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All the news for Thursday 13 September 2018

SOMPO CUP Four Nations Women's Hockey Ibaraki International Tournament (JPN)
Osaka (JPN)

Results 12 September

KOR v USA (RR)     1 - 2
AUS v JPN (RR)     2 - 0

Pool Standings

FIH Match Centre

Fourth Quarter Goal by Woods Gives USWNT Win at Sompo Cup Four Nations Women’s Ibaraki International Tournament



OSAKA, Japan - To kick off action at the Sompo Cup Four Nations Women’s Ibaraki International Tournament, the U.S. Women’s National Team opened up the round robin competition against No. 10 Korea. Tied after the first half, USA remained solid on defense to shutdown Korea’s threats as a fourth quarter goal gave USA a 2-1 win.

“We were off to a slow start, but I saw a team that played with their heart,” said Janneke Schopman, USWNT Head Coach. “We tried to do the things we decided in our brief and they worked really hard and we got the reward.”

The first quarter saw a lot of back-and-forth action as both teams looked to advance the ball into their attacking circle. In the 4th minute, captain Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.) took an off balanced shot that was almost hit out of the air by a rushing Taylor West (Princess Anne, Md.). Korea responded and instantly took possession the other way, but USA’s defense prevailed. Moments later, Korea’s Yun Kyoung Cho connected with a backhand attempt, but the high ball crossed and was not handled off the left post. USA continued to work momentum in their favor and earned their first penalty corner in the 7th minute. Laura Hurff’s (Newark, Del.) drag was deflected and the rebound fell to Amanda Magadan (Randolph, N.J.) who turned and fired but it hit a USA foot prior. Korea started to break through USA’s tough defense as Cho saw another backhand look that hit the outside of the net. This determination led to a skillful play along the left baseline earning Korea their first penalty corner of the match. A sequence of four attempts saw flyer West make the stop, post Caitlin Van Sickle (Wilmington, Del.) clear it wide and USA break the line early all before goalkeeper Jess Jecko (Sauquoit, N.Y.) made a diving stick save. The period finished with neither team having true looks on goal, aside from penalty corners, as the score line remained unbroken.

The opening minutes of the second quarter saw majority of the possession with USA as they continued to search for a positive circle entry. Persistence along with a high press, aided Lauren Moyer (York, Pa.) earning USA a penalty corner in the 19th minute, but the ball was miss trapped. Down the other way on the left side of the pitch, Korea sent the ball into the circle where it was deflected and unsuccessfully cleared as Joengihn Kim swarmed on the rebound and put it past USA goalkeeper Jecko for a 0-1 lead in the 22nd minute. On the hunt for the equalizer and just a minute later, Anna Dessoye (Mountaintop, Pa.) took a free-hit quickly and the restart earned USA another penalty corner. Although the straight shot by Sharkey was tipped over the goal, USA maintained possession. As they continued to threaten, in the 27th minute Tara Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) recovered and picked the ball from Korea, beat two defenders by dumping it forward as Sharkey pushed it strong past Korea goalkeeper Sanga Lee to tie the game. With seconds left in the half, Korea’s Hawa In received it and got a shot off that went wide as the halftime score stood tied, 1-1.

In the opening minutes of the third period, Korea strung more consecutive passes together as they held much of the possession. Striker Cho continued to be an offensive threat, but USA’s defensive unit remained strong. Within a five-minute span, USA earned two more penalty corners, that they were unsuccessful on converting. This was countered by Korea producing a close chance in the 40th minute when Joeun Lee received the ball off a Korea aerial and found herself up field alone. A recovering Mary Beth Barham (Fairfax, Va.) got a stick on the shot to block the play. Off USA’s second penalty corner, Korea turned it into a fast break where Kim finished with a shot, forcing USA goalkeeper Jecko to make back-to-back saves before USA’s defense assisted to clear it away.

The final frame was stagnant at the start before USA started to generate positive forward control. In the 48th minute, working the ball down the right side of the field, Sharkey found Nicole Woods (Beverly, Mass.) with space and shot hard on goal. The shot tipped off Korea goalkeeper Lee’s stick to give USA the 2-1 advantage. Korea responded with a flurry of attempts as they were desperate to find the equalizer. USA’s defense stayed poised and continued to clear away any attempts, even reading Korea’s penalty corner slip pass. With four minutes remaining, USA had a good look when T. Vittese found Catherine Caro (Martinsville, N.J.) in the circle, who passed it across to Dessoye who earned USA a penalty corner. Ali Froede’s (Burke, Va.) straight sweep was saved off the glove of Korea goalkeeper Youbin Choi. Korea had one final possession sequence, but USA stayed strong to secure the 2-1 win.

Today’s match saw two noteworthy career accomplishments recognized. USWNT goalkeeper Jecko secured her first international cap while West played in her 50th international competition. At the conclusions of the game, the Japan Hockey Association awarded Jecko with the “Queen of the Game” award for her performance in goal.



“We are excited to play Japan,” commented Sharkey, when asked about how they feel about playing the host nation. “They are really speedy, skilled and a fun team to play. We are going to do our homework and we are looking forward to the match.”

The U.S. Women’s National Team will face No. 15 Japan tomorrow, Thursday, September 13 at 5:30 a.m. ET. in their second-round robin match. In the second game today, Australia defeated Japan 2-0. 

For more information regarding the Sompo Cup Four Nations Women’s Ibaraki International Tournament, including the full schedule, results, roster, live stream information and more, check out the official event page by clicking here.

#SompoCup

USFHA media release

Winning Start For Hockeyroos As Padget Nets On Debut

Ben Somerford



Victorian Hayley Padget scored on her international debut as the Hockeyroos recorded a winning start to their Four Nations Tournament with a 2-0 victory over hosts Japan in Ibaraki on Wednesday night.

Queenslander Renee Taylor scrambled home the opener in the 13th minute before 25-year-old Doncaster product Padget, who has overcome a series of setbacks to finally make her Hockeyroos debut, added the second in the 42nd minute.

Padget was making her debut alongside fellow Victorian Sophie Taylor and Goulburn product Naomi Evans, while Steph Kershaw celebrated her 50th cap with a best afield display.

Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin said: "I think it was a very even match. Both teams had many chances. Perhaps we were able to take our chances more than Japan.

“I think it was a very tough match. We were pleased with some parts of our game and our attacking game with the ball but we need to be better when we don’t have the ball.

“We hope to be better against Korea tomorrow in that area.”

Australia takes on Korea in their second game on Thursday from 5:30pm AEST with live streaming at https://sompocup-hockey-ibaraki.com/live/.

