold.”

Contributing to that success has been a new, unrelenting style of hockey designed to stifle oppositions.

“The depth in our squad has allowed us to build a certain style of play that will allow us to win day in, day out at big tournaments. We’re feeling really confident.

“We would love people to watch the way we play and talk about the speed, the skilfulness of our girls but also the aggression with which we play; an unrelenting style of hockey that makes it very tough for the opposition to play the way they want to play.”

At 30 years-old, goalkeeper Rachael Lynch is one of the older members of the group but having missed out on selection to the Olympic Games in Beijing and London, the Victorian is one of 12 athletes making their Olympic debut in Rio.

“It’s [a] youthful but experienced [squad]. We’ve got a lot of experience internationally even although it’s not at the Olympics.

“We’re in a really good place.

“We’re looking really good as a side. We’re feeling good, we’ve got some great depth in our group; experience across the board, even though we’ve got the 12 debutants, and I think if we put things into place we’ve got a really good chance.”

The Australian Women’s Hockey Team begin their quest for a first Olympic medal in 16 years against Great Britain on Saturday in Rio (Sunday 9:30am AEST).

Australian Olympic Committee media release



Difficult decisions part of sacrifice leading to Olympic dream for Gill and Canadian field hockey team

Shaheed Devji


Richard Hildreth, Jagdish Gill, and Matthew Sarmento during the national anthem in a match against the United States at Rutledge Field in West Vancouver on July 9, 2016 – By Stewart Johnstone

When Canada’s men’s field hockey team takes to the field at the Olympic Games on August 6 against Germany, the lifelong dreams of sixteen athletes will be realized.

For defender Jagidsh Gill and his Canadian teammates, the Olympic dream has not come without sacrifice.

Going to the Olympics requires obvious compromises: finances, relationships, education, career advancement, and simple things like time spent with family and friends.

But for Gill, one decision on the Road to Rio meant potentially missing out on the Olympics altogether.

It is a decision that highlights the type of character Gill embodies.

When Gill first started playing hockey back home in India, getting to the Olympic Games was always his goal. But the road there wasn’t always clear.

When an opportunity to move to Canada came in 2006, he had to make the decision of putting his dreams of playing hockey on the world’s biggest stage on hold at the age of 21.

“Sometimes when we have a lot things going on in our lives we have to settle down,” he says. “Olympic dream was my priority for sure, but that time the conditions were getting worse.”

He came to Canada for a better life. But with his family back in India and relying on him for support, the decision to step away from hockey was necessary.

“I was the only one earning at the time, my sisters were studying”

So he took a break from the time that he arrived until 2009, when he was comfortable to begin playing again.

“I played in the National Championship for the Ontario team,” he says. “Then through there I got a chance in the camp in 2009. I came to the camp, they liked me.”

Gill wasn’t yet a permanent resident or citizen, so despite the interest from the National Team, he couldn’t compete for Canada.

He spent 2010 training but not going on tour. He was able to get his citizenship in 2011 and his first tournament was at the Pan American Games in September of 2011.

“Some dreams are not easy to get, there is hard work to get it,” he recalls. “I pushed myself to get those dreams. Dreams always have to be protected.”

Gill’s dreams not only include continuing to play hockey but also providing an opportunity for his family to achieve their own dreams.

Along the way, he was able to sponsor his sisters and bring them over to Canada. And now his family lives in Vancouver and is about to see him become an Olympian in Rio.

“I wasn’t able to speak. Everything was just so numb,” he says of being named to the Olympic team. “That was a really different feeling in my life and I will never forget that.”

Canada opens the Olympic Games on August 6 against Germany (2:00pm PT/5:00pm ET).

Field Hockey Canada media release



Hockey star Stéphane Vehrlé-Smith hopes Rio 2016 will build the sport in Brazil

'Brazil' and 'hockey' are two words that rarely appear in the same sentence but the English-born defender hopes to change that

By FIH/STEPHEN FINDLATER


Vehrlé-Smith arrives at the Rio 2016 Olympic Village (Photo: Getty Images)

Stéphane Vehrlé-Smith's Olympic journey started with an email that seemed destined for his spam folder.

The 27-year-old hockey player — who was born in Recife in northern Brazil but raised in Great Britain — received a message from a stranger asking him about the possibility of joining Brazil’s national men’s hockey team.


The Brazil Olympic Hockey team in selfie mode (Getty Images)

"It said, ‘We have heard through our European contacts about you, the level you play and you have a Brazilian passport. Would you like to be part of our journey?’ I thought someone was winding me up in the dressing room so I deleted it immediately.

“I got another one a few days later, following up. I asked how they knew so much about me, a bit on the defensive. Bert said let’s Skype and told me all about the qualifying process and so on and I basically flew out to Brazil a week later."

Vehrlé-Smith — who has been a fixture for England’s Holcombe hockey club since he debuted with the team as a 15 year-old — is now a top player on a Brazilian hockey team set to makes its Olympic debut.

The team qualified for the Rio Games with a top-six finish at the 2015 Pan-American Championship after beating the USA in a quarter-final penalty shootout and falling to Canada in a shootout in the semi-final.

The 30th-ranked team are in for a tough tournament, having to face Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Belgium and Spain in the group stage.

Vehrlé-Smith hopes the Games will build the sport in Brazil to the point where an email from a Brazilian hockey official is no longer viewed with surprise and suspicion.

"Football and beach volleyball drives Brazil at the moment but hopefully hockey can pick it up and build the momentum,” he said.

Rio 2016



Brazil’s new hockey heroes won’t have to pretend they have fans at Rio 2016

Used to playing in front of small crowds or hostile supporters, Olympic debutants looking forward to passionate backing on home turf


Rodrigo Faustino defends Brazil’s goal against Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday (Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

For the Brazilian men’s hockey team, playing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be a very different experience. Unlike their football or volleyball counterparts, the hockey lads are not used to being idolised.

“It’s going to be different, for sure, and very special,” said goalkeeper Rodrigo Faustino. “We are not used to playing in front of supporters. Or when we do, they are against us. We normally just pretend they are shouting for us.”

Such self-deception will not be required in front of the passionate host nation fans at Deodoro Olympic Park next year.“

Faustino and Borges are experienced in delivering under pressure. At this year’s Pan-American Games in Toronto they had to reach the semi-finals to be sure of a place at Rio 2016. Borges puts them ahead against the USA, who equalised to force a 1-1 draw. In the resulting penalty shoot, Faustino was the hero, making two fine saves as Brazil won 3-1.


Matheus Borges (right) shows off his Olympic tattoo (Photo Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro)

For Borges, the desire to compete at the Olympic Games was so strong that in 2010 he put a permanent reminder on his forearm: a tattoo of the Olympic rings, so that he would never forget his dearest goal.

Faustino and Borges, both 22, are in action this week at the Rio 2016 test event on the newly constructed pitches for the Olympic Games. Rio2016.com caught up with them and asked about their hopes for next year.

“It’s going to be very difficult, but a real pleasure too,” said Faustino. “All those players we have admired on television and on the internet will be in front of us, on the pitch, playing against us. It will be a unique opportunity.”

Borges scored on Tuesday (24 November) as Brazil drew 1-1 with Trinidad & Tobago in their first match of the test event. On Wednesday, the hosts will take on Mexico, who lost 6-1 to Chile on Tuesday.

Rio 2016



SV Sunil Profile: Men’s Hockey

SV Sunil has a lot of fire in his belly and his pace and dribbling abilities with the stick in hand have drawn praise from all quarters.


Hockey SV Sunil feels India focused primarily on fitness at the 2012 Olympics but now they’ve worked on plenty of things.

SV Sunil, 27, is another important member of India’s Rio-bound men’s hockey squad. With 166 international camps, and international experience of close to ten years, Sunil will be the player to watch out for at the halfback position. His entry into the national team was on a winning note as India ended up lifting the 2007 Asia Cup, Chennai. Among his other highlights, he has a Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2008 silver medal. Fit and raring to go for his second Olympics, after a forgettable outing in London, Sunil would like to make most of this opportunity.

He has a lot of fire in his belly and his pace and dribbling abilities with the stick in hand have drawn praise from all quarters. Even in the 2016 Champions Trophy campaign, he took control of the forward line in absence of Sardar Singh, and didn’t disappoint.

Event: Men’s hockey

Event Schedule: India commence their campaign against Ireland on August 6, play Germany on August 8, Argentina on August 9, Netherlands on August 11 before concluding the group stage against Canada on August 12

Qualification: India secured the berth after Asian Games gold

Record: India have won 11 Olympic medals, including eight golds. The last medal came way back at the Moscow Games in 1980

Squad: PR Sreejesh (captain and GK), Harmanpreet Singh (defender), Rupinder Pal Singh (defender), Kothajit Singh (defender), Surendar Kumar (defender), Manpreet Singh (midfielder), Sardar Singh (midfielder), VR Raghunath (defender), SK Uthappa (midfielder), Danish Mujtaba (midfielder), Devender Walmiki (midfielder), SV Sunil (forward and vice-captain), Akashdeep Singh (forward), Chinglensana Singh (midfielder), Ramandeep Singh (forward), Nikkin Thimmaiah (forward)
Coach: Roelant Oltmans

Indian Express



Indian women's hockey team return to Olympics after 36 years with high hopes


File photo of the women's hockey team. Getty Images

While India has traditionally been very successful in hockey at the Olympics, the women's team has not done much at the mega sport events. This year, the women's hockey team has qualified for the Olympics after 36 years — they last played at the 1980 Moscow Games — the same year the men's team won their last gold medal. They finished fourth in the competition back then. At Rio 2016, they will hope to at least replicate that position.

Defender Sushila Chanu will be leading the 16-member squad and her backline teammate Deepika will assist her as the vice-captain. The team includes five defenders, five midfielders, five fowards and only one goalkeeper in Savita.

The team has the experience of Deepika, Sunita Lakra, Sushila, Namita Toppo and Deep Grace Ekka in the defence. The midfield will be manned by Renuka Llima Minz, Monika, Navjot Kaur and young Nikki Pradhan, while forward line consists of Rani Rampal, Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Anuradha Devi Thockchom and Preeti Dubey.

Overall, the team has a steady mix of youth and experience and are undoubtedly a talented bunch. Their qualification for the Games was historic and they would aim to capitalise on that. Over the last few years, the team's showing at international and multi-sport events has improved considerably. The team finished in the top at the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League Semi-finals to seal their Rio berth, and stunned Japan 2-1 to win the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games.

However, India have not have not done very well lately, losing their last three series. Add to that, the recent controversy after captain Ritu Rani was dropped from the squad for who was dropped from the squad by the selectors due to poor form and attitude problems.

But Chanu is an experienced campaigner herself. She has played more than hundred international matches so far, and was the skipper of the junior Indian team in 2013. Under her, the Indian team won a bronze medal at the Junior World Cup held in Germany.

At Rio, India is placed in Group B along with Argentina, Australia, Great Britain, Japan and United States, who are all ranked above them. The competition formats will have each team initially playing round-robin games within their group, after which the the top four teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals. While the group may not be conducive to India's chances, the hope still remains that they will at least reach the quarters.

Squad: Sushila Chanu (Captain and Defender), Navjot Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka, Monika, Nikki Pradhan, Anuradha Devi Thokchom, Savita, Poonam Rani, Vandana Katariya, Deepika (vice-captain), Namita Toppo, Renuka Yadav, Sunita Lakra, Rani Rampal, Preeti Dubey, Lilima Minz.

Coach: Neil Hawgood

Name: Indian Hockey Team

Discipline: Hockey

Category: Women's

Qualification: The Indian women's hockey team qualified for Rio 2016 by achieving a top-five finish at the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League Semi-finals.

Strengths: The biggest strength for the women's team will be their tenacity and willpower, which led to their qualification in 2015 and has enabled them to play more consistently in the recent past.

Past record (recent best performances): Gold medal in the 2000 Commonwealth Games at Manchester
-Gold medal in the 2003 Afro-Asian Games at Hyderabad
-Silver medal in the 2009 Hockey Asia Cup
-Bronze medal in the 2013 Hockey Asia Cup
-Silver medal in the 2013 Asia Hockey Champions Trophy
-Bronze medal in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon

Past Olympics performance: The women's hockey team is playing at the Olympics after 36 years. At the 1980 Rome Games, they finished fourth.

Rio Prospects: While a medal may be a far-fetched prospect from the relatively inexperienced women's hockey team, you can expect them to win a few games within their group and possibly advance to the quarters.

Firstpost



Balbir Singh Sr: Forgotten legend of India's Olympic glory

Siddharth Saxena

Suitcases are funny places. You can neatly fold memories and stack them away for all time, the ageing - the remembering and the for getting - all happens within the confines of the hard, moulded plastic case. There's an old one in a home in Chandigarh; maybe it's a fading black or a dusty grey, the colour adding to the old-ness of the whole thing. This one contains photographs, with their own stories. There are hundreds of them - yellowing, edges frayed, the black fading into the white and all of it turning into grey. Everything smells of age, yet they remain fresh. Because not far is the human mind, its many recesses and its unimaginably expandable memory, fuelled by almonds, Chyawanprash and driven by pure will.

Balbir Singh Dosanjh, simply Balbir Senior, belongs to this one suitcase, and possesses one such mind. Together, they are time-travellers. The ticket-checker, his sprightly daughter Sushbir, gently ensures both don't wander away too far.

As a triple Olympic gold winner in hockey (1948, 1952 and 1956), independent India's first flag-bearer at the Olympics, an astonishing goal-count and today at 93 India's oldest living Olympian, Balbir Sr's should have been a fascinating, celebrated life. Instead, he lives un-feted, seemingly content in his surprisingly brisk afternoon walks in the neighbourhood park.

For the uninitiated, Balbir Sr is the unheralded equal to Dhyanchand, a mostworthy inheritor of the mantle during hockey's golden era. But while the Major is still spoken of in near-mythical tones in hockey and nation-building terms - partly because of his exploits at Berlin 1936 at the height of Hitler's Nazism and largely due to the British imperialist perpetuation of the legend - it is staggering to believe such a huge slice of India's Olympic history (and perhaps, the entire Games itself) lives forgotten in some sleepy corner of a city known mainly by its impersonal sector numbers.

Maybe it's just the timing, Dhyanchand's legend was fuelled by the British, Balbir's languishes in immediate post-Independence apathy. Having existed in the cusp of Independence and the tumultuous birth of a nation, it tells us a lot about our own disregard, as a people, towards a legend in our midst.

Yet, his stories are many, wondrous and eye-popping. It is said that Balbir Sr's unorthodox upright posture when he entered the striking circle with ball glued to his stick, flummoxed many a rival goalkeeper because it gave no clue to which side of the goal he would place it. That's how he ended being top goal-scorer in successive Olympics. Today, those hands, old and feeble, skim over each photograph as if there's some secret code to the stories they hold.

His own personal favourite is how as a promising 20-year-old he was handcuffed by Punjab Police authorities in Delhi's Lady Hardinge grounds and marched off to Lahore, so that he wouldn't join any other institution and play hockey for them. He chuckles his hoarse, whispery laugh: "My father and uncles were revolutionaries, the police was loyal to the British. How could have I joined them? So I fled to Delhi, but they 'arrested' me."

Balbir Sr's journey crucially also coincided with the travails of Partition. There is a poignant tale of how triumphant undivided Punjab - which formed the bulk of India's international hockey teams back then - landed at Lahore Station from the 1947 National championships in Bombay, only to be told that the country indeed was splitting and that they would no longer be playing as one.

"The order was to go home, collect your family and belongings and find a way to safety, only be careful that the one you trusted would not turn you in to either the Hindu or the Muslim mobs. I remember being late to reach Model Town where we lived. Many of us who parted that day at Lahore Station, ran into each other only at the next Olympics," he remembers, pausing to add, "The only difference was many of them were playing for Pakistan now. It was a strange feeling to see you old teammates suddenly as opponents."

For a player who scored goals by the dozens for independent India at the London, Helsinki and Melbourne Olympics, it is surreal that when he lists his favourite players, they are his Punjab teammates who were to become Pakistanis. "Mohd Azam tha, ek Masood tha, phir Maqbool aur Mehmood, phir woh Pakistan key ho gaye. Then there was Ali Iqtidar Shah (Dara) who was captured and tried as part of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army. He played for India in 1936 and then later captained Pakistan in 1948."

There is a special corner for Shah Rukh, a fellow striker and old friend who together scored goals at will, but too left for Pakistan, played hockey and even represented them in cycling in 1956. "He and his brother Khurram. They hailed from the Afghan royal family. Some years ago, he came visiting. We just held hands and sat, remembering our old days..."

As you spend time with him and his family, you realise there is an Old Man and the Sea idea to Balbir Sr, but with a nice twist. Clearly there's little left for the gentleman to prove. But how do you resolve this conflict where long-drawn post-retirement contentment is at odds with rapidly vanishing recall, but there still exists an anxiety to preserve legacy. Thus, he is egged on, coaxed by family in an earnest homespun kind of way to find himself time and again, to re-introduce some sort of relevance. He is, after all, among India's top five Olympians, alongside Dhyanchand, Leslie Claudius, Abhinav Bindra and Sushil Kumar, but hardly counted at all. It must be terrifying, being forgotten or just the feeling of having lapsed in time, and that was the reason why Hemmingway's Santiago went after the giant marlin in the first place. It was to fight off the idea of obscurity, and that's the same anxiety Balbir Sr's family is confronting.

Daughter Sushbir - with her son Kabeer - is making efforts to resurrect her famous father, reawaken a nation that has passed him by and introduce him to a new generation. There is a plan to establish a foundation in his name to harness talent in Punjab, among other endeavours which haven't been appropriated yet by corporate muscle. But Balbir Sr is okay with it. Typical of any elder, he good-naturedly gives in to the changed demands of an adoring family determined not to let his legacy go to seed in these legacy-spurning times. He says in his raspy, old-man's voice, wizened face smiling, that he's happy with his lot today. He may be 93 and mostly forgotten but he is still alert to understand that his suitcase of memories doesn't have to become his baggage too.

The Times of India



Balbir's family struggles to trace lost memorabilia gifted to SAI

NEW DELHI: Even as the Indian hockey team is getting ready for the battle in Rio, back home, a 93-year-old three-time hockey gold medallist is fighting his own battle - to regain his life-time medals which have gone "missing" due to official apathy.

Balbir Singh Senior will be making yet another visit to Delhi from Chandigarh after the Rio Games for meeting the authorities running sports in the country with the hope of getting at least some answer to a query he has been asking for four years.

Balbir's grandson Kabeer told TOI on Saturday that the hockey legend had donated his life-time medals, rare photographs and Melbourne Games jacket to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) way back in 1985 for a museum. The museum was never set up and years later, there's no trace the items donated by Balbir.

"Barring the Olympic medals, he gave it away all - totalling 36 - to SAI at the Nehru Stadium for a museum. He had given it in the hope that the museum would help the people to know about the rich heritage of sports in the country and inspire youngsters," Kabeer said.

Balbir forgot about it once he donated the items for the proposed museum, but he was in for a rude shock when his family approach SAI to borrow the Melbourne Olympic jacket for display by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the London 2012 Games. "The other Olympic jackets were donated to other charities. So we approached SAI in 2012 for the Melbourne jacket. They said they will search for it but soon it was forgotten. We again contacted SAI in 2014 when the International Hockey Federation (FIH) wanted the jacket for permanent display in its museum in London, but they again said they are searching for it."

Kabeer said that through RTI queries, SAI finally admitted later that they had received the items from Balbir and had handed over to National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala. "Probably they were trying to pass the buck," said the legend's grandson. Kabeer said if Balbir's proposed meeting with sports minister Vijay Goel fails to yield any result, they might move court over the matter. "The items are not something we want to keep with our family. They are for the people of India. They are for the future generation of hockey. My grandfather played with pride for the country. It was his team which helped a newly independent India unfurl the Tricolour in all its glory in London in 1948, beating England in the final. These items are of sentimental value. You can't lose them just like that."

The Times of India



There's gender bias in Olympic selection: Ritu Rani

Manuja Veerappa & Prajwal Hegde

Ritu Rani, India's inspirational former women's hockey captain, was dropped from the Olympics-bound squad on grounds of attitude and fitness. But the former men's skipper Sardar Singh, accused of rape, appears to enjoy the support of the mandarins of sport and made the Rio cut. The tale of the two captains reeks of gender bias.

What's left to talk?" Ritu Rani asked, the shattered shards of her long-cherished dream scattered around her. The 24-year old's kit bag, as yet unpacked, lies in a crowded room of her home in Shahbad, Haryana, a town on the banks of the Markanda river. After practice on the morning of July 6, Ritu was told she was not part+ of the team that would travel to Rio for the Olympics and was free to leave the camp (at the Sports Authority of India, south centre, Bengaluru) whenever she wanted. The former India captain left that very evening, her heart weighing more than her considerable luggage.

Ritu, of slight build and steely will, who led the Indian women's hockey team until three weeks ago, was instrumental in the side qualifying for the quadrennial extravaganza for the first time ever. "As much as I love the sport, I don't know if I have it in me to pick up the stick again," Ritu told STOI. "The Olympic dream was all that I had. Now I don't know if I'll play again."

The difference in the way Sardar and I have been treated is an indication that they feel differently about women players. One senior player was protected, while the other is humiliated.
Ritu Rani

Ritu, central midfielder and the anchor of her side, was handed the unkindest cut; hers is the tale of a system and fraternity failing an athlete. On the other hand, there is Sardar Singh , captain of the men's team until three weeks ago, who will travel to Rio despite facing serious allegations, because it appears he enjoys the backing of Hockey India (HI). The 30-year-old serves as a deputy superintendent with the Haryana Police. A recipient of Padma Shri, Sardar was accused of criminal intimidation and rape earlier this year by a British-Asian hockey player, who claimed she was his fiance.

The typically patriarchal HI simply relieved Sardar of captaincy so that he could 'focus on his game'. The gifted Sardar is not a first-time offender; in 2011 he along with Sandeep Singh walked out of the national camp. They were charged with indiscipline and handed two-year bans. The duo then tendered unconditional apologies and was promptly allowed back into the side.

But Ritu's engagement to singer and disc jockey Harsh Sharma on June 12 was cited as a distraction and the 5ft 2' midfielder, weighing 52 kilos, was dropped from the team on grounds of "fitness and attitude".

HI president Narinder Batra points at form. "There are five to six changes in the men's team that has gone to Rio from the one which helped us qualify at the Asian Games in 2014. It is unfair to talk about bias. It is about how you perform on the day. If you have been playing well for 10 years, but not playing well when you are required, then coaches have to take a call."

Sardar refused to comment to STOI on captaincy or making the Olympic cut before enplaning for Rio. Ritu, heartbroken, held nothing back.

"The difference in the way Sardar and I have been treated is an indication that they feel differently about women players," a tearful Ritu says. "The charges made against Sardar are serious, but Hockey India has protected him. Although they stripped him of captaincy, they recognized the value he brings to the team and retained him. They threw allegations of immaturity, indiscipline and attitude problem at me. One senior player was protected, while the other is humiliated."

SAME OLD STORY

This tale of two of India's hockey captains reeks of a bias, stemming from the way society views the female athlete - despite all the strides made by PT Usha down to Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza - she is considered very much the outsider.

Sports and performance psychologist Dr Shree Advani calls Ritu 'a hero'. "Even in the age of two working parents, it's assumed that the woman will cook dinner when she returns home. We need to introspect as a society, understand the bias and then act on it. What happened to Ritu should never have happened to a champion athlete."

Ritu, who was recommended for the Arjuna Award as recently as May, was part of the Olympic contingent invited to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, days before she was told her services wouldn't be required. What about her form or attitude changed within a matter of days?

NO SETTLING

Sports psychologist Dr Chaithanya Sridhar, while questioning the timing of Ritu's ouster so close to the Olympics, which would affect the morale of the side, says women 'needed to be smarter'. "I have to question the timing of her engagement. Of all the days on the calendar, did she have to pick a time in the lead-up to Rio to get engaged?" asks Dr Sridhar. "We (women) need to be smarter, especially when we are faced with these biases. On the other hand, if the authorities felt she was distracted they should've spoken to her earlier and got her back on track. You can't drop your main player days before the team leaves for the Olympics."

Ashwini Nachappa, the glamorous trackstar of the 80s, now a champion of athlete's causes, took it a step further. "I didn't face any discrimination," she says, pausing before adding, "because I didn't allow people to discriminate against me.I've always stood my ground. We have to back ourselves. One of the reasons for starting Clean Sports India was to give athletes a platform to air their grievances."

Ashwini rues the fact that most of the present generation was too concerned about their place in the side, because of which were hesitant to back each other.

Sport in India is still largely viewed as an all-boys club, more so the team events where the men completely overshadow women. So much so that Ritu's exit from the national side was viewed as natural progression, even by some of the male players, who asked not to be named. She had already had a long and successful career, she led India's charge in gaining an historic qualifying berth, now she could 'settle' down and be the playmaker of her own family.

"Is that surprising?" Chaithanya asks of the attitude, which recently trended on social media when a TV anchor asked Sania, the world number 1 doubles player, when she was going to 'settle down'. "I was watching that interview and I was wondering what was going on, but the truth is that it is the prevailing attitude. You can win what you want but if you are not 'settled down' with child and family, you are in no man's land."

As things stand, the 'unsettled' phase of young Ritu's life is perhaps over, she can now settle down.

The Times of India



Sailors cruise past Vikings as Bay Club see off Parklands

Macharia, Ochieng goals hand women’s league debutants sweet victory at City Park Stadium.

By BRIAN YONGA


Jacinta Masila (left) of Vikings and Margaret Macharia of Amira Sailors during their Kenya Hockey Union Women's league match at City Park Stadium on July 31, 2016. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Newcomers Amira Sailors on Sunday upset Vikings 2-0 in a Kenya Hockey Union women’s premier league match at City Park Stadium, Nairobi.

Goals either side of halftime from Margarete Macharia and Pauline Ochieng were enough to hand the Sailors their first win of the season.

In the men’s premier league, Bay Club recovered from a 10-0 thrashing at the hands of Sikh Union Nairobi on Saturday evening to see of Parklands 2-0 yesterday at the same venue. Wazalendo Youth were also in imperious form, beating visiting Kabarak University 7-0 in men’s second tier league.

Sailors coach Linet Atieno was in jovial mood after the three points and urged her charges to carry the momentum to their upcoming matches.

“We started the match on a high note and our wingers gave us an outlet when our opponents flooded the midfield. The team can only get better and we are looking to finish in a good position this season,” Atieno said on Sunday.

Sailors were frustrated by Kenyatta University in their opening match which ended goalless last weekend.  Against Vikings, Sailors got off to a blistering start with Merryl Omondi and Jedidah Zawadi dangerous on the wings.

The newcomers were the first to create the game’s first opportunity as striker Leah Omwandho failed to connect with Lorraine Nondi’s cross on the quarter hour mark. Sailors continued to ask questions of Vikings defence and were eventually rewarded in the 26th minute.

SCORED FIELD GOAL

A well worked move saw Nondi feed Zawadi on the right and the latter beat two Vikings defenders before setting up Macharia who looped the ball past Vikings keeper Winnie Kiprop.

The goal stung Vikings and they went forward in search of an equaliser. They were almost levelled three minutes before the break as Charity Juma’s shot hit the Sailors left post to relief of the latter’s keeper.

Sailors added the second goal in the 51st minute through another field goal as Ochieng beat Kiprop at her near post. Vikings were dominant in the last 10 minutes but were undone by poor finishing.

In an earlier match, goals from Brian Luchetu and Austine Otieno sunk Parklands as Kisumu-based Bay Club collected their first win of the season.

“I think we gave too much room to play and were not very clinical in the chances we created. We need to work on our mentality in the coming games,” Vikings coach Clyde Mbaha said.

In an earlier match, goals from Brian Luchetu and Austine Otieno sunk Parklands as Kisumu based Bay Club collected their first win of the season. Luchetu sounded the board in the 24th minute to give his side a half time lead before Otieno made the points with the game’s second goal in the 56th minute.

Bay were on the end of a 10-0 hiding on Saturday on their first match back after a one-year absence from the top flight league.

Daily Nation



No players from India in MHL this year

by S. Ramaguru

KUALA LUMPUR: It is unofficial. Hockey India are not releasing any of their players to take part in this season’s Malaysia Hockey League (MHL).

To date, only Premier Division side Sapura have registered one Indian player – midfielder Gurbaj Singh. But it is learnt that the former international is unable to get a release letter from Hockey India.

In the past, Indian players were a regular fixture in the league.

Malaysian Hockey Confederation chief executive officer K. Logan Raj said it is a must for foreign players  taking part in the MHL to get a release letter.

“There is no exception. All the teams who have registered the foreign players must ensure that they get the release letters from their respective associations before the league starts,” said Logan.

On Hockey India refusing to release their players for MHL, Logan said: “It’s an internal matter. It does not affect our league at all.”

It’s learnt that there is a friction between MHC and Hockey India. It started during the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in March. Then, MHC technical director Terry Walsh gave an interview to an Indian newspaper criticising Hockey India during his stint as coach in India from 2013-2014.

Following the article, Hockey India pressed the MHC to take action against Walsh. When MHC refused to do so, Hockey India withdrew their team from the Sultan of Johor Cup in Johor Baru from Oct 31-Nov 6.

The Star of Malaysia

Statement by the Malaysian Hockey Confederation

With reference to the article in The Star today (1/8/2016), we are disheartened to note several allegations which are clearly not true.

It is reported that there is a rift between MHC and Hockey India, existing from a statement issued by MHC Technical Director Terry Walsh at the recent Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. While the MHC does not deny the statement, it also is of the stand that Terry's opinions were purely personal, and does not represent the views of MHC.

MHC maintains that it has a solid relationship with Hockey India. MHC President has also the intention to visit India and hold discussions with the administrators of HI, to further strengthen this relationship.

Secondly, the reason for India's withdrawal from the upcoming SOJC was reiterated in numerous articles. Yet, it is so often associated to the incident above, despite the matter bring clarified by both HI and MHC repeatedly. An excerpt from The Hindu, states the following:

'Hockey India has decided to withdraw the National junior team from the annual Sultan of Johor Cup to be held later this year, citing injury concerns.

The Junior World Cup is to be held in India from December 1 to 11 and Hockey India believes there is little time to recover in case of an injury. “We do not want to risk our campaign in the Junior World Cup,” a Hockey India official confirmed. India has been part of the tournament in all the previous editions."

Another excerpt of news from News18, citing HI President, Dr.Batra also clearly represents what is needlessly practiced here:

'Batra stood his ground when asked about the same.
"The two issues are being needlessly mixed. It has nothing to do with each other. As I have said, we can't tolerate anyone trying to demean us, especially when holding an official position with the host of a tournament, which is in direct breach of FIH Code of Conduct.

"We have also conveyed it to FIH that it is unacceptable," the HI president said before clarifying his stand on SOJC withdrawal.

"Not playing the Johor Cup is purely based on the change of dates. We have now changed our plans and confirmed participation of our junior team for a tournament in Spain this October," he added.

MHC wish to state that there is no rift between HI and MHC. And any decision by HI, whether to participate in a tournament or allow its players to take part in our League, remains the prerogative of HI. It will in no way affect our preparation or goals.

MHC has and is working tirelessly to ensure their image is rightfully protected. Whilst we accept criticism and endeavour to learn from our mistakes, we do not take baseless allegations and intentional efforts to tarnish our image, lightly. We are in consult with our Legal Committee and legal advisors. We will not hesitate to take the appropriate legal action if the accusations written are found to be baseless and tarnishes MHC's image in any way.

 



‘The A-Team’: Field hockey family finds success

Halifax relatives turn tradition into gold with Atlantic Cup final win

BEN COUSINS


Team Ottawa player Kyra Lee chases Steven Andrew of team Andrew during final game play of the Atlantic Cup Field Hockey tournament at Huskies Stadium on Sunday.

For the Andrews family of Halifax, this weekend’s field hockey tournament has become a tradition.

Every year for nearly 30 years, members of the extended family have competed in the Atlantic Cup, an annual field hockey tournament held by Field Hockey Nova Scotia.

The family, known as “the A-Team,” have had a ton of success in the event as well, winning the tournament more times than any other team combined.

“For one reason or another, the family just has great chemistry,” said Mike Bonin, one of the players on the A-Team. “It’s in our genes and we’re really lucky that we’re able to win some of these tournaments.”

This year was no exception. They beat the Outaouais Field Hockey Club from Ottawa 2-0 in the Atlantic Cup finals Sunday afternoon at Saint Mary’s University.

“The competition was awesome,” said Bonin. “It was a great opportunity for local people and people from away to re-kindle old relationships and play some really good field hockey.”

Co-ed teams of all ages from as far away as Alberta came to Halifax for the two-day tournament. Players from 12 different countries participated in the event.

Teams played two 20-minute halves with a five-minute break in between.

“It’s always special when you get to play with your family,” Shane Rajaraman. “Luckily for us, we have a lot of athletes in our family.”

Rajaraman has been a member of the Canadian indoor field hockey team for four years and is also Atlantic Canada’s top field hockey player.

Two sisters on the team, Sharon Rajaraman and Linda Bonin, coach the Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie field hockey teams, respectively.

“There’s a friendly rivalry between the two sisters,” said Mike.

In the final, the A-Team carried play for the majority of the game, but struggled to capitalize on their chances.

Shane finally put one past the Outaouais goalie late in the first half off a scramble.

Mike would add the insurance marker mid-way through the second half off a deflection. The team was able to cruise from there to take the title.

Outaouais only had a couple of scoring chances in the entire game. Fatigue may have played a factor as they had just come off a semifinal overtime match immediately before playing the final.

While field hockey might be Canada’s “other hockey,” the country is no slouch in the sport. The men’s team has qualified for the Olympics and ranks 15th in the world.

The same team won a silver medal in last year’s Pan American Games in Toronto.

The Chronicle Herald

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