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All the news for Wednesday 1 November 2017

Women's Asia Cup 2017 Day 3

Pool A CHN v SIN 7 - 0
Pool A IND v MAS 2 - 0
Pool B KOR v KAZ 9 - 1
Pool B JPN v THA 7 - 1

Standings

Pool A

Pool B

FIH Results Centre

India's dramatic win over Malaysia

K. Arumugam



Rani Rampal's experience and adorable athleticism of Vandana Kataria came in time for India to post a laborious 2-0 victory over Malaysia in the third and last pool match here in Kakagimahara Asia Cup. The victory did not seem on cards for India in the first three quarters when it struggled against pressing Malaysia. Fortune changed for India in the last five minutes.

As speedying Rani sent a cross into the circle after a good left flank surge, equally fast Vandana Kataria dived full to deflect the aerial ball into the cage in the 54th minute (1-0). India, which got the control the match only in the fourth quarter, added another goal in the next minute when Gurjit Kaur drag-flicked the last of India's penalty corner (2-0) to deny hardworking Malaysians any relief.

India played a scrappy and faulty first three quarters where almost Malaysia held the sway. The fact that they got as many as six penalty corners compared to India's two vouchsafe for their dominance. However, Indian defence with Deep Grace Ekka, Neha Goel, Lilima Minz and Sunit Lakra stood like a rock of Gibraltor to deny the Malaysians any goal. Only time their goal went in was disallowed by Japan umpire Soma Chieko, which will be explained later.

India had terrific start, earning a penalty corner from the bully off, but Gurjit Kaur's powerful flick was predictable to Malaysian goalie Farah Yahya. She did not yield to Indian pressure almost first three quarters.

Shortly later, Japan umpire awarded another penalty corner for India as a result of a melee, but on seeing vociferous protest by Malaysian players he reversed her own decision.

At the stroke of first quarter, captain Rani asked for a foot, and thus another penalty corner, but her referral was turned down by the third umpire. But was allowed to keep the referral for another time.

Two minutes in the second quarter, Malaysia got its first penalty corner, the ball went in, celebrations started, but umpire did not allow the goal for slapping the ball in the indirect penalty try. It took for a while for the Malaysian girls to come to normal.

In the 20th minute, Navneet Kaur dodged two defenders to strike a shot at goal on the run, but Malaysian goalie blocked it.

The tenor and tune of the game changed midway through second quarter, Malaysia asserting better part of the proceedings.

"In the first three quarters, Malaysia gave us much space. Once we got the space, we indulged in holding the ball, dribbling. The old habits did not die. Once the girls realized goals are not coming, they returned to basics, single touch game start flowing. That's why we could play better in the last quarter", said Harendra who feels the team needs to improve on many areas.

Yesterday, Malaysian coach regretted over the absence of his main drag flicker, who did not get leave from her employer. This concern came to taunt him today, as Malaysia would not use any of the six hard-earned penalty corners.

Indian forwardline did not click, as hits, crash balls, and soft shots at goals were taken care of by the crowded Malaysian defence

With three wins in three matches, India expectedly tops the pool. Indian girls here in Kakagimahara is showing great fighting spirit having won all the three matches.

Stick2Hockey.com

Indian women enter quarterfinals after winning third straignt pool game

India beat Malaysia 2-0


(Hockey India Twitter handle)

The Indian women's hockey team recorded its third successive win in the Asia Cup, beating Malaysia 2-0 in the final pool game on Tuesday.

India go into the quarterfinals as table toppers with nine points. The late goals by Vandana Katariya (54th minute) and Gurjit Kaur (55) saw the team through against Malaysia.

In the previous match, India scored a 4-1 win over higher-ranked China.

The first quarter saw both teams play cautiously. With Malaysia playing defensive hockey, India waited patiently without making any unforced errors.

Having ended the first quarter in a stalemate, Malaysia put India on the back foot when they won the first PC of the match in the initial minutes of the second quarter. However, an alert Rajani Etimarpu made a brilliant save.

The next few minutes saw both teams trade PCs. While India earned one PC, Malaysia were awarded two but nothing came off it.

Both teams played out evenly in the third quarter too.

Another PC won by Malaysia was not capitalised by them, ending the third quarter too in a stalemate.

India held their nerve to turn the match around in the fourth quarter. First it was forward Katariya who scored a sensational field goal in the 54th minute.

The following minute saw drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur convert a PC, taking India s lead to 2-0 that put pressure on the Malaysians.

Malaysia made desperate attempts in the dying minutes of the match but the Indian defence held sway to emerge victorious

DNA

Malaysia go down fighting to India in Asia Cup Group A tie

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia did well to hold on until the last six minutes before going down fighting 2-0 to India in the women’s Asia Cup hockey tournament Group A match in Japan.

A Vandana Katariya field goal in the 54th minute and a Gurjit Kaur penalty corner goal a minute later sealed Malaysia’s fate at the Gifu Stadium in Kakamigahara yesterday.

Malaysia, thus, finished third in the group with one win and two losses.

Malaysia lost 5-4 to top-ranked China in the opening match last Saturday but they bounced back to outplay Singapore 8-0 on Monday.

India top the group with a 100% record – winning all three matches.

In an earlier match, China outplayed Singapore 7-0 to finish second in the group.

All eight teams will feature in the quarter-finals.

Malaysia will face Group B runners-up Japan for a place in the semi-finals tomorrow.

National coach K. Dharmaraj praised his team for playing their hearts out against India.

“This was the best match they’ve played since I took over in January last year,” he said.

“We were unfortunate against India as Siti Rahmah (Othman) converted a penalty corner in third quarter but the goal was disallowed by the umpire because we stopped the ball on the semi-circle line.

“The rules states that we must stop it outside the semi-circle.

“We continued pressuring India and were unlucky that two attempts by Siti Rahmah and Nur Syafiqah (Mohd Zain) hit the post.”

Four teams – China, South Korea, Japan and India – have already qualified for 2018 World Cup in London.

Malaysia must win this tournament to qualify for World Cup Finals.

The Star of Malaysia

Stats Speak: No competition in quarterfinals in Kakamigahara Women Asia Cup

By   B.G.Joshi (Sehore-Bhopal, India)

Top four of Asia China(World Ranking-8), South Korea(WR-9), Japan(WR-10) and India (WR-12)virtually have no opposition as they never lost to  quarter finals opponents in Asia Cup history.

Head to head of quarter finalists in Asia Cup:

 Top Four in Asia Cup (till date)

 *2017 is running

Fieldhockey.com

Punjab Police champs after 17 years

Rachna Khaira


Winners Punjab Police strike a pose after winning the Surjit hockey tournament. Malkiat Singh

Jalandhar: India strikers Ramandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh struck crucial goals to help Punjab Police defeat ONGC and win the Surjit Hockey Tournament after a gap of 17 years.

Punjab Police, who last won the title in 2000 and reached the final in 2004, beat first-time finalists ONGC 2-1 in the final here today. Both the teams started nervously, wasting crucial scoring opportunities in the first five minutes.

However, Ramandeep struck in the 16th minute to give Punjab Police the lead. This boosted their confidence and Punjab Police — who recruited Manpreet Singh, Akashdeep, Ramandeep, Sarvanjit Singh, Gurwinder Singh Chandi and Dharamvir Singh as DSPs earlier this year — started making continuous forays into the rival third. However, it took Punjab Police till the 48th minute to get the second goal, Akashdeep giving his team a cushion.

A thrilling battle ensued in the next few minutes as ONGC desperately searched for a goal. Diwakar Ram scored in the 65th minute but it was too late for ONGC to make a comeback into the game.  This is Punjab Police’s sixth title – they also won the tournament in 1985, 1986, 1995, 1997 and 2000.

The Tribune

Kumar’s presence a big boost for Negri

KUALA LUMPUR: Seasoned campaigner S. Kumar will be back to lead Negri Sembilan’s challenge in the Razak Cup hockey tournament, which will be held at Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh from Saturday.

The 38-year-old Tampin-born goalkeeper skipped the tournament last year with a hamstring injury.

Coach S. Chandran, who has been in charge of the Negri team for the last 10 years, admitted that Kumar’s presence would be a boost for the team.

“He is an experienced goalkeeper, who helped Malaysia finish fourth in the World Hockey League Semi-Finals in London (in June) and qualify for next year’s World Cup (in India),” said Chandran.

Negri will also have the services of national midfielder Mohd Marhan Mohd Jalil and former international K. Keevan Raj. Defender G. Kavin Kartik, who featured in the 2013 Junior World Cup in New Delhi, is also in the squad.

Negri will be fielding a mixed team of seniors and juniors.

Coach Chandran has also included four juniors – defender Mohd Ismady Alis, midfielder Luthfi Hasnizan and forwards Muhd Luqman Hakim Muhd Asri and Aiman Haqim Badrulhisaam. They will all feature in the Perak Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Ipoh next year.

Eight teams will feature in Division One of the Razak Cup tournament and Negri, who finished sixth last year, are in Group B with last year’s runners-up Police, Perak and Johor.

Defending champions Tereng­ganu are in Group A with Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Penang.

Chandran said that Negri have been set a semi-final target this time after the failing to reach the stage in the last two years.

The Star of Malaysia

2017 Indoor Pan American Cup – Canadian Team Reflections



Men’s team secures bronze medal with 5-2 win over Guyana

On October 16, the indoor national teams started their five-day final quest for 2018 World Cup qualification at the Indoor Pan American Cup in Georgetown, Guyana. With one bid available in each division, both national team coaches knew that qualifying would require the teams to deliver top-level performances throughout the entire tournament.

On the men’s side, coach Scott Sandison said, with the exception of one stretch in the Trinidad and Tobago game, his team performed very well all tournament long.

“The plan in that game was to play each quarter as individual quarters. If we could win each quarter, then we’d be in a good place,” Sandison said. “There were about one and half minutes in that game where the wheels just came off.”

Despite a disappointing 7-5 semi-final loss to the eventual champions, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada put together a strong finish defeating Guyana 5-2 in the bronze medal match. Rookie goal keeper, Adam Kapasi, delivered a standout performance en route to the victory.

“It was probably our best team performance of the week,” Sandison said. “We battled through the disappointment from the semifinals and Adam stepped up on a big stage.”

Ken Pereira reaches 400 CAPs and Jonathan Roberts recognized as tournament top player


Ken Pereira is the first person in FHC history to reach 400 CAPs. Yan Huckendubler/Pahf

The first game of the tournament marked a huge milestone for Ken Pereira. 400 international CAPs, the most by any Canadian field hockey player. Sandison said Pereira is an inspiration to everyone he plays with.

“Ken is a phenomenal athlete and an incredible team guy,” he said. “He is a leader by example and a living legacy. To be coaching him in his 400th CAP was really special.”

Pereira said he is honoured to have had such amazing opportunities throughout the years and is looking forward to continuing his contribution.

“It’s a bit crazy. When you start playing, you never think you are going to play that many games,” Pereira said. “I’ve had a lot of great coaches and a lot of great teammates and that’s what keeps me coming back.”

At the age of 45, Pereira said he will continue to play and advance the indoor game as much as he can.

“If my body holds up and I can still help the team, I’ll be there,” Pereira said. “And if we can promote indoor across all of Canada then we’ll have a stronger program moving forward.”

As a final high note for Team Canada, Jonathan Roberts was named player of the tournament and top goal scorer in the men’s division. Sandison said a transition of his role throughout the tournament allowed him to find the net more.

“He’s a veteran of the indoor game. He swayed the momentum in a lot of ways.”

Roberts finished the tournament on a high note, scoring three goals in Canada’s bronze medal victory.

Women’s team narrowly misses the podium


Team Canada finished 4-3 over seven games in Georgetown. Yan Huckendubler/PAHF

On the women’s side, Canada finished 4-2 in pool play setting up a bronze medal match with Uruguay. A late goal by Uruguay’s Camila de Maria iced the game and left Team Canada one spot shy of a podium finish.

Canadian coach Louis Mendonca, said the team was right in these games and knows things could have been different on a different day.

“We played really well on the defensive side of the ball,” he said. “All we needed were a few more bounces to go our way and to score a couple more goals in crucial situations.”

As Mendonca said prior to the tournament, the team featured a nice blend of veteran players and young talent. He said that the event provided the younger players with some great international experience.

“The young kids had no fear, they played really well,” Mendonca said. “We are not very far away from being right there at the top of the world stage. Right now, I’m feeling very optimistic.”

Kathryn Williams honoured as tournament top goal keeper


KJ Williams was named the tournament’s top goal keeper. Yan Huckendubler/PAHF

Canada’s starting goal keeper, Kathryn Williams put on a terrific performance top to bottom last week in Georgetown. Mendonca said that her leadership and experience helped guide the younger players.

“She’s a winner. This is her third Pan Ams and she has World Cup experience. She’s played for a winning program at U of T,” Mendonca said. “She was a good captain and worked very well with younger players.”

Williams knew her role as a leader and felt she did her best to set a good example for her teammates.

“I wanted to show the effort it takes, I gave everything I could possibly give every game,” Williams said. “One thing we worked on was communication. Letting my teammates know where players are on the court, keeping everyone involved.”

Thanks largely in part to Williams, Canada finished the tournament only allowing 11 goals. For a team that didn’t produce offensively that well, keeping balls out of the net was hugely important. Her performance earned her the nod as tournament top goal keeper. An accolade that only fuels her for next cycle.

“This was one of the best teams I’ve played on. Everyone played with so much character,” She said. “I’m inspired and our whole team wants to improve.”

Athletes, coaching staff and support teams will now hit the drawing board and get started on a plan to improve the programs and earn that coveted qualification to the next World Cup. Both Williams and Mendonca said the program needs to start earlier and play more international matches leading up to the next Pan American Cup.

“We definitely have to prepare ourselves that much better next cycle,” Mendonca said. “We need to find a way to get started earlier if we are going to get to the top of the world stage.”

Field Hockey Canada media release