Japan had the first chance of the game with Hockeyroos goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram thwarting Kana Nomura’s second minute drag flick from a penalty corner.

Rosie Malone came close with a reverse stick effort, before playing her part in the lead-up to set up Taylor’s opener.

Gold Coast’s Malone cut in on the baseline before squaring for Taylor whose initial effort was blocked by Japan keeper Akio Tanaka, before forcing home the rebound.

Savannah Fitzpatrick and Malone tested Tanaka again early in the second, while Japan rallied with some late chances in the opening half.

Tanaka was aware again to deny Fitzpatrick and Mikaela Patterson in the third period, before Padget capped off a fine move with Australia’s second.

Gerringong’s Grace Stewart did brilliantly to keep the ball in play on the left flank, passing for Lily Brazel who bounced past two defenders to cross for Padget to convert at the far post.

Japan continued to dominate the short corners’ count, with four in a row after the final change but Australia defended well to cap off a solid first-up win.

Japan 0
Australia 2 (Taylor 13’, Padget 42’)

Hockey Australia media release

Durable Claxton Proud Of 150-Game Milestone

Ben Somerford



Hockeyroos midfielder Jane Claxton says bringing up 150 caps for Australia is a proud moment which is symbolic of her hard work and dedication to the national team.

Claxton will bring up the milestone in Australia’s Four Nation finals match on Sunday in Osaka, Japan.

The durable 25-year-old, who hails from Adelaide, debuted against Korea in Perth in April 2013 and has brought up the rare milestone in quick time.

“When you first debut you don’t really think about reaching a milestone like this,” Claxton said.

“I think 150 caps for your country, you have to be around a long time to do it and play consistently.

“That’s something I’m proud of that since I debuted I haven’t missed too many tournaments along the way except for injury.

“It’s a proud moment to be among the rare few that have reached that milestone for Australia.”

She added: “It’s a symbol of all the hard work you’ve done, not just when you mad the team but before you made the team and all the miles you put in.

“It shows you’re a consistent performer in the team. It reflects all the hard work and dedication you’ve put in.”

Claxton has played at an Olympic Games, a World Cup and two Commonwealth Games and listed some of her highlights to date.

“I think a lot of the highlights end up being the tournaments you win, the medals you win, those special moments, especially something like Glasgow where we won the gold medal in the dying moments of the game,” she said.

“To go from losing the game to winning, it was very memorable.

“As well as the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games this year where I played a different role as a leader in the team with more pressure on me.

“To know we got a positive result in the end with such a young and inexperienced team, those two experiences, while they were vastly different, are both very special in my career.”

The Burnside product added that she’s loves every minute of being part of the national programme.

“The time does fly by when you’re having fun,” she said.

“I feel like it was yesterday I moved to Perth and I was a young kid in the squad.

“It does go so quickly so these milestones give you a chance to reflect and appreciate what I get to do every day as a job.”

Hockey Australia media release

Five Minutes With Steph Kershaw

Ben Somerford



She brought up her 50th cap for Australia earlier this week so we felt it was the perfect time to get to know one of the Hockeyroos' rising stars Stephanie Kershaw.

What’s your full name?

Stephanie Anna Kershaw.

Nicknames?

Kersh or SK. Nothing interesting.

Where exactly in Townsville are you from?

Townsville. Literally in the city!

What’s your favourite thing about Townsville?

The Strand or Juliette’s, which is a café. It’s run by one of my good friend’s families who makes the best coffee in Townsville.

Shameless plug!

Just putting it out there.

So what else about Townsville?

And it’s also on the water, so we’ve got a beach and it’s always sunny.

What did you do in Townsville as a kid?

I played sports mostly and ran around a lot.

What sports specifically?

Hockey, athletics, soccer, swimming, softball, touch. Everything!

Are you a fan of sports and do you support any teams?

Recently I started supporting Fremantle in the AFL, for better or worse. I support the Cowboys in the NRL too, but they came second last this year.

Is Johnathan Thurston a hero of yours, being a Townsville girl?

I should say yes, but no, not really.

What are your interests outside of Hockey?

Coffee. I’m a coffee connoisseur. I drink soy flat white.

Study or work?

I study nutrition, so I’m looking to be a dietician at some point in my life.

Where do you do that and how far along are you?

I study at Curtin University, next door to where we train. I’m two-and-a-half years in.

Does that help with Hockey?

I reckon yes. It gives me something outside Hockey to concentrate on and it’s nice to have a break away from the athlete life.

We heard you like to travel too. Favourite holiday destination and why?

That’d have to be New Zealand, because it’s close. If I could go anywhere at the moment I’d say Iceland. It looks so nice. I’d be really keen to see the Northern Lights.

I recently got back from Greece which was definitely in my top three places to go.

Best country to play Hockey and why?

Definitely the Netherlands. For the crowds basically.

Your boyfriend Tom Craig is a Kookaburra, do you guys only talk about Hockey?

Yes, definitely. No, I’m kidding, we talk about a lot of stuff. Probably less about Hockey than most other people which is nice.

Brooke Peris and Jeremy Hayward are also dating from the two squads. Who is the real Australian Hockey power couple?

That’s a tricky one but I’d have to Chook and Jeremy are the original power couple. They’re just good and they love it. They help each other out. They train together, they gym together. You’ll see on their Insta stories!

Hockey Australia media release

A Pass to the future


Photo: Pablo Elías/Buenos Aires 2018

The Argentine girls who are getting ready to compete in hockey5s at Buenos Aires 2018 are not only dreaming of getting a gold medal. They also hope this experience at the Youth Olympic Games helps them fulfil a dream in a few years in becoming part of Las Leonas, the Argentine women’s national field hockey team.

The competition at Buenos Aires 2018 will be held on the synthetic fields in the stadium within the Youth Olympic Park. The tournament will start on October 7 and the final will be held on October 14 with Las Leonas as the special spectators in the crowds. They already have their Youth Olympic Passes so they’ll be able to cheer them on.



There are seven members on the current team who know very well the value of the Youth Olympic Games because they participated in the first two summer editions. They even got to climb the podium, a day they’ll remember forever and which signified their first big moment wearing the Argentine jersey.

In the first edition at Singapore 2010 - which used the traditional field hockey format with 11 players - the team made it to the final and lost to the Netherlands. Two of the current Leonas took home the silver medal in that tournament: Agustina Albertario and Florencia Habif.



