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News for 22 April 2018

All the news for Sunday 22 April 2018


Goalkeeper Kumar is no longer suspended, and can help Malaysia

By Jugjet Singh


Goalkeeper S.Kumar could return to national team fold after serving his “suspension” after failing a dope test in October 2017. Pic by HASRIYASYAH SABUDIN

KUALA LUMPUR: Great news for the Malaysian hockey team. Goalkeeper S. Kumar, who failed a doping test in October, will be back in action on Monday after serving his “suspension”.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) will hold a press conference on Monday to announce the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) decision not to penalise Kumar any further than the six months that he has been out in the cold.

NSTP Sport came to know about this latest development from a reliable source.

Kumar failed a doping test during the Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh in October when a small amount of sibutramine, prohibited by the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada), was found in his urine sample.

Malaysia lost to India 2-1 in the final of the Asia Cup, which was their best performance before Kumar was banned.

Once rated as the No 1 goalkeeper in Asia, Kumar did not play in the recent Azlan Shah Cup and Commonwealth Games, where Malaysia finished fourth and fifth respectively.

However, Kumar will now be available for the Asian Games in Jakarta on Aug 18-Sept 2.

The source said Kumar did not even have to attend any FIH hearing because of his good record, as well as his declaration that he did not use any substance to enhance his performance. Sibutramine is normally used for slimming purposes.

Kumar has amassed 295 caps for the country and undergone about 10 doping tests throughout his career, testing negative in all.

. He did not train with the national players after his urine sample was found to be positive, but six months of being away from the sport should pose no problems for Kumar to get back into shape for the Asian Games.

With Malaysia hoping to win their first Asian Games gold medal and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, an experienced goalkeeper will certainly help their cause.

New Straits Times



Senior players in Indian hockey team unhappy with coach Sjoerd Marijne



Senior hockey players of the Indian hockey are planning to meet up with coach Sjoerd Marijne in order to make known their displeasure over the Dutch’s selection policy when it came to picking the starting XI. Earlier, Marijne had called his CWG squad "unstoppable" before departing for Gold Coast.

The Indian men’s hockey team suffered a disappointing loss in the semi-final of the recently concluded 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth games where they succumbed to a 3-2 loss to a ranked below them in the form of New Zealand. They followed up that loss with another narrow defeat in the bronze medal play-off match where they fell to a 2-1 defeat against England.

This summed up a disappointing outing for the Indian hockey team that traveled to Gold Coast and returned home without a medal in hockey for the first time since 2006. A lot of questions were raised over Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne’s selection policy where he focused on introducing youngsters into the setup despite their lack of experience on the big stage.

According to a report by Zee news, a few of the senior Indian players were unhappy with Marijne’s selection policy and have arranged a meeting with the coach in order to sort things out.

"Some of the senior players in the team have had a meeting with Sjoerd and said that they should not overly focus on blooding in youngsters in place of experience, which will only put the team under pressure.

"The level of Test matches and CWG isn't the same. It's unjustified to compare a Test-match pressure to that of a world-level tournament. You need experienced heads and legs on the pitch in crunch knockout games. Dilpreet, Vivek, Sumit, and Gurinder (Singh) caved into that must-win pressure," a source told Zee news.

Previously, Marijne claimed that the squad members who made the trip to Gold Coast were literally ‘unstoppable’ and were sure to do wonders. But their performance in Australia suggested otherwise as another source complained the lack of coordination as another reason for their disappointing display.

"Look at Australia. They fielded almost the same team for both Sultan Azlan Shah (Cup) and CWG. And what we did? Sent a depleted team led by Sardar to Malaysia and then shuffled the pack inserting a few fresh cards in it. Whether we took out the aces in doing so is for everyone to decide. But Australia won both the tournaments and we finished fifth at Azlan Shah and fourth in Gold Coast.

"That tells you playing together over a period of time matters when it comes to coordination. Chopping and changing at the doorstep of a major tournament is recipe for disaster," the source said.

SportsCafe



Sardar Singh back in the reckoning

Has been called for the National camp

Uthra Ganesan

He may have been dubbed slow by critics and ignored for the recent Commonwealth Games but Sardar Singh’s popularity and leadership remains unchallenged. And the 31-year old former captain may just find himself back in the mix when a 55-member huge group assembles for the next National men’s hockey camp in Bengaluru starting April 27.

The group would be pruned to 48 after trials on May 2-3 and Sardar’s future might well depend on that but for now, he would certainly be reporting for the camp with High Performance Director David John confirming the same to The Hindu here on Thursday.

In fact, out-of-favour forward Ramandeep Singh is also expected to be in the camp.

“The initial group is huge because we have added players from the National Championships to the mix. Once it is reduced to 48, they will then be divided into two groups of 24 each, making up the national core and the developmental squad,” John explained.

Which means that, if Sardar does make it to the 48, he is likely to be part of the core squad for the upcoming tournaments, including the Champion Trophy and the Asian Games.

While John insisted that the team did not lack experience as was being made out and there was no need to drastically alter the overall structure of the team, he did admit some changes would be made.

“I would not say there was lack of experience. Only two players — Vivek Sagar Prasad and Dilpreet Singh — were young but every player in the 33-member core had played two tournaments in the past 6-8 months, he said.

The women’s camp, meanwhile, would begin from April 22 with 61 players to be pruned to 48.

The Hindu



Hockey India names 61 players for senior women national camp


The 61-member group includes all the 18 players of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games squad. PTI

Hockey India on Saturday named 61 players for the senior women national coaching camp that commences tomorrow at the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru.

The 61-member group, which features all the 18 players of the Gold Coast  Commonwealth Games squad, was picked on the basis their recent performances in tournaments that include the Hockey India Senior Women National Championship. This group will be further pruned down to 48 players on May 2.

Under chief coach Harendra Singh, the Indian team finished fourth in the Commonwealth Games after losing to Australia in the semifinals and to England in the bronze medal match.

“I have stated earlier too that we are disappointed as we did not finish on the podium but there are a lot of positives which we can take from the CWG performance barring the game against England in the bronze medal match,” said Harendra.

He added that the team will go back to the drawing board to make a comprehensive plan based on the CWG outing for the future tournaments.

“We will sit down, discuss among ourselves to make a comprehensive road map on the basis of CWG performance and ensure that the team does not repeat the mistakes of the CWG at the Women’s World Cup or the Asian Games. We will also work on our strengths to improve ahead of our next tournament which is the Asian Champions Trophy,” he added.

National Campers List:

Goalkeepers: Savita, Rajani Etimarpu, Swati, Sonal Minz, Renu Bala, Jaspreet Kaur, Chanchal.

Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka, Sunita Lakra, Rashmita Minz, Suman Devi Thoudam, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Neelu Dadiya, Gurjit Kaur, Gagandeep, Mahima Choudhary, Kanika Raj, S P Kruthika, Gurleen Grewal, Nisha, Sonika, Manmeet Kaur.

Midfielders: Deepika, Monika, Namita Toppo, Nikki Pradhan, Udita, Lilima Minz, Neha Goyal, Karishma Yadav, Manpreet Kaur, Jyoti, Mariana Kujur, K Vijayalakshmi, Bhavana Khade, Kaveramma Almengada, Raju Ranwa, Shyama Tidgam, Lalhlunmawii, Puja Yadav, Shalu Mann, Maitri Ramwala, Anuja Singh, Anajali HR, Priya.

Forwards: Rani, Poonam Rani, Navneet Kaur, Vandana Katariya, Anupa Barla, Lalremsiami, Navjot Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Soundarya Yendela, K M Arya, Siddhi Singh, Preeti Dubey, Priyanka Wankhede, Rajwinder Kaur, Leelavathy Mallamada, Birajani Ekka.

The Tribune



MJHL Div 2 final: Penang the underdogs

By Jugjet Singh

KUALA LUMPUR: Penang's MSSP-PSHA feel they will be entering the field as underdogs against Malacca's MBMB Warriors in the Division Two final of the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL) today.

Malacca were Group A champions with a clean record in six matches, and they scored a mammoth 47 goals and only let in only three.

As for Penang, they emerged as Group B champions with five wins and a draw, scoring 39 goals and letting in six.

"I have watched Malacca play and they are a well rounded team and so I believe we will be the underdogs in the final," said team manager Yap Gark Soo.

But that does not mean Penang is going to take it lying down.

"Having reached this far, I know my players will again give their very best to claim the title before playing in the tougher Division One next season," said Gark Soo.

Malacca and Penang are both worty winners of a promotion next season, while Old La Sallians Association of Klang (Olak) and Perlis Young Lions will be relegated to Division Two.

RESULTS -- Division One: Pahang Thunderbolts 3 Anderson Thunderbolts 0, Perlis Young Lions 1 SMKDBL-UniKL 3.

Division Two: Group X: MSSP-PSHA Juniors 0 KL Vipers 3; Group Y: TBSS Tampin 2 Anderson PHA 4.

SUNDAY -- Division One: SSTMI v Sabah SS Resilient (SSTMI, 5pm).

Division Two: Final -- MBMB Warriors (Malacca) v MSSPP-PSHA (Penang) (National Stadium Pitch II, 7.15pm); Third-Fourth: KL Vipers v Anderson PHA (National Stadium Pitch II, 5pm).

TUESDAY: Old La Sallians Association of Klang v Sabah SS Resilient (Pandamaran, 5pm), PJCC Tigers v BJSS Thudnerbolts (PJCC Stadium, 5pm).

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey



Jayde Is The Pride Of Hockey

The 'Pride of Hockey' is a way in which we can celebrate the people who keep our hockey clubs going.

Alexie Beovich



Throughout National Hockey Week we will be highlighting a number of different people who make hockey great! Our first nomination for 2018 is Jayde Tamby

"Jayde was not a “sporty” kid. She spent her first season spinning around on her stick, without a care as to where the ball was. But during the season she had a turn at goal keeper.

She decided that was the spot for her because she didn’t have to run.

Fast forward a couple of years, many hours of training, including running, she has now represented Victoria twice and hockey has become her life.

She loves being a ball girl for the premier league, helping other kids with their keeper skills and working in the canteen at Mentone Hockey Club.

Jayde has only just turned 14 but she has inspired her whole family to play with her passion and love for the game!

She says “I love going to the club because it’s like my home. I know there is always going to be a friend there.”

Jayde's whole family now play hockey and spend their entire weekends at the club playing, volunteering and cheering."

If you think someone at your club deserves to be nominated as the 'Pride of Hockey' you can fill out the nomination form here.

Don't forget about our Elastoplast Hockey Trick competition. Upload your best trick, tag Hockey Australia and nominate your club and you could win $1000 worth of equipment for your club!



Hockey Australia media release



Neglect leaves Nawabshah hockey ground's turf in rough condition


Hockey ground in Benazirabad, Nawabshah. Photo: Geo News

Despite hockey being Pakistan’s national sport, it continues to receive the least amount of attention by the authorities.

The state of the Benazirabad hockey ground is one such example of neglect, the national sport faces. Just a few months ago artificial blue turf was installed on the ground. However, no sprinklers were installed to water it.

Generally, an artificial turf does not need water, however in areas with extremely hot temperatures, the turf needs to be sprinkled once in a while to maintain its durability.

During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the artificial turfs had been watered on purpose before each hockey game in order to improve play.

According to GreenFields, the company responsible for the artificial turf, “The pitch is fully irrigated with a layer of water which results in an extremely fast and professional game."

Considered one of the most expensive artificial turfs, millions were spent in rolling out the blue turf in the ground in Nawabshah, now lays dry under the hot baking sun, becoming worse day by day and becoming impossible to play.

A new artificial turf can last up to 10 years. However, the turf at Benzairabad has only been around for a few months and is already showing signs of damage.


Hockey ground in Benazirabad, Nawabshah. Photo: Geo News

According to the locals, millions have been spent on the turf. However, there is no one to take care of it.

Ghufran Bukhari, the secretary of the Nawabshah Hockey Association, claims the artificial turf will be completely destroyed in a year’s time if no water is provided.

“I have been telling them constantly about the need for water for the turf. If we don’t get water soon, the turf on which millions have been spent will go to waste”.

According to the Sindh’s Sports Minister Mohammed Bux Khan Mahar, a similar problem of this nature was faced by them in another one of their grounds in Sukkur and they eventually installed sprinklers in the ground.
New turf inaugurated at KHA ground

On the other hand, a new hockey ground has been inaugurated in Karachi in a place where weddings were once held.


The new multi-purpose artificial turf at KHA ground. Photo: Geo News

A new multipurpose artificial turf has been laid on the Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) ground for sports.

The new turf was inaugurated by Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani on Friday. The turf will not only be available to play hockey but will also be available for football events.


The new multi-purpose artificial turf at KHA ground. Photo: Geo News

KHA president Junaid Ali Shah also spoke at the ceremony about KHA’s plans for the sport. According to him, at the moment work was underway at more than 50 grounds around Karachi to make them available for sports again.

Geo News

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