News for 08 November 2016
All the news for Tuesday 8 November 2016
Close encounter for Scots women but the Irish emerge victorious
Scotland`s women went down 2-0 to Ireland in the first of three test matches in Glasgow, part of the preparation for the World League round two in Valencia early next year.
There was little between the teams in terms of possession and balance of play, but Ireland`s opportunism in the circle provided the two goals that were to divide the sides in the end.
The Scots were almost donated a goal in the opening minutes but neither Amy Brodie nor Becky Merchant were able to take advantage.
In a fairly even first half Ireland`s lethal finishing was the difference between the teams, captain Kathryn Mullan and Emma Russell both scored as the Scottish defence failed to clear their lines.
The Scots had their opportunities, Nikki Lloyd failed to test the goalkeeper at a penalty corner routine and Merchant had a chance just on the interval but sent her deflection wide of the target.
The Scots opened the second half the brighter side and chances fell to Jen Eadie and Merchant but the Irish goalkeeper was equal to the task.
The Irish began to dominate the latter stages and won four penalty corners, but there was no addition to their tally.
Near the end Brodie waltzed past three defenders but her eventual shot did not match her skill and the opportunity was gone.
The second match is tomorrow at Glasgow Green.
Scottish Hockey Union media release
The Irish Hockey Association reported on this match yesterday.
Slough and Surbiton set to lock horns in Investec Women's Cup
Clifton celebrate with their fans after winning the Investec Womens Cup in 2015-16.
The Road to Lee Valley took another step this weekend with the third round of the Investec Women’s Cup taking place on Sunday.
With plenty of goals around the places in the quarter finals were keenly contested but when the dust settled, some big names remain in the hunt for silverware.
Surbiton, winners in 2014 and 2015 booked their place in the next round with a dominant 11-1 win over Maidenhead. Giselle Ansley, who scored twice in the league on Saturday, helped herself to a hat-trick inside the first 20 minutes. Rebecca Middleton also bagged a treble as the league champions sent a warning to the rest of the competition.
Bowdon Hightown, who scooped the silverware in this competition in 2013 were also big winners, netting five times against Liverpool Sefton with Lisa Garbutt grabbing a hat-trick in a 5-1 win.
Holders Clifton Robinsons, regular visitors en masse to Lee Valley made it through with Claire Thomas and Zoe Leach firing them to a 2-1 win over Stourport.
Fellow Investec Women’s Premier Division outfit Slough are into the quarter finals after a 2-0 win over Conference side Loughborough Students.
Goal machine Sophie Robinson struck twice for Beeston against Bath Buccaneers in a 3-0 win and Barnes beat Boots, also 3-0, with all the goals coming in the first half. Sevenoaks were indebted to Susie Rowe as her penalty corner steered them to a 1-0 win over Conference rivals Hampstead and Westminster. Ben Rhydding make up the final place last eight.
The draw took place this morning and has given rise to some interesting pairings. The eye-catching tie of the quarter finals is the all Investec Premier Division clash between Slough and Surbiton. The sides met this past weekend in the Investec Women’s Premier Division with Giselle Ansley’s goals winning it 2-0 for the Sugden Road side.
Beeston of the Investec Conference North take on Sevenoaks of the Investec Conference East whilst Clifton Robinsons make the journey to Ben Rhydding. Barnes will have to be at their best to beat top flight outfit Bowdon Hightown.
Ties take place on Sunday 17 February 2017. The full draw can be found here.
England Hockey Board Media release
Fergus Kavanagh announces retirement after 231 caps with the Kookaburras
Holly MacNeil
(Perth, Western Australia)– West Australian local Fergus Kavanagh has today announced he will retire from the Australian national hockey team, the Kookaburras, after a 231-game playing career which saw him win two Olympic Games bronze medals, two World Cup titles, two Commonwealth Games gold medals, a World League title and five Champions Trophy victories.
Kavanagh signs of an exceptional career in hockey on a high after winning Hockey Australia’s Player of the Year at the annual awards ceremony which was held in Perth last night.
Kavanagh, of Geraldton in WA, called time on his International playing career after debuting for the Kookaburras in 2007 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup against India on 5 May, with his last outing for the Kookaburras the quarter finals of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games against the Netherlands.