Four years later at Nanjing 2014, hockey was played in the reduced hockey5s format and Argentina’s national team took home another medal. Julieta Jankunas, Eugenia Trinchinetti, Paula Ortíz, Sofía Toccalino and Bárbara Dichiara clinched the bronze after beating Japan. Agustín Corradini was the coach that accompanied the team for that victory.

Las Leonas now have their Passes to be able to see all the sports in October. With their electronic bracelets that they received free of charge after registering at buenosaires2018.com, they can enter the Parks as well as the stand alone venues. Not to mention supporting their heirs in the hockey5s matches.

Fans wanting to attend the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games can now apply for free access to all events via the official website. For more information, click here.

For more information about the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, visit the official website.

FIH site

Australian Teams Learn Youth Olympics Pools & Schedules

Ben Somerford



The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games organising committee have revealed the Pools and Match Schedule for the Hockey events where Australia will compete.

To view the full match schedule, click here.

In the women’s competition, Pool A includes Argentina, Austria, India, South Africa, Uruguay and Vanuatu, while Pool B involves Australia, China, Mexico, Namibia, Poland and Zimbabwe.

In the men’s event, Argentina, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Vanuatu and Zambia will compete in Pool A, while Pool B will see Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, India and Kenya go head to head.

The Pool stages will take place between Sunday 7 and Thursday 11 October. Classification and Quarter-Final matches will then be held on Friday 12 October, with further classification matches plus the Semi-Finals on Saturday 13 October.

The 7/8th and 5/6th matches then take place on Sunday 14 October before the medal matches. The men’s bronze is at 13:00 followed by the women’s at 14:00. The finalists will then go head to head for the gold medals at 15:00 (men) and 16:30 (women) – all times local (ART).

Many of these teams are participating in their first ever Youth Olympic Games. This includes Argentina, Austria, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Poland and Vanuatu in the men’s event and Australia, Austria, India, Mexico, Namibia, Poland, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe and in the women’s competition.

With nations participating from every continent, this edition of the Youth Olympic Games is set to be hugely entertaining, with the future of the game showcasing their raw talent on the global stage.

Taking place in the Youth Olympic Park in the southern area of the city, the Hockey5s events are set to take centre stage with hosts Argentina expected to attract large numbers of local fans, renowned for their passionate support of the sport.

The last edition of this event in Nanjing, China in 2014 saw this year’s participants Australia win gold and Canada silver in the men’s event, with China winning gold and Argentina taking bronze in the women’s event.

#YOG2018

Selected Australian Teams:
Men’s Hockey
Lain Carr (18), Matcham, NSW
James Collins (18), Perth, WA
Miles Davis (17), Sydney NSW
Brad Marais (18), Melbourne VIC
Craig Marais (16), Melbourne, VIC
Alistair Murray (18), Tincurrin, WA
Jed Snowden (16), Melbourne, VIC
Christian Starkie (17), Perth, WA
Ben White (18), Blackburn, VIC

Women’s Hockey
Caitlin Cooper (17), Perth, WA
Naomi Duncan (16), Sydney, NSW
Amy Lawton (16), Emerald, VIC
Morgan Mathison (18), Gold Coast, QLD
Indianna Robertson (18), Bentleigh, VIC
Courtney Schonell (17), Narellan Vale, NSW
Jolie Sertorio (16), Peppermint Grove, WA
Maddison Smith (18), Albion Park, NSW
Grace Young (15), Yowie Bay, NSW

Hockey Australia media release

Field Hockey Canada announces 2018 Youth Olympic Games roster

Canada's U18 Men's Field Hockey Team looks to reach the podium in second consecutive Youth Olympic Games

VANCOUVER, BC — Field Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee officially announced the athletes nominated to represent Canada in the U18 Men’s Field Hockey competition at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The field hockey competition will take place October 6-14, 2018 in Buenos Aries, Argentina.

Canada enters the competition as reigning silver medallists and will look to reach the podium for a second consecutive Youth Olympic Games. Canada will be up against stiff competition as the hosts, Argentina, won the Pan American qualifier and Australia will be returning to defend their gold medal from four years ago.

For those unfamiliar, the field hockey competition at the Youth Olympic Games takes the form of Hockey 5s: a fast-paced, high scoring and physical form of field hockey played outdoors on a smaller pitch enclosed by shin-high boards. According to head coach, Geoff Matthews, his team is ready to take on the world at the Youth Olympic Games.

“We have an extremely talented group of athletes,” he said. “They’ve made huge strides since the qualifier. They have been pushed domestically by their peers through selection camp and the guys are at a whole new level now.”

Canada came third at the Pan American qualifying event in March, reaching the Youth Olympic Games behind Argentina and Mexico. Although qualification was always the goal, Matthews said he knows the team will be looking for redemption and will be wanting to prove that they belong on the Olympic podium.

“Sitting in the crowd and watching the gold medal game, I could tell it was a disappointment for the guys,” Matthews said. “The type of disappointment that sticks with you. I could tell they really wanted to be in that gold medal game and the Youth Olympics is our chance to redeem ourselves.”

While this is a great competition for young athletes, there is a higher purpose of the Youth Olympic Games and Thierry Weil, CEO of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), echoed that sentiment in an FIH statement.

“The Youth Olympic Games are a fantastic opportunity for the world to see the future of our sport, whilst also giving these athletes the first taste of Olympism,” Weil said.

Matthews agreed and said that this event can be a great launching point for young careers.

“The Youth Olympics gives these young athletes an opportunity to excel on the international stage,” Matthews said. “It’s a chance to prepare them to make the jump to the next level of hockey.”

“What an honour for our athletes to represent our country in a multi-games experience and be part of the larger Team Canada contingent in Buenos Aires,” Jeff Sauvé, CEO of Field Hockey Canada, said. “On behalf of Field Hockey Canada, we thank the Canadian Olympic Committee for providing this invaluable opportunity for our athletes.”

The 12-team men’s YOG Hockey 5s competition features Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Vanuatu and Zambia. The competition takes place October 6-14, 2018 in Buenos Aries, Argentina.
 
PLAYING ROSTER

RESERVES

STAFF

Geoff Matthews – Head Coach
Shankar Premakanthan – Assistant Coach/Team Manager
Katie Wnuk – Athletic Therapist

Field Hockey Canada media release

5 things you need to know: Hockey5s


Courtesy: IOC Media

Hockey has always been known for its fast pace and skill.  The sport has seen constant innovation to keep up with the dynamic environment. One such innovation has been the introduction of Hockey5s. The youngest format of the game is all set to steal the show at the Youth Olympic Games and we list down five reasons why the Hockey5s event will be the most sought-after at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

1.     Faster

20 minutes! Yes, just 20 minutes will separate the champions from the contenders. Expect high levels of intensity as the teams will have just 1,200 seconds to prove their dominance in the shortest version of hockey. The 20 minutes will be split into two halves of 10 minutes each with a half-time break of two minutes.



2.     Skillful

With just five players on the field, expect players to have more ball-time and more touches than in a 11-a side game. More ball time gives an opportunity for players to showcase their one-on-one skills and discover innovative ways to find the back of the net.



3.     Easier to understand

Easy to play and follow. Played in a smaller arena, Hockey5s is viewer friendly and there are no stoppages, unless a player is injured or substituted. The sole mission of the players is to play fair and score more goals than their opponents.



4.     More Goals

The duration may be short but that doesn’t limit the goal scoring appetite of the players, who are always looking to get their names on the scoring sheet. In the last youth Olympics at Nanjing, an average of eight goals were scored in the preliminary round in the boys’ section. Expect more of the same in Buenos Aires!



5.     Accessible

Hockey5s has played an instrumental role in spreading the sport to developing nations and contribute towards the FIH’s 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy to transform the sport. Like the last edition, expect lesser known hockey nations to give some of the hockey power-houses a tough game. If it was Zambia that stunned Germany 8-1 in Nanjing, expect more such surprises from Zambia, Kenya, Vanuatu and Namibia in this edition. A total of 24 teams (men and women) will be competing for the gold medals.



It was Australia in men’s and China in women’s that bagged pole position in the first ever Hockey5s at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing. In Buenos Aires, a more intense battle for the gold medals awaits.

Expect the teams to spring more surprises and showcase their skills to enthrall hockey fans in Buenos Aires through the non-stop, action packed magic of hockey5s.

Fans wanting to attend the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games can now apply for free access to all events via the official website. For more information, click here.

For more information about the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, visit the official website.

FIH site

Final Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy set for China

By The Hockey Paper


Holland celebrate successful defence PIC: England Hockey

Holland will be favourites to win a seventh title in the last women’s Champions Trophy, set to be played in China in November.

A win for Holland, the world No 1 side since 2011, will see them go level with Argentina on seven victories since the inaugural tournament back in 1987. Australia also have six wins heading into the tournament.

Apart from Argentina, Australia and Holland, China, Great Britain and Japan will make up the six-team event in the Chinese city of Changzhou from November 17 to 25.

It will be the final Champions Trophy ahead of January’s Pro League launch.

Australia will enter the Champions Trophy with fresh memories of missing out on the medals at the World Cup in London as they finished fourth. But the 2017 Oceania champions, who won silver at this year’s Commonwealth Games, are on the up and with momentum on their side, the world’s third highest ranked team will no doubt be one of the challengers for the Trophy in China.

Argentina will also be eager to dispel any disappointment from their performance in London as the Pan American champions look to defend the title they won against the Dutch back in 2016. Ranked number four in the world, they have the talent, skill and goals within their squad to challenge for this year’s gold medals.

Japan’s ‘Cherry Blossoms’ will be riding high following their Asian Games triumph last weekend. They became continental champions for the first time in their history as they defeated India in the final. Japan will be looking to use this year’s Champions Trophy as another key stage in their development as they prepare to hold the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Hosts China are busy preparing for the inaugural season in the FIH Pro League where they will be joined by fellow Champions Trophy opponents Argentina, Australia, Great Britain and Netherlands. Whilst they face some formidable opponents in this competition, the new look team, led by former Germany Head Coach Jamilon Mülders, will be looking to reward their passionate fans by winning the title at the home of Chinese hockey.

The Hockey Paper

Sheldon Rostron ends spell as head coach of SA Hockey Women


Photo: Sean Burke

In March 2015 Sheldon Rostron was appointed head coach of the South African Women’s Hockey Team on a contract until the end of the 2018 Hockey World Cup, in line with the policies and procedures of the South African Hockey Association of appointing coaches on a world cup cycle. Following the completion of the 2018 FIH Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup Rostron’s contract has come to an end and the process to appoint a coach for the next World Cup cycle is due to begin. Sheldon has elected not to reapply for the position going forward and thus ending his 3 and a half years as the National Head Coach.

Sheldon was first brought into the national structure as a specialist trainer and goalkeeper coach in 2010 under head coach Giles Bonnet. In this time, he also performed various roles including stand-in assistant coach and team manager. Notable events amongst others under his belt with the national team are the 2012 Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup, the 2015 African Cup for Nations, the 2017 Hockey World League Semi Finals and the 2018 Vitality Hockey World Cup.

As head coach Rostron got 57 caps, winning 22 and drawing 10 (as per the FIH TMS). The fifth placed finish at the FIH World League Semi-Final in Johannesburg that qualified South Africa for the 2018 World Cup was the outstanding performance in his time, where South Africa were desperately unlucky not to beat Germany in the Quarter-Finals. The South African coach also completed the remarkable double in 2017 when he coached the Men and Women to the African Cup of Nations titles, a double feat rarely achieved by a coach.

Sheldon will now focus on his new role within the Sports Department at North West University, while a newly appointed coach will guide South Africa to the Hockey Series Finals in a quest to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games.  

SA Hockey CEO Marissa Langeni thanked Sheldon for his service to South African Hockey.

“The South African Hockey Association would like to thank Sheldon for his remarkable contribution to the national women’s hockey team. He has been a committed coach, engineering and implementing a dedicated program with limited resources. Sheldon’s tenacity ensured that the team always came first. We would like to wish Sheldon well for his future endeavours.”

SA Hockey Association media release

SA Women's hockey coach steps down


Sheldon Rostron (Supplied)

Cape Town - South African Women’s Hockey coach Sheldon Rostron has stepped down from his position.

Rostron was appointed head coach of the team in 2015 on a contract until the end of the 2018 Hockey World Cup and he has opted against re-applying for the post.

As a result, SA Hockey is on the lookout for a new coach.

As head coach Rostron notched up 57 caps, winning 22 and drawing 10. The fifth-placed finish at the FIH World League Semi-Final in Johannesburg that qualified South Africa for the 2018 World Cup was the outstanding performance in his time, where South Africa were desperately unlucky not to beat Germany in the quarter-finals.

The South African coach also completed the remarkable double in 2017 when he coached the men and women to the African Cup of Nations titles, a double feat rarely achieved by a coach.

Rostron will now focus on his new role within the Sports Department at North West University, while a newly appointed coach will guide South Africa to the Hockey Series Finals in a quest to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games.  

SA Hockey CEO Marissa Langeni thanked Rostron for his service.

"The South African Hockey Association would like to thank Sheldon for his remarkable contribution to the national women’s hockey team. He has been a committed coach, engineering and implementing a dedicated program with limited resources. Sheldon’s tenacity ensured that the team always came first. We would like to wish Sheldon well for his future endeavours," she said.

Sport24

Gold Coast to host 2019 Trans-Tasman Masters Hockey Challenge

On Thursday, September 13, Hockey Australia announced that the Gold Coast will host the 2019 Trans-Tasman Masters Hockey Challenge.

The Trans-Tasman Masters Hockey Challenge will take place at both the Gold Coast Hockey Centre and the Nikki Hudson Centre in Runaway Bay between April 30 and May 4.

The competition is a biennial international masters hockey tournament between Australia and New Zealand which features 14 Australian teams (seven male and seven female) and 14 New Zealand teams (seven male and seven female) competing in seven age divisions: Over 35, Over 40, Over 45, Over 50, Over 55, Over 60 and Over 65.

Each division plays three matches and the nation that wins the most divisions across the men’s and women’s competitions is declared the Country Champion.

In terms of size, the Trans-Tasman Hockey Challenge brings together approximately 608 participants across players, coaches, support staff and officials.

Hockey New Zealand will release more information at a later date regarding coach, manager and team selection processes.

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Sardar Singh set to retire from international hockey

The former India captain made the decision after a disappointing Asian Games 2018

Uthra Ganesan

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/30kxkv/article19909277.ece/alternates/FREE_460/sardar%20singh
Sardar Singh. Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Hours after he was left out of the core group of players for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy and the World Cup on Wednesday, former India captain Sardar Singh gave enough indications of calling it a day.

Sardar, who was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna last year and is one of the most decorated stars of Indian hockey, is likely to announce his retirement from internationals later this week at a press conference here.

Sardar was part of the Indian team at the recent Asian Games where it finished third. However, calls for his exclusion have been gaining ground claiming he had slowed down with age. At 32, Sardar is not only the senior-most player in the side but also the fittest as per tests held just before the Asiad.

However, that didn’t stop certain Hockey India officials from claiming India lost the semifinal against Malaysia because of him and the constant questioning of his abilities played a big role in Sardar’s decision.

While Sardar himself refused to say anything officially — “I am still discussing everything with my family and will be coming to Delhi likely on Friday. Only then will I make an official statement,” he told The Hindu — people close to him admitted he was as disappointed as the rest of the team on missing out on gold at the Asiad but was more upset about being made the scapegoat.

National coach Harendra Singh confirmed he had spoken to Sardar about the decision.

“For me, he will always be a legend of the game, not just in India but in world hockey. But this is his personal decision and I respect that. There will definitely be a vacuum in his absence, as happens whenever such a big player retires, and his will be big boots to fill. I am sure he will continue to be associated with the game in future also, in a different role but with equal passion,” Harendra told The Hindu.

Sardar had been dropped for the Commonwealth Games earlier this year with Hockey India favouring youngsters but fought his way back into the side for the Champions Trophy, where India won a second successive silver, and the Asian Games.

With India hosting the World Cup at the end of this year and the road ahead to Tokyo Olympics long and winded with a complex qualification process, Sardar’s experience would have been handy for the team. As such, Indian hockey will now have to do without it.

K. Keerthivasan & Samarnath Soory report:

V.R. Raghunath: “I think the decision might have be working on his mind for the past few months. It has been tough for him. When you feel your body and mind cannot give 100%, I think it is the best time to announce retirement and give way for the next generation. He could have played till the World Cup and then announced his retirement. We have played together since 2003 and enjoyed a lot of success. I wish him the best.”

Rahul Singh: “The announcement has not come at the right time. The World Cup is just round the corner and it is always better to have a senior like him in the team. He could have been used in short bursts. He has served the country in an excellent way and has achieved everything.”

V. Baskaran: “I think he has taken the right decision. For me, he is the best player since Ajit Pal Singh. Sumit is the right man to replace him as he is already in the core group and has played alongside Sardar.

The Hindu

Stats Speak: Sardar Singh in International Hockey

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

Born: July 15, 1986

Debut:  In Chandigarh (Feb 17, 2006) versus Pakistan, first test match of 8th India-Pakistan Series.

Caps: 314

Goals: 17

Tournament played (as a player): 40 (OG-2; WC-2; CT-3; HWL-6, AZ Cup-8, AC-3, AG-3, ACT-2, CWG-3)

Gold Medals won as a player: 7(Asian Games-2014;Asian Champions Trophy-2016;  Asia Cup-2017; Azlan Shah Cup-2009,2010; Olympic Qualifier-2012;  World League Round 2-2013).

Tournament played (as a captain):  17(WC-1; CT-2; HWL-5, AZ Cup-4, AC-1, AG-1, ACT-1, CWG-1)

Gold Medal won as a captain: 3 (Asian Games-2014; Olympic Qualifier-2012; World League Round 2-2013)

Silver Medals won as a captain: 5(Asia Cup-2013; C’wealth Games-2014; AZ Cup-2008 and 2016; Asian Champions Trophy-2012)

Bronze Medals won as a captain: 2 (Hockey World League-2015; AZ Cup-2015)
Youngest ever captain of India: In Ipoh Azlan Shah Cup (AZ Cup) played in May 2008; his age was 21years 10 months.

Brothers in Asia Cup winning team: Didar Singh (2007) and Sardar Singh (2017).
Hockey India League: Played in all 5 versions, won as a captain in 2014(Delhi Waveriders) and 2016(Punjab Warriors).

FIH’s all star team player: twice in 2010, 2011.

Awards: Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna-2017, PadmaShree-2015, Arjun Award-2012.

Fieldhockey.com

Sardar has had enough

Excluded from 25-strong core group for Asian Champions Trophy, ex-captain retires

Indervir Grewal



“Talisman!” “Lynchpin!” In the last 12 years, many such monikers have been used when describing former India captain Sardar Singh.

He has been called the heart of the Indian team, and some consider him among the greatest ever. Sardar Singh’s greatness as a hockey player is debatable; but what cannot be questioned is his popularity. Over the last decade, Sardar has been the face of Indian hockey. At the peak of his fame, Sardar was to Indian hockey what Lionel Messi is to football.
If Sardar was playing — and he featured in almost every India match during his heyday — he was the focus of all the attention, regardless of the match’s result. He made the headlines when India won and was the one “bright spot” when the team lost.

Youngest captain

Hailing from Sirsa in Haryana, Sardar came out of the Namdhari Academy. He made his international debut in 2006 at the age of 20. Though he had represented the junior India team, initially Sardar was known as the younger brother of former international player Didar Singh. However, over the next three years, Sardar made phenomenal growth. He became a mainstay in the midfield, and in 2008, after India failed to qualify for the Olympics, he was made the captain. As the youngest captain ever, he led the team to a silver medal at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. By the time the 2010 World Cup came along, Sardar was at his peak.

Indian hockey, though, was going through an upheaval after the Olympics debacle. The Indian crowd was eager for a new star who could lead the team into a new era.

With his ball control and his long — audacious at times — passes from the back, Sardar won over the home crowd and became the sensation of the tournament. The youngster overshadowed his senior, and more popular, teammates.

The accused

But stardom went to his head and he was involved in a controversy in 2011. Sardar, along with Sandeep Singh, had walked out of the national camp under Australian Michael Nobbs. It being his third act of indiscipline in a short period, Hockey India banned him for two years.

But after an apology, his ban was revoked by the federation and he was recalled. After that controversy, though, Sardar started keeping a low profile off-field and strived to become a model sportsperson on the field. Over the next few years, the Indian hockey team became synonymous with Sardar. He was nominated for FIH’s player of the year award in 2012. As the Indian team rose again, so did Sardar’s popularity. He was the poster-boy during all of India’s campaigns… Till he was accused of rape by an Indian-origin British woman in early 2016. Though Sardar denied the charge and was given a clean chit by the Ludhiana Police’s special investigation team, the controversy hurt his image. Before the Rio Olympics, he lost the captaincy to PR Sreejesh.

With his popularity dropping, his game was questioned for the first time. Already on the down-slope, Sardar’s game had suffered further after the controversy.

Out of position

Sardar, who was likened to top international players such as Moritz Fuerste in 2010, was in no man’s land in 2016. Before the Rio Games, Roelant Oltmans raised a question mark over Sardar’s position in the midfield. He said Sardar was slowing the game down in the middle by holding on to the ball for too long. It wasn’t helping Sardar that he was playing alongside younger and faster midfielders such as Manpreet Singh.

But age had only marginally reduced something that Sardar had never possessed — great speed. In an interview in February this year, Sardar had admitted that he was never fast. And that was one of his weaknesses. Sardar had brilliant ball control and could make unbelievable passes. But his lack of speed prevented him from making those penetrative runs from the midfield. And because the midfielders are put under a lot of pressure, he couldn’t make those decisive passes playing in the centre.

It was a reason he was shifted back into the sweeper-back’s position time and again by different coaches. While he flourished as a playmaker, his poor defensive skills let him and the team down. Oltmans faced the same dilemma. However, despite the criticism, Oltmans took Sardar to the Rio Olympics, but as a forward.

At that time, it was largely expected that the Olympics would be his last tournament. But Sardar stayed on; and like many top players who overstay their welcome to see their popularity fade, Sardar came under criticism.

Sjoerd Marijne dropped him for last year’s World League Finals and April’s Commonwealth Games, but Sardar’s persistence, along with the circumstances, again saw him make a comeback. At the Asian Games, he had expressed his desire to play till the 2020 Olympics, but not being considered for the national camp might have nudged him to retire.

Achievements

    Player of Tournament in 2012 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (India won Bronze)
    Player of Tournament in 2010 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup (India won Gold)
    Captained India from 2008 to 2016, with a gap in between
    Figured in two Olympic Games (2012, 2016)

Best of Sardar: Asiad gold, CT silver

Sardar Singh’s best achievement with the Indian team was the Asian Games gold in 2014 and the Champions Trophy silver in 2018. He figured in two Olympic Games, in 2012 and 2016, in which India fared poorly. Career Highlights:

    Asian Games: Gold: Incheon 2014, Bronze: Guangzhou 2010, Jakarta 2018
    Commonwealth Games: Silver: 2010 New Delhi, 2014 Glasgow
    Asia Cup: Gold: 2007 Chennai, 2017 Dhaka, Silver: 2013 Ipoh
    Champions Trophy: Silver: 2018 Breda

The Tribune

Sardar Singh, former India hockey captain, to retire from international game

By The Hockey Paper


India’s Sardar Singh will not feature at upcoming World Cup PIC: FIH/FRANK UIJLENBROEK

Sardar Singh, the former India captain, reportedly retired from international hockey on Wednesday, ending a lengthy service with the national men’s team.

With just over two months until the World Cup in India, Sardar, who has made over 350 international appearances, was left out of India’s 25-strong national camp next week at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar.

“I have played almost 12 years for the country and it’s a long time. Now it’s the time for the next generation to take over the baton,” the 32-year-old Sardar Singh told The Hindustan Times.

Having been left out of the Commonwealth Games squad, he fought his way back into the squad as India won silver at the last Champions Trophy before they failed to defend their title at the recent Asian Games.

Sardar believed he was fit enough to play hockey for a few more years, but felt that the current timing was best to “start thinking about new ventures.”

“I have discussed about my future with Hockey India and national coach Harendra Singh and they are convinced about my decision,” he added.

Sardar started his national junior career 15 years ago before making his senior debut againt Pakistan in 2006.

He won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014 and was included in the FIH All Star team in 2010 and 2011.

He was also the youngest player to captain an India side at the 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

The Hockey Paper

Talismanic Sardar Singh retires from international hockey


Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh. File photo

Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh on Wednesday decided to call time on his illustrious career, saying he had played enough in the last 12 years and now it’s time for the youngsters to take over.

Sardar said he made the decision after a disappointing Asian Games where India failed to defend its title and returned with a bronze medal.
With age and speed not on his side, Sardar’s performance in the Games came under the scanner.

“Yes, I have decided to retire from international hockey. I have played enough hockey in my career. 12 years is a long time. Now it’s time for the future generation to take over,” Sardar told PTI.

“I took the decision after consultation with my family in Chandigarh, Hockey India and my friends. I think it’s the right time to think about life beyond hockey,” he added.

Interestingly, during the Asian Games in Jakarta, Sardar said he still has hockey left in him and desires to play one last Olympics in 2020 Tokyo.

However, he had a change of heart amid speculation that he was forced to retire after his name was dropped from the 25-strong core group of national campers announced by the Hockey India Wednesday.

Asked about the dropping from the camp, Sardar evaded the question and said he would formally announce his retirement during a press conference in the national capital on Friday.

Sardar made his senior debut for India against Pakistan in 2006 and since then he has been a vital cog in the Indian team’s midfield.

The 32-year-old made over 350 international appearances for India and captained the national team for eight long years from 2008 to 2016 before handing the responsibility to PR Sreejesh.

Sardar was also the youngest player to captain the Indian team when he led the side at the 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. He received the Arjuna award in 2012 and Padma Shri in 2015.

Sardar has represented India in two Olympics.

Sardar will leave behind a rich legacy in the sport. A fighter to the core, he came back strongly after being dropped from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games squad. He worked hard on his fitness to roar back into the national team for the Champions Trophy, where India won a silver medal.

With age, he slowed down a bit but Sardar still is considered as one of the fittest players in the Indian team.

“Fitness is not the reason behind my decision. I am fit enough to play hockey for some more years. But there is always a time for everything and I feel it’s time for me to move on in life,” he said.

Sardar said he has conveyed his decision to chief coach Harendra Singh, adding he will continue to play hockey in the domestic circuit.

Hailing from Sirsa in Haryana, Sardar’s career was not devoid of controversy either.

Sardar was accused of rape by an Indian-origin British woman, a charge which he vehemently denied and was also given a clean chit by the special investigation team of Ludhiana Police.

The Tribune

Sardar retires from international hockey



Indian hockey’s most famous face over the last decade — and arguably among the most popular — Sardar Singh called time on his long and illustrious career on Wednesday.

The former India captain announced his retirement from international hockey. Having represented India for 12 years, Sardar said he had played “enough hockey” and it was time to move on.
“Yes, I have decided to retire from international hockey. Twelve years is a long time,” Sardar told PTI.

“I took the decision after consultation with my family in Chandigarh, Hockey India and my friends. I think it’s the right time to think about life beyond hockey,” he said.
Sardar’s announcement came after Hockey India announced the 25-member core group for the national camp, which did not include the 32-year-old’s name.

Sardar refused to comment whether the snub was the reason behind his decision.

Sardar, who made his international debut in 2006, became the captain in 2008 — the youngest in the history of Indian hockey. He held that position for eight long years. At the peak of his popularity, he was being considered as one of the greatest Indian hockey players ever.

But just like many top players before him, Sardar also overstayed his welcome.

His retirement had become a publicised issue over the last two years, with many expecting him to quit after making his second appearance at the Olympics — in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

By excluding Sardar from the core group so close to the World Cup, the federation and the management made their intentions clear that the veteran midfielder was no longer a part of their plans. It might have proved to be the nudge to call it a day.

The Tribune

‘Now it’s time for next generation to take over,’ India’s hockey great Sardar Singh decides to bow out


Sardar Singh , AFP

Sardar Singh, one of India’s greatest hockey players, has decided to bow out of the sport after serving India for almost 12 long years.

He leaves behind a legacy of 300-plus international games he played for India as their halfback and he also scored 15-plus goals.

Speaking to the media, Sardar Singh said, “I have played almost 12 years for the country and it’s a long time. Now it’s the time for the next generation to take over the baton.

According to the report, the 32-year-old DSP with Haryana Police has discussed his future with Hockey India and national coach Harendra Singh and they are convinced about his decision.

Since age was not on his side, the Indian team had not included the veteran in their squad for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

That hurt him a lot and Sardar Singh then decided to work on his fitness. He then made his comeback to the Indian team for the Champions Trophy, where he helped the team finish with the silver medal.

He not only made a comeback but he returned as one of the fittest players in the side. The Yo-Yo Test prior to the Jakarta’s Asian Games showed Sardar Singh was among the fittest players in the squad. His score of 21.4 not only bettered his own record of 21.3 but in the process, he left Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, considered India’s fittest athlete, behind.

“I am fit to play good hockey for at least a couple of more years. But there is always a time to plan what is next for you. And I personally feel this is the best time to start thinking about new ventures.

 Hockey is an integral part of my life and will always remain important to me. The only thing is that now you will see me in a different role. I will continue representing my department Haryana Police and state in the domestic circuit,” Sardar Singh added.

Earlier, it was reported that Sardar Singh has been left out of the 25-member core group named by Hockey India on Wednesday for the national camp, which is scheduled to begin on September 16 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar.

The Indian team is expected to undergo a month-long training under Harendra Singh's guidance ahead of the ten-day Asian Champions Trophy to begin on October 18 in Muscat, Oman where India will defend their title.

Daily News & Analysis

Sardar Singh, the puny boy who would go on to become a colossus for the Indian hockey team

Amit Kamath


Barring goalkeeper, there isn't a position on the field Sardar Singh hasn't played in. AFP

On a lazy Saturday morning, while the rest of Bengaluru is still rubbing the sleep out of its eyes, the blue hockey turf at the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) campus bustles with activity.

The blue turf, tucked away inside the SAI's Bengaluru campus and cloistered away from the rest of the city by a thicket of trees, is a refuge of the Indian men's hockey team. In fact, it is more than just a refuge. For most days of the year, this is home.

Saturday, though, isn't like most days of the year. It's the last day of training before the team takes flight for Jakarta for the Asian Games, where the team is to take its first crack at sealing qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. But the road to that podium is being paved here, on a gloomy Saturday morning in Bengaluru.

There's lots to do: defensive combinations to be perfected, penalty corner routines to be honed, and match fitness to be sharpened.

As on most days, training starts at 9 am. But the team's on the turf by 8.50, led by the charismatic coach Harendra Singh, who turns up riding a jet-black Royal Enfield Himalayan with sunglasses on, despite the absolute lack of sunshine. Harendra's deputy, Chris Ciriello — who helped the Australian team to multiple victories over India as a player and is currently tasked with helping the Indians fine-tune their penalty corners among other things — comes astride a sports bicycle.

And then there's PR Sreejesh, India’s first-choice goalkeeper, who has started the session by leading the team’s other two goalkeepers into a rather unusual warm-up routine, complete with music and dancing.

Yet, nothing draws the eye more than the sight of a man in his 30s, who is holding court in the centre of the blue turf. Sardar Singh is sprawled on a yoga mat surrounded by a bunch of chirpy young teammates, yet he resembles an island onto himself, cut off from the chatter around him.

In Indian hockey, where change tends to come without warning, Sardar, along with Sreejesh, has been a rare constant since they both made their debuts in 2006.

At a boisterous training session being held under a canopy of menacing clouds, Sreejesh flits around. Joking with the youngsters, doing a deliberate slow-motion jog for the sake of the team photographer. Carefree.

Sardar, meanwhile, is a brooding presence. Intense, almost lost within thought. From the moment he gets on the pitch for the training session, Sardar puts his head down, and goes to work. Running as hard as anyone else, focusing more intensely than most.

"Training main sabhi serious rehte hain," says Dilpreet Singh, one of the team's youngest players. "Par Sardar paaji sabse jyaada serious rehte hain. (Everyone's serious during training sessions. But Sardar's more serious than all of us.)"

The puny lad who became a giant

The Sardar Singh of 2018 is not the Sardar Singh of the early 2000s when he was trying to stake his claim for a spot in the Indian team. Scrawny is not a word you would associate with the Sardar Singh of 2018, a man whose veins boldly jut out of every sinew and who is usually among the team's top performers in the yo-yo test.

Yet, this was the earliest recollection of Sardar that Viren Rasquinha, back then an integral part of the national team, has.

Rasquinha remembers the skinny Sardar taking the pitch for the Namdharis during a practice match against India in 2005, when Sardar's elder brother Didar used to play for the national team. Despite his scrawny appearance, Rasquinha remembers being 'blown away' by Sardar. So good was his performance that Rasquinha was moved to boldly predict to his teammates that Sardar would play for India for many years to come.

"I'm glad he's justified my bold claim," says Rasquinha, who was a hockey expert for Sony Pictures Networks during the recently concluded Asian Games.

When Sardar made his debut for the senior team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Clarence Lobo was one of the coaches with the team.

"I remember him as a puny guy when I first saw him. Absolutely no meat on him!" says Lobo. "But he worked really hard on himself, ate right, worked on his physique and became what he did.

"Modern hockey is all about power, and his body structure put him above the rest."

At one of his earliest national team camps, the puny Sardar left a lasting mark on Lobo.

"One day after finishing a training session at Balewadi in Pune around 5.45, I came back to finish some paperwork around 7. To my surprise, the lights at the stadium were still on. I walked in to the ground to see two boys, Sardar and Rupinder Pal Singh, still training. All of their teammates had long gone back to their rooms. But these two boys were practising their slap shots and their scoops! Basics! That's what they were fine-tuning! That's what makes a player stand out. Every team I coach, I tell about Sardar," he gushes.

Lobo adds that what also stood out for him about Sardar was the fact that despite him being really young, his confidence was sky-high. Current men's team coach Harendra, however, remembers a slightly different Sardar.

"During a four-nations tournament in Lahore (a junior men's tournament), I had given him his debut. But he soon came to me and told me 'coach saab, mujhse nahi khela jaayega. Mujhe team se bahaar nikaal do. (I won't be able to do this. Please remove me from the team),'" Harendra recollects.

The issue was simple.

"He didn't understand modern hockey at that time. He wanted to play the same old Indian style. But when he played against the Japanese he saw them haring around the pitch. He couldn't do it himself. That's why he asked me to bench him. But I refused and told him that one day, if he wants to play for the country at the senior level, he needs to play exactly like this."

Later after a match against Pakistan, Harendra took him aside and told him, "You're going to become a great player. But you only have to believe yourself."

"Since that time, Sardar's belief in himself has been so strong that it propelled his career to the orbit. He's one of the biggest legends of Indian hockey at the moment. Playing over 300 matches is not a joke," Harendra says.

The Indian team's man friday

Barring as a goalkeeper, there are few positions on the pitch that Sardar hasn't played.

As coaches have come and gone from the hotseat that has come to represent the national men's coach's role, Sardar's position in the pitch too has changed.

"He's evolved so much since making his debut. From being a forward to a defender to a midfielder...he's played across the pitch. The best thing about Sardar is that he is capable of playing different roles," says Rasquinha.

At the recent Asian Games, he was back in a familiar role as the midfielder, partnering Manpreet Singh. Their link-up play in the earlier matches season was spectacular, with the youngster doing all the running while Sardar used his vision to play decisive passes.

"When I broke into the team in 2006, I started as a right link. After that the coaches which came saw that my long passes were good and I could guide players playing ahead of me really well. So coaches started playing me at the centre of the turf. Then during a 2015 Hockey World League Final match in Raipur, we were losing, so coach Roelant Oltmans asked me to play at centre forward. I pressed the defenders really well, so I continued playing in that position for the Rio Olympics. So, I guess I have played in every position across the turf depending on what the requirement of the coach was," Sardar tells Firstpost before the national team left for the Asian Games. "I did whatever was required of me. Earlier, it used to be good. The team required me."

Sardar says this without any expression on his face. Yet, his tone gives away the resentment inside. Just a few months ago, he had been dropped from the national team. Yet, when Harendra, the man who gave Sardar his first break in the junior national team, took over the reins of the national team, Sardar found himself making a comeback even he would not have imagined.

First guy in, last guy out

The first thing most players and coaches are likely to tell you about Sardar, is his habit to be the first guy on the pitch for training sessions and the last guy to leave.

"We would usually be the first guys to walk in for a training session and the last guys leaving. Just like I would try perfecting my penalty corner variations, he would work on his won skills. Again, and again. Over and over," says Sandeep Singh, who roomed with Sardar for nearly eight years during his India stint. Sandeep, who was also a hockey expert with Sony Pictures Networks during the Asian Games, paints a picture of Sardar with one line. "He's a very sweet boy," he says.

"He's always been disciplined and his work ethic has been outstanding," adds Rasquinha.

Sardar, on his part, has a simple rationale for his work ethic.

"As a senior, it's our responsibility to guide the younger lot. The way we behave on the pitch, the youngsters will also emulate. Junior players will never take responsibility by themselves. It's the seniors who have to set an example," Sardar says.

After he announced his retirement, the national team now needs to find an able replacement to fill in his boots. It will not be easy.

"Sardar was special. His vision made him a great! He would pass in such a way that the ball would split the defence but the teammate would get it at a pace he could comfortably trap at!" says Lobo. He adds that at the Commonwealth Games, a ball from Sardar -- a tomahawk pass -- was so good that he discussed it with Ric Charlesworth many years later when they met during the Hockey India League. "Pity, it didn't lead to a goal. But he broke the entire defence with one ball, that too from his weaker side."

Lobo adds: "Any boy in this country will dodge a rival player. It's in our blood. But defenders can usually catch the attacker after that. But not Sardar. He had an explosive burst of pace after he beat a defender which makes it impossible for them to come back, just like Dhanraj Pillay. You would need a lasso to catch them once they went past you!"

(Editor's note: The interviews for the quotes used in this piece with Sardar Singh, Harendra Singh, Sandeep Singh, Viren Rasquinha and Dilpreet Singh were conducted before Sardar announced his retirement)

Firstpost

Sports psychologists bring negative vibe, says India hockey coach

By Richard Bright



India will enter the pressured cauldