Welcome to the Fieldhockey.com Archives

Daily Hockey news updated @ 10:00 GMT

News for 28 August 2018

All the news for Tuesday 28 November 2018


2018 Asian Games - Day 9
Jakarta (INA)

Women's Results 27 August

Pool B     14:00     THA - IND     0 - 5
Pool B     16:00     KOR - KAZ     8 - 0
Pool A     18:00     CHN - HKG     15 - 0
Pool A     20:00     MAS - JPN     1 - 3

Final Pool Standings

Pool A

  Played Won Draw Lost GD Points
Japan 4 4 0 0 21 12
China 4 2 1 1 22 7
Malaysia 4 2 1 1 17 7
Chinese Taipei 4 1 0 3 -30 3
Hong Kong China 4 0 0 4 -31 0

Pool B

  Played Won Draw Lost GD Points
India 4 4 0 0 37 12
Korea 4 3 0 1 13 9
Thailand 4 1 0 3 -8 3
Indonesia 4 1 0 3 -14 3
Kazakhstan 4 1 0 3 -28 3


Asian Hockey Federation



Unimpressive India blanks Thailand

The women protect themselves in extreme heat with focus on the semifinals

Uthra Ganesan


Back in action: Rani Rampal, after missing the previous two games as a precaution against injury, scored thrice against Thailand. 

For more than 30 minutes, Thailand did the unthinkable — keeping the Indian women’s hockey team from scoring in its last Pool B match.

In the end, the Indians struck four goals in the final quarter for a 5-0 win, but it was far from the dominant form the team had displayed so far in the tournament.

Coach Sjoerd Marijne couldn’t care less. “You always want to score 15-20 goals but you also know you have to play the semifinals and the players are also protecting themselves.

“Let’s not talk about concerns on the basis of this match. We play a match which is not important, we did a lot of things wrong, the concentration level was not so high because we are busy with the semis,” he said categorically.

It made sense but with the match scheduled in extreme heat and humidity and the girls unwilling to exert themselves, it was an indifferent India that took to the field.

There was hardly any movement from the players and whatever little moves the team created were wasted early on. Against a team ranked 28th in the world and largely disconnected and clueless, there were six penalty corners but little power in the flicks. Thailand goalkeeper Alisa Narueangram also brought off some impressive saves.

“You have to be realistic. What is more important — winning 20-0 with a beautiful game or playing the semifinals? I think the second. If we make 20 goals today and some girls get hit or get pain and cannot play the semis, would that be ok?” Marijne asked.

The good news for India was the return of captain Rani Rampal after missing the previous two games as a precaution against injury.

“She must get into rhythm for the semis and that’s why she played today and also scored thrice. Her return will make us stronger. The confidence of the girls is high and we are ready for the semis,” Marijne said.

Monika and Navjot Kaur scored the other two goals.

India will take on China in the semifinals

The Hindu



Thailand restrain India to 5-0

s2h Team



Playing under hot and humid conditions, Indian girls struggled in the entire first half before striking a goal midway through in the third quarter. For the girls who played so far the last match of the days, which is late evening, when it was cold, at least not hot. Today, India-Thailand match was billed for the opener, and it told on India.

Despite being at top of table India, India finished the formality of winning today, with four more goals added in the fourth quarter.

Getting to play today, captain Rani Rampal proved her critics wrong, accounting for three of the four goals. She struck the first goal, which broke the goal jinx, in the 37th minute in a melee.

Ten minutes later, Rani added another after set up by hard working Nega Goyal on the left wing.

Lalremsiami and Neha Goyal on the left flank were unstoppable in the last quarter, who combined well with tireless Lilima Minz to set up others for goal. Monika in the 52nd minute, NavJot Kaur in the 55th minute posted a goal apiece.

Four minutes before the hooter, Rani struck her last goal after Nimita Toppo surged ahead and brought the ball into the net.

Quite often, Narueangram Alisa, the goalie, blocked some sure looking shots at goal.

But the talented goalie could not stop Rani striking a hattrick.

Stick2Hockey.com



China seal semis spot at Malaysia's expense

Malaysia will take on Southeast Asian rivals Thailand for fifth place on the same day.


The national women’s team lost out on goal difference as they failed to qualify for the Asian Games semi-finals following a 3-1 defeat to Japan in a Group A match in Jakarta on Monday. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI / AFP)

JAKARTA: The national women’s team lost out on goal difference as they failed to qualify for the Asian Games semi-finals following a 3-1 defeat to Japan in a Group A match in Jakarta on Monday.

China and Malaysia earned seven points each but the former finished second on goal difference to join group champions Japan in the semi-finals.

In Monday’s match, Japan scored through Mami Karino (21st minute) and Hazuki Nagai (38th and 50th) while Nuramirah Shakirah Zulkifli reduced the deficit for K. Dharmaraj’s girls in the 47th minute.

Malaysia pressed hard for more goals in the closing stages but Japan held on for the victory.

India and South Korea finished top two in Group B.

Japan will play Korea while India faces China in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

New Straits Times



No medal chance after women’s hockey lose final pool game

JAKARTA: Malaysian women’s hockey team crashed out in the final pool game at the Asian Games.

The team needed a draw against Japan in their final Group A match but they suffered a 3-1 loss at the Gelora Bung Karno Hockey Stadium on Monday - to finish third in the group.

Japan emerged as the group champions with 12 points while Malaysia lost to second-placed China on goal difference although both had seven points from four matches,

Japan’s scorers were Mami Karino (20th, 49th), Hazuki Nagai (33rd) while Malaysia’s solitary goal came through Nuramirah Syakirah Zulkifli (46th).

Malaysia play in the 5th placing tomorrow.

Malaysia finished fifth at the last edition of the Games in Incheon 2014. The only medal ever won by Malaysian women at the Asian Games was a bronze in New Delhi 1982.

The Star of Malaysia



India-China semi-final in the Asian Games

s2h Team

India will take on Japan in the semi-final of the Asian Games hockey chapter. In the last match of the day, Malaysia needed a draw to pip China to second position in the points table, but that did not happen. Japan, already top of the table, turned the applecart of Malaysia with a clinical 3-1 win. Japan led most part of the game 2-0, but the Malaysian girls bounced back into the game when they struck goal early in the fourth quarter.

Japan did not allow their joy and hope of equalizing for long time. Ten minutes before the full time, Hazuki Nagai converted a penalty corner to dash the hopes of the Malaysians.

On the stands were the Chinese team in full strength, with their entire coaching staff. It was seen them celebrating the match result as soon as it was over.

Earlier in the day, India churned out a dull and drab match under hot and humid conditions, but that was enough to post their straight fourth victory. Thailand was beaten lock, stock and barrel for a 5-0 rout, which helped India to hold its top spot in the points table, which they held from day I in Jakarta.

India - China clash will be interesting contest as against possible India-Malaysia one, as India have never lost to Malaysia in the international women's hockey.

Stick2Hockey.com



India men played most semifinals, in women it's South Korea

By B.G.Joshi (Sehore-Bhopal, India)


Jang Jong Hyun of South Korea has scored most 40 goals in Asian Games (stats till Aug 27).


Reigning Champions India (men) and South Korea (women) have records for most appearances in semis of Asian Games Hockey. Indian men won 3 Gold(1966,1998,2014) and 9 Silver(1958,1962,1970,1974,1978,1982,1990,1994,2002).

Where as in women South Korea won 5 Gold(1986,1990,1994,1998,2014) and 3 Silver(1982,2002,2010). Here are statistical highlights of top teams in Asian Games Hockey:

Top 5 of Asia: Matches and Goals
A: Men

Team

TP

MP

W

D

L

GF

GA

Best Finish

In

2014

Pool  A

 

India(WR-5)

16

86

67

7

12

386

67

3 Gold(1966,1998,2014)

1

South Korea(14)

13

67

42

7

18

262

99

4 Gold(1986,1994,2002,2006)

3

Japan(16)

16

86

34

11

41

212

187

2 Bronze(1966,1970)

6

Pool B

 

Pakistan(13)

16

86

67

12

7

466

52

8 Gold(1958,62,70,74,78,82,90,2010)

2

Malaysia(12)

16

86

45

10

31

265

148

1 Silver(2010)

4

 B: Women

Team

TP

MP

W

D

L

GF

GA

Best Finish

In 2014

Pool  A

 

Japan(14)

10

54

34

5

15

189

56

3 Silver(1986,1994,2006)

4

China(WR-11)

8

44

30

4

10

153

37

3 Gold(2002,2006,2010)

2

Malaysia(22)

6

32

15

2

15

76

71

1 Bronze(1982)

5

Pool B

 

India(9)

10

54

29

4

21

195

70

1 Gold(1982)

3

South Korea(10)

10

54

43

5

6

253

41

5 Gold(1986,90,94,98,2014

1

 Fieldhockey.com



Asia's long term vision often short term for coach

K. Arumugam



Three translators for English. Weekly two sessions for English learning. Four support staff imports from Germany. Different cultures, differing views of sporting success. But the German Coach Jamilon Lorenzo Muelders is enjoying his sojourn in China. The former German star has taken up the task of seeing Chinese women qualify for the 2020 Olympics, but he would never know how long he will be given tenure.

The Chinese girls here were anxiously waiting and watching the entire Japan-Malaysia match. Each time Japan struck a goal, their faces brightened, so also their chance to make it to the semifinal of the Asian Games hockey event here in Jakarta.

When ultimately, Japan pulled off a 3-1 win, the Chinese team rejoiced. They will be in the semis on better goal difference than Malaysia. The team visibly celeberated before the Muelders settled down for a chat with www.stick2hockey.com.

"My trget now is to qualify for the next Olympics, we are working hard towards that. This tournament is a great opportunity for us", he said. On asked how it feels working in a different country, he gives an impression of enjoying in a different culture. He empasizes it will take good mesure of time before definite results start coming.

"I joined ten months ago, and put together a team of support staff, all from Germany. We have physiotherapist, Manager etc from Germany. Yes, there is communication gap. We have three translators all the time with us. The girls undergo two session of English learning every week. The communication gap is coming down".

But will he get sufficient time to make his results happen? He understood the message behind the quetion and was straightforward in his reply

"Yes. The Asians talk about long term vision etc, but in general they don't give long term for coaches to achieve. It happens elsewhere also. This is not a problem that I confront or the one that worries me. I am a professional. Keeping me or any other staff member is the their choice. As long as am their choice, I am there, will work. But will not think about it all the time". Muelder is clear in his thoughts.

Mueller joined Chinese only last October. It wont be easy for him to get China Tokyo ticket. A victory here in Jakarata can ensure, but he is alive to the fact that China is not number one team here.

"India, Japan, China and Korea are strong teams here, and they rank that way. We are, on form wise, third here. Its good if we can make it here, but other teams are stronger as I rank them above'.

On the chances of China winning India, he is cautious. I have been watching India for long time. I find them improved a lot in the last one and half years. Their trainers must have worked hard to improve them so much. Indians are not only imroved side, they have wonderful players in their ranks. In particular, am delighted the way Vandana Katariya plays. What a talent she is!

"Fullback Gurjit Kaur is another player who catches eyes" "Am happy to see so may Asian girls' team play so well. I wish the girls of India and Malaysia achieve before their men's. They are hugely talented, and worth a big thing anytime"

Stick2Hockey.com



Vocal vollies part of the job for India's hockey goalie


India's PR Sreejesh (in yellow) during a hockey match at the 2018 Commonwealth Games against New Zealand. (Photo: AFP/Manan Vatsyayana)

JAKARTA: Most athletes are happy to let their performance do the talking but India's hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh sees strenuously exercising his vocal cords a key part of his job.

The 30-year-old was at his best in Sunday's (Aug 26) 5-3 win against South Korea at the Asian Games as India chalked up their fourth successive victory in Pool A to secure a place in the semi-finals.

But with the reigning champions conceding their first three goals of tournament after a hat-trick of clean sheets, it was little surprise that his team mates came in for a particularly animated harangue from the man between the posts.

Sreejesh, though, explained that it was not just a matter of personal frustration on his part.

"That's my job actually," he said with a smile, his voice still hoarse from more than an hour of constantly cheering and chiding team mates.

"It's very important for a goalkeeper to be vocal. Usually players go quiet under pressure. As a goalkeeper, it's your duty to bring them back into the game.
Advertisement

"I'm the goalkeeper of this team, which makes me the second coach, who can see the entire field and tell where mistakes are happening. It's my responsibility to talk to my defenders and my midfielders."

A sore threat is often the price he ends up paying for unleashing his verbal volleys and Sreejesh said he had come prepared.

"In our training camp in Bangalore, I did a lot of chattering, which sort of helped me prepare," he said. "But yes, sometimes you end up with a sore throat when you're too much into talking."

It was more than just talking against South Korea though.

Sreejesh snarled and grumbled from behind the grill and, on several occasions, took his helmet off to lambast his wayward team mates.

"See, that's a normal reaction, when your expectations are really high from your team mates," he added, mopping the sweat from his brow.

"When they make silly mistakes, there's bound to be some anger. They also know that and they always react in a positive way."

In four matches in Jakarta, continental powerhouse India have racked up 56 goals - 26 alone in a rout of Hong Kong - to remain on course for a successful title defence which would secure them a place at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Their form means Sreejesh has been the least busy member of the squad - Hong Kong managed no shots on goal - but the player from Kerala said such lop-sided matches did test a goalkeeper's focus.

"In a 60-minute match, maybe you get one ball but you have to concentrate full 60 minutes just for that ball," he said. "Matches like that can put you into a switch-off mode. That's when you need to talk even more to stay involved."

Against South Korea, India raced to a 3-0 lead before taking their foot off the pedal and allowing their opponents successive goals to get back into the contest.

"We suddenly put ourselves under unnecessary pressure and retreated into a defensive shell," Sreejesh said.

"In times like that, you need to communicate well from behind, reminding everyone their duty - to mark rivals and not leave gaps which they can exploit."

India play neighbours Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Channel News Asia



USWNT Goalkeeper Lauren Blazing Retires from Squad



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - After four years wearing the red, white and blue, goalkeeper Lauren Blazing (Durham, N.C) has announced she will be stepping away from the U.S. Women's National Team as she begins law school this fall.

Blazing, a Durham, N.C. native, registered 11 international caps for the USWNT since first joining in 2014. Picking up the game in 2005, Blazing first tried out for field hockey in middle school as a field player. On the second day of tryouts, she was volunteered by a friend to step in net, a position that Blazing loved right away and never looked back. Her career continued to show impressive growth throughout her participation in high school and the Futures Program before moving on to Duke University. She helped lead the Blue Devils to the three NCAA Tournament appearances, as well as two Final Four appearances and the NCAA Final in 2013.

“I knew that I loved the game, but I didn't know whether I had the potential to play in college,” said Blazing. “That changed when one of my Futures coaches pulled me aside during my sophomore year of high school. She told me that she thought I could play at the next level if I wanted to, and she offered to help me navigate the recruiting process. Looking back, I think she gave me the extra bit of confidence I needed to start reaching out to coaches and to pursue my passion.”

Before joining the USWNT, Blazing earned a bronze medal at the Junior Pan American Games in 2011 and participated in the 2012 Junior World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany. As a senior squad member, she appeared in the 2015 series against Japan in Lancaster, Pa., and in test series versus Canada and Chile in 2016. She also participated in the 2017 Hawke’s Bay Cup in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.

“Blaze was a great team player who put the team first, enthusiastic and willing to do the work, which is not easy being a goalkeeper waiting for your chance,” said Janneke Schopman, USWNT Head Coach. “She was a physical specimen with elastic limbs and crazy reflexes, to get the ball past her you had to do something extra because otherwise she would get a toe, stick or hand to the ball again.”

“It was the most incredible experience of my life thanks to my teammates and coaches,” said Blazing, regarding being a USWNT athlete. “I am extremely lucky to have spent the last three years with a group of strong, exceptional, dedicated, hilarious women. There were times when training was tough, or the pressure was on, but we knew we could always rely on each other.”

Blazing would like to thank all of her teammates, coaches and staff from every level of the sport.

USA Field Hockey wishes Blazing the best of luck as she begins law school this year!

USFHA media release



Cox bidding to keep Irish hockey in the headlines

By Stephen Findlater



Alexander Cox says the never-say-die attitude of Irish hockey teams was the main reason he applied for the men’s head coach job just four months out from the World Cup in India.

The Dutchman says the fighting spirit of both the men’s and women’s sides to grind out surprise results is unique in the world game, making it a dream scenario for a coach.

“There are some really good players — and some world-class — in the teams, but the mentality and the way they play, I was always attracted to,” said Cox. “For Irish people, it may seem normal but this isn’t normal in Holland. The [Irish] guys always go through the roof in any game, always making a big effort to win and become better as a team. That’s something that is really nice to work with as a coach.”

Cox was appointed to the role in August, taking on the job vacated by Craig Fulton, who left to become Belgium’s assistant coach, citing a lack of resources to reach the next level.

During Fulton’s four-year tenure, the Irish men did win a European bronze medal and ended a 108-year wait for an Olympic spot, breaking into the top 10 in the world.

Much like the women’s side who reached the World Cup final last month, they did so despite being a mix of workers and students, attempting to train on a professional-style basis around their other commitments.

Fulton campaigned for greater support from the government to help his side bridge the gap to their rivals, who are predominantly full-time. The irony is that, due to the women’s success, there may finally be some traction on that front with the €500,000 windfall and possible incremental increases as part of the new 10-year sports policy. A new sponsor for the men’s side is also set to be announced in the coming weeks.

It allows new man Cox to plan a centralised programme of sorts over the next three months ahead of the November World Cup. An initial 28-player panel will train together on Monday and Tuesday next week at Lisnagarvey and they will repeat that set-up the following week.

Then, Cox is hoping the side can set up at his home club, Kampong. Their Klapperboom venue has nine water-based pitches, a fully-equipped gym and is located in Utrecht, 30 minutes from Schiphol airport. Currently, just 12 of his panel are based in Ireland with seven in Belgium and three each in Germany, England and the Netherlands.

He will continue to coach with Kampong who won the Dutch Hoofdklasse for the last two seasons and the Euro Hockey League in 2016.

Asked how we will manage two such high-profile roles, Cox is confident he can manage it, having previously combined work with both the Dutch men and women, as well as leading the oranje U21 men to European gold in 2017.

I have worked for 13 years as a full-time hockey coach and, during this time, I have always worked with a club side and a national team.

“The combination makes for a busy life, but I love the challenge. The question from Hockey Ireland was the same: ‘Do you see this as a full-time job?’ Yes, of course. I am a full-time coach, 24/7. For now, it has been possible for me to do two jobs in a good way.”

He adds that the Irish job will be easier, in a way.

Before, he would have to work with players on the national stage who would be rivals at club level and then have to drop club players from national teams.

Now, I only have David Harte [at Kampong] and everyone knows he is world class, so there are no difficulties [with his selection]. I don’t have the same club clash for 95% of the players. I am a professional; I have to select the best for the World Cup and so I don’t care where they play,” said Cox.

Given the short time span to the World Cup, a key component in Cox’s transition will be Kai de Jager, who was

his long-time assistant at Kampong. De Jager has worked with Ireland as an assistant for the last three years and has provided crucial information, with no sugar-coating.


Ireland goalkeeper David Harte

“I trust him with his opinions and I have used him a lot in the last couple of weeks for info on the team. He’s a direct coach, says what he thinks and is not afraid to confront players when they need to be confronted. For me, he is a key asset. The players like him and Hockey Ireland are happy for him to continue, so it was a no-brainer to keep him.”

John Bessell will also remain in place. He provided video analysis to the Belgian Olympic silver-medal-winning  side. Jonny Caren, however, has parted ways with Hockey Ireland — not at Cox’s behest — after six years as an assistant to the last three coaches, following a disagreement with the federation over his potential role in the new setup. It leaves the side without a staff member in Ireland, but Cox says it is close to being remedied, with logistics for a new person being ironed out.

With under 100 days to go to the World Cup, he concedes he “can’t change the structures” of play in place, but is typically confident he can add extra details to be successful.

“In my experience, I don’t need a lot of time to get things done. In a couple of months, I can reach what I want to do.”

And the breakthrough silver from the women means he does not have to look far for inspiration, even if he is wary to temper too much expectation on that front.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. We will, of course, go for as high as we can, but know the competition at the World Cup will be massive. Our first goal is to reach the crossover, or quarter-final, and from there, we see what happens.

“We can dream, because we have seen it, but we can’t expect to see the same.”

The Irish Examiner



Whanganui women wallop Evergreens to win Manawatū Women's Premier Reserve final

By Jesse King


The victorious Whanganui women with their Manawatū Women's Premier Reserve hockey trophy. Photo / Supplied

They did it.

The Whanganui women beat High School Hockey Club Evergreens on Saturday to become the Manawatū Women's Premier Reserve hockey champions.

And it was convincing.

When the final whistle blew in Palmerston North, the scoreboard read 5-0 and the Whanganui women celebrated a season of domination.

Player/coach Colleen Baylis heaped praise on her teammates.

"Our midfield were able to control the game well and talk to our junior players a lot and that really helped them," Baylis said.

"It was our junior players that stepped up and really destroyed them with their speed."

Heading into the final, the Whanganui women had only lost one game and that was a 1-0 loss to Evergreens in May.

However, they returned fire with authority and crushed Evergreens 3-0 earlier this month.

Baylis said that the first half was "a little bit hairy".

"Evergreens came out really hard, they denied us a lot of the space that we ordinarily have and because we haven't really experienced that, we struggled with it.

"They had a lot of goal-scoring opportunities which went unconverted. If they'd scored in that first half, it could have been a different game."

Instead, it was the Whanganui women that got on the board between the 10th and 15th minute, but to the credit of Evergreens, that remained the scoreline at half time.

"We muddled through that first half. We were able to regroup at half time. It gave us an opportunity to settle down and have a chat about things," Baylis said.

"I just told our players to keep their composure on the ball. We were trying to do things too quickly and they marked a couple of our players quite hard."

Evergreens tried to continue implementing their gameplan of marking hard and restricting space, but five or 10 minutes into the second half they gave up another goal.

And the floodgates opened.

The Whanganui women put three more on the board before Evergreens were put out of their misery.

The scorers were Charlotte Baker, Kate Tylee, Melissa Goff-Hylton, Sophie Redmayne and Georgia Matson.

The young guns, Redmayne and Matson, were standouts for Baylis.

"They found the space easier to handle in the second half and took their opportunities, which sometimes they were a bit hesitant to do in the season," she said. "It was good to see them stand up."

Baylis said she had spent the last couple of days reflecting on the season.

"It was a weird feeling, I think we got to the end of the game and went 'Oh we won, okay that's cool, let's move on'.

"Having finished on top of the table, I think we knew that we should have won it and it would have definitely been a different feeling if we hadn't."

The Whanganui women went into the final having scored a remarkable 73 goals on the season, at an average of six per game.

On the flipside, they had only been scored against 15 times, which was just a tad over one goal scored on them a game.

"Evergreens had quite a good season. I always like playing against them and I was glad to play them in the final because it was a nice game and a nice atmosphere," Baylis said.

"It has been a standout season for us. It was a good team effort. We've only been together for three years and I think this one has probably been the best."

The New Zealand Herald

Fieldhockey.com uses cookies to assist with navigating between pages. Please leave the site if you disagree with this policy.
Copyright remains with the credited source or author