The 31-year-old first picked up a hockey stick at the age of eight, following in the footsteps of his older brother Tom. Fergus progressed quickly through the hockey world, with his Dad regularly making the trip from Geraldton to Perth to take him to training sessions.
A year after his debut for the Kookaburras, the world class defender was selected for his first Olympic Games at the age of 23, where the Australian men’s hockey team won an Olympic bronze medal.
Of the experience, Kavanagh said: “I have been part of a great team for a long time, with lots of proud moments. Personally, for me, one of my proudest moments was on the Olympic podium in Beijing with my family and friends watching in the stadium. In terms of the team, the proudest moment I had with the Kookaburras was winning the 2014 World Cup.”
Kavanagh went on to become a stalwart of the Kookaburras, celebrating his 200th cap in game one of the World League semi-final in Antwerp in 2015, where the Kookaburras delivered a crushing 10 – nil defeat to France.
Triple Olympian Kavanagh commented on his retirement: “For ten years the Kookaburras have been a huge part of my life and the most important thing for me, but now I have reached a point in my life where I want to do other things and I know that it is the right time for me to step away from the Kookaburras.”
Thanking his inner network for their support during his Kookaburras career, Kavanagh said: “I would like to thank my parents and brother for their support, especially during my junior days when my Dad had to drive me from Geraldton to Perth twice a week for training. Also, to my Irish family who would travel around the world and come to our tournaments, even although it made it pretty confusing for opposition fans - Aussie fans with Irish accents!
“I would like to acknowledge the University of Western Australia and the Fogarty Foundation for their support during my Engineering / Commerce degree. Their support allowed me to successfully combine hockey and study.
“Finally, I would like to thank my girlfriend Adinda, who has been a great support over the last few years and moved to Australia for the Rio Olympic preparation to support me; along with all the coaches I have had throughout the years, especially Paul Gaudoin, Graham Reid, Ric Charlesworth, and Barry Dancer.”
Commenting on Fergus’ retirement, Kookaburras interim head coach, Paul Gaudoin said: “Fergus will certainly go down as a legend within Australian hockey. He has been a part of arguably the most successful period in Australian men’s hockey history, and is regarded around the world as the best tackler of the past decade thanks to his speed, agility and craft.
“Fergus has a presence which will be missed within the squad, and we wish him all the best for everything he does in the future.”
Although Fergus has retired from Australian international hockey, he will continue to play for Amsterdam in the Dutch league where he plans to settle down with his girlfriend.
FERGUS KAVANAGH CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Debut Game: May 5, 2007 Australia 1 – 0 India at Azlan Shah Cup
Final Game: August 14, 2016 Australia 0 – 4 Netherlands at Rio Olympic Games
2007 – Makes his debut
2008 – Member of the bronze medal winning team at the Beijing Olympics, as well as the winning Champions Trophy Team
2009 – Wins a second consecutive Champions Trophy
2010 – Wins his first Commonwealth Games gold medal, and third Champions Trophy
2011 – Member of the winning Kookaburras Champions Trophy team
2012 – Wins a second bronze Olympic medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, along with a fifth Champions Trophy title
2014 – Won the World Cup in Hague in front of family & friends; as well as a second Commonwealth Games medal in Glasgow
2015 - In the Kookaburras World League winning team
2016 – Concludes his playing career by competing in the Rio Olympic Games where the Kookaburras finished in sixth position.
Hockey Australia media release
Kenny and Kavanagh crowned Players of the Year
Athlete Awards held in Perth last night
Holly MacNeil
The Hockey Australia annual athlete awards took place in Perth on Monday evening, with Jodie Kenny and Fergus Kavanagh crowned the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras Players of the Year.
For Kavanagh, it capped of a tremendous career which saw him reach 231 caps for the Kookaburras over a ten-year international playing career. For Kenny, it was a back to back win after she was named the Hockeyroos Player of the Year in 2015.
Kenny, who is currently taking some time out in Queensland, commented: “I would have loved to have been there tonight to collect this amazing award, as it’s something that I’m extremely proud of. It was a tough year both physically and mentally, and now that I’ve had time to reflect it makes me appreciate it even more.
“To take out this award twice in a row, when there are so many high-quality players in the team is an absolute privilege, and I have my team and my coaching staff to thank for continually pushing me to be my best.”
The awards for top goal scorers of the year were also awarded this evening, with retiree and Kookaburras most capped player Jamie Dwyer taking out the award after scoring a massive 21 goals through-out the year’s competition. It was a tie for the women’s top goal scorer, with Crookwell’s Emily Smith and South Stirling’s Kathryn Slattery taking away the title on 13 goals each.
Rachael Lynch and Tristan Clemons were awarded the inaugural Personal Excellence Award – a new award for off-field success in either study, work or community activities, coupled with their diligence in their approach to their hockey, and their teammates and coaches.
Both winners received a cash donation which will go to the charity of their choice, with Lynch choosing R U OK? and Clemons choosing the Fiona Wood Foundation.
Hockey Australia Chief Executive Cam Vale said: “It has been an incredible year for Australian hockey, with the Champions Trophy and Rio Olympic Games taking place. We have some of the best players in the world at the moment, and after such a busy year it’s fantastic that we get to take some time out to celebrate their achievements.
“I would like to personally congratulate Jodie and Fergus on winning Player of the Year for the Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras, as well as to congratulate the other award winners, and all athletes and coaches for their dedication, work and the time away from family and friends that they have put into hockey this year.”
The evening also incorporated the Perth leg of the Hockey Australia Hall of Fame, with Roslyn Noel, Stephen Davies, Jenn Morris and Gordon Pearce all honoured with their induction into the Hall of Fame at tonight’s event to recognise their achievements within the sport.
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductions, John Leece was also honoured with an Award of Merit, while Rechelle Hawkes who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010 was awarded with Legend Status. This new award goes to those who have already been inducted in to the Hall of Fame and shows the extraordinary achievements they have made in going above and beyond to promote the sport of Hockey.
Full List of Award winners:
Kookaburras Player of the Year
Fergus Kavanagh
Hockeyroos Player of the Year
Jodie Kenny
Kookaburras Top Goal Scorer
Jamie Dwyer
Hockeyroos Top Goal Scorer
Emily Smith and Kathryn Slattery
Inaugural Personal Excellence Award
Rachael Lynch and Tristan Clemons
Hall of Fame Inductees
Stephen Davies
Jenn Morris
Roslyn Noel (nee Fisher)
Gordon Pearce
Award of Merit
John Leece
Legend Status
Rechelle Hawkes
The Hockey Australia Hall of Fame luncheon will take place in Melbourne on November 25, with further inductees Colleen Quinn, Katrina Powell, Kenneth Wark Jr and Gregory Browning to be inducted. Margaret Ryan and Michael Craig will be awarded with Life Member Status, while Dr Ric Charlesworth will be awarded with Legend Status.
Tickets for the event in Melbourne are still available via: https://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=232766
Hockey Australia media release
Sultan of Johor Cup: Junior team in demand after impressive showing
By Nabil Tahir
Pakistan reached the SOJC final for the first time in their history and that has seen them get invited to several countries for friendlies. PHOTO COURTESY: SOJC
KARACHI: Pakistan’s impressive showing at the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC), where they finished runners-up after losing 3-1 to pre-tournament favourites Australia in the final, has impressed many onlookers and leaves the Colts as one of the world’s most in-demand hockey teams.
Head coach Tahir Zaman, speaking to The Express Tribune from Malaysia, revealed that no big team wanted to play friendlies against the Greenshirts before the tournament but teams are now inviting them to play practice matches after their SOJC performances.
With the junior hockey World Cup set to take place in India next month, Zaman had been trying hard to arrange friendlies for the side.
“I started contacting coaches of the top teams in order to try and arrange practice matches before the World Cup begins but no one was ready to play against a low-ranked team like ours,” he said.
“As our players were inexperienced, no country wanted to waste their time right before the World Cup,” he said. “Therefore we had to settle for matches against club sides from Netherlands and then played Spain.”
Zaman also discussed how participating in the SOJC helped his players. “When we came here, our players were afraid of playing against Australia since they are the top-ranked team and they felt they couldn’t compete against them,” he said. “This resulted in us losing 8-1. But once we understood how the Australians played, we did better in the final.”
The improved performances didn’t go unnoticed. “The top teams always ignored my requests for practice matches, citing tight schedules,” he revealed. “But that has changed now and coaches of various teams, including Germany’s, have been in touch for a practice match.”
With the World Cup around the corner, the players will now be going into a three-week training camp where they will be looking to polish their skills.
“We have to further improve our tactical awareness since that is the team’s biggest strength,” he said. “Our players tend to have good positional awareness and usually stay where they are asked to stay.”
World Cup in India
Cross-border tension has seen India reject several sporting visas for Pakistan, including the kabaddi team not being given visas for the World Cup in India, but Zaman feels the Greenshirts will not suffer the same fate.
He believes Pakistan have proven they are still one of the giants of the game and teams do not want them to miss out on the tournament over political issues.
“The Pakistan-India clash is the one everyone around the world will be waiting to watch, the International Hockey Federation cannot afford to have a World Cup without Pakistan,” he said, before adding that they are only focusing on training.
The Express Tribune
SUBAHAN: I'll propose for MHC Under-21 Invitational
By Jugjet Singh
Subahan Kamal
MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal was perplexed on why the Johor HA president Datuk Md Jais Sarday came out with a statement hitting the parent body, as every matter pertaining to the Sultan of Johor Cup had been explained to the state.
And after replying to all the allegations, Subahan said he will propose to the MHC Executive Board to organise their own Under-21 International Invitation next year.
"I am shocked with the allegations made by the Johor HA president on MHC not being serious about preparing a team for the tournament, on sanction fees, on TV rights and on MHC officials not coming to Johor to watch the matches.
"As all these had been explained to the JHA representatives who are also also on MHC.
"For starters, JHA have yet to pay MHC the US$5,000 sanction fee that they had agreed to, prior to the tournament. So, I'm shocked that it has been brought up at the end of the tournament, as we had already explained the need for a sanction fee to the council and the JHA deputy president, who is also MHC vice-president, Datuk Manjit (Majid Abdullah) was present during the briefing.
"I don't know what he briefed his president, or did he (Manjit) brief his president at all."
On MHC not being serious in preparing a team for the SOJC, Subahan agreed in totality.
"Yes, we were not serious about preparing an under-21 team for the SOJC but because this batch is not our focus right now. Maybe one or two will make the senior cut, but the rest will not be able to help Malaysia in the next junior world cup.
"Yes MHC were not serious about this team because they did not qualify for the Lucknow (Junior) World Cup (in December).
"The Technical Director (Terry Walsh) and the coaching set-up are more focused on the present Under-21 team coached by Nor Saiful Zaini and the various 1Mas Under-16 teams which will form the base for the next (JWC) qualifier and the tournament itself," said Subahan.
Subahan then said the sanction fee, as well as money from TV rights is not for MHC, but to be channelled back to the states.
"On Sunday, we gave Negri Sembilan HA RM50,000 for completing their League. This money came from our TV sponsors Astro and main sponsors Tenaga Nasional.
"We had promised every state RM50,000 and have delivered to most after they organise their League. Johor HA negotiated with RTM directly for the SOJC TV rights while our partner is Astro.
"That's their right, but had it been Astro, the money would have been channelled back to the states. I aim to give ever state RM100,000 for their development programmes before my term is over and one way to do it is to host our own Under-21 International tournament.
"Johor (who collected RM1.4 million in sponsorship for the Sixth Edition of the SOJC), made at least RM1 million from the tournament and I believe when the MHC host their own junior invitational, we will be able to collect the same amount and this will in turn be channelled back to the states for development," said Subahan.
The proposed name is MHC Under-21 International Invitational, and Subahan is dead serious about organising a rival to the SOJC.
"And on MHC 'melepaskan batuk di tangga' (sending their representatives to the SOJC and not the big guns) on attending the SOJC, I would like to state that when I can make it, I do attend tournaments all over the country and overseas.
"But when I can't due to my work schedule, as I am also a businessman and have to work for my bread-and-butter, my representatives attend.
"For the SOJC, deputy president George Koshy and vice-president Datuk Ow Soon Kooi did go to Johor for the SOJC," said Subahan.
Jugjet's World of Field Hockey
Punjab to face Western Railways in semifinals
Sarabjit Singh
Action from the match between Army XI and CRPF in Jalandhar on Monday.
Jalandhar: Punjab will take on Western Railways, while Haryana will face North Central Railways in the women’s semifinals in the 33rd Surjit Memorial hockey tournament.
In a women’s league match, Western Railways beat Central Railways 3-2. In the men’s section, Army XI beat CRPF 5-1, while Punjab National Bank qualified for the semifinals after beating Air India 3-2. PNB scored through Gagandeep Singh Jr (15th minute), Inderpal Singh (50th) and Gagandeep Singh Sr (56th), while Air India got their goals through Nitish Kiro (21st) and Osaf Rehman (36th).
The Tribune
Field Hockey Wins NESCAC Championship
Jumbos will make their first NCAA tourney appearance since 2013 when they host the second and third rounds this weekend
By Paul Sweeney
The Tufts field hockey team, the 2016 conference champions, will start their NCAA tournament run this weekend on their home turf. Photo: Anna Miller
The Tufts field hockey team punched its ticket into the NCAA Division III Championship on Nov. 6 by winning the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title with a 3-1 victory over Middlebury College on the Jumbos’ home turf, Ounjian Field.
The Jumbos (16-2) will make their ninth NCAA appearance and their first since 2013 when they host the second and third rounds of the Division III championship this weekend at Ounjian Field.
This Saturday, Nov. 12, the team will meet the winner of Wednesday’s first-round game between the University of Maine at Farmington (13-4) and the University of New England (19-3).
The Division III second-round winners will play in the third round on Nov. 13, with a berth into the NCAA Final Four on the line. The Division III semi-finals and championship game will be played Nov. 19-20 on the campus of William Smith College in Geneva, New York.
Forward Shannon Yogerst, A20, sprints up field during the NESCAC field hockey finals on Nov. 6, when Tufts defeated Middlebury, 3-1, to capture the championship title. Photo: Anna Miller
The NESCAC win over Middlebury was the second conference crown for head coach Tina McDavitt Mattera’s Jumbos; the first was in 2009. Leading the team to victory were senior Annie Artz, who scored two goals, and classmate Nicole Arata, who notched two assists.
Tufts went ahead quickly after earning a penalty corner opportunity just one minute into the game. They executed it perfectly, with the insert by junior Mary Travers going to junior Celia Lewis. She passed to Arata, who sent the ball to Artz in front, and her shot was deflected by a Middlebury defender into the goal just 1:28 into the game.
The Panthers’ first good scoring opportunity came in the fifth minute when a shot by sophomore Grace Jennings was saved by Tufts sophomore keeper Emily Polinski. Seconds later, Jennings took an aerial shot that was just wide left of the cage.
The Jumbos received another corner with 25 minutes on the clock and scored again on a similar play. With Travers inserting, her pass to Lewis was sent to Arata, who found Travers at the right post to give Tufts a 2-0 lead at 10:30 of the first half.
Middlebury senior goalie Emily Miller kept the margin at 2-0 with a trio of saves in a matter of seconds late in the first half on strong attempts by Tufts junior Mary Kate Patton, Lewis and Travers.
The Panthers earned their only corner of the first half as time expired, but could not put a shot on goal.
Shots were 6-3 in favor of Tufts in the first half, while the Jumbos had three corners to Middlebury’s one. Miller made three saves in the opening 35 minutes; Polinski made two.
Middlebury cut the lead in half at 11:32 into the second period. Sophomore Molly Freeman found Jennings open in the left side of the circle. Polinski was screened, and Jennings’ shot slipped past her into the right side of the cage, making it 2-1.
The Jumbos responded immediately by earning a corner, but Arata’s shot was saved nicely by Miller.
The Panthers played short-handed most of the remaining 18 minutes because of penalties. They were whistled for four in the second half and five overall.
A great individual effort by Travers set up Tufts’ insurance goal with 5:34 to go in the second half. With strong stick work, she created her own shot and sent one that was deflected into the air where Artz knocked it home for the 3-1 Jumbo advantage.
Neither team had another shot after that, and the Jumbos soon rushed the field to celebrate their first conference crown in seven seasons.
Tufts finished with a 13-4 advantage in shots and 7-1 on corners (4-0 in second half). Polinski finished with two saves, while her counterpart, Miller, recorded five.
Tufts Now
Hockey India president Narinder Batra ready to make a continental drift
Hockey India president will face stiff challenge from European counterparts, but says he has covered all bases for FIH president polls.
Written by Mihir Vasavda
If he wins the election, Batra will become the first Asian president of the international hockey federation. File photo
In the last one month, Narinder Batra has jet-setted across 50 countries. And by this weekend, he hopes to have ticked each of the 67 nations on his list. “Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America… On some days, I’ve had breakfast in one country, lunch in another and slept in third, especially in Europe,” he says.
It’s a campaign blitz Batra has been forced to launch as he challenges the European domination of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). In its 92-year history, there has never been an Asian FIH president. In the immediate past, all FIH heads have been Europeans – Rene Frank, Etienne Glichitch, Juan Antonio Calzado, Els van Breda Vriesman and the outgoing Leandro Negre.
Batra says the continent has passed a resolution in September which says that each member nation should vote for a European candidate during the election in Dubai on November 12. In this case, the candidate Europe has backed for the president’s post is the seasoned Irish administrator David Balbirnie. Batra’s other rival is Australia’s Ken Read, another veteran FIH hand who has been involved in various capacities—forming rules to conducting events —for nearly two decades. “In that sense, I am the unknown person among the three. David and Ken are both very experienced. They have been interacting with FIH members for at least a decade or two. I have been involved for just 2-3 years and don’t know more than 15-20 members,” says Batra, who can become only the third Indian to head an international sports body at present, after Shashank Manohar (ICC) and N Ramachandran (squash).
But in his short stint as FIH’s executive board member, Batra – also the Hockey India president – says he has observed at the world body’s functioning closely, and points at some serious flaws – with revenue generation topping his list of concerns.
According to him, the combined worth of India and Holland is three times more than the FIH. “This year, our revenue was around $16 million and Holland’s was $14 million. On the other hand, FIH could generate just $10 million. That means there is something seriously wrong,” he says.
Over the years, Batra has been involved with Indian hockey in several capacities. But since being directly associated after the formation of Hockey India, he has changed the sport’s fortunes, turning India into the epicentre of world hockey and making Indian players financially independent.
Every year in the last four years, India has hosted a major international tournament. The Hockey India League (HIL) has become an important fixture in the global calendar, luring top players from world over. Financially, too, the game has grown exponentially.
His candidature profile on the FIH website, Hockey India’s ‘income has grown from $500,000 to $14 million over the six-year period’ with Batra at the helm.
Globally, one of hockey’s biggest sponsor is an Indian automobile firm while Star Sports inked a Rs 1,500 crore broadcast deal with the FIH for eight years, running up to 2022. “I can contribute a lot in revenue generation at international level too. There’re markets in USA, China, Japan, Malaysia, Europe which we haven’t explored,” Batra says. “If we make the sport financially strong, then we can bring more countries to a competitive level, which is my other main goal.”
But there are fears that Batra’s reputation might precede him. He has been accused by many of ruling with an iron fist, primarily by the coaches who have travelled to India. Batra dismisses those allegations but says he won’t change his style if elected.
“My working style is straightforward. I can’t beat around the bush. If you talk sense, I am an easy person to work with. But if someone’s trying to be dishonest with me, then it’s tough. My style won’t change,” he says, reiterating that he has documents supporting his claim that allegations made by former coaches Terry Walsh and Paul van Ass against him were wholesomely false.
“If I have four years, I will try to bring hockey to an upper level with honesty and transparency. Whoever tries to stop the system from working smoothly will have to make way for others, simple as that.”
Frosty ties with Pakistan
His frosty relationship with Pakistan might cost him a crucial Asian vote. Batra had suspended bilateral ties after the incident during the 2014 Champions Trophy semifinal, when some of the Pakistani players misbehaved with the crowd and their Indian counterparts. But he is unperturbed. “Asia has stood strongly by me. Africa, Pan-Am as well,” says Batra.
Batra will hope the verbal support will translate to votes on November 12 . No Indian has ever managed the highest office of international hockey. Ashwani Kumar and MAM Ramaswamy served as the vice-presidents while KPS Gill made a failed attempt for the same position. Whether Batra bucks the trend, and also end European dominance in FIH, remains to be seen.
Indian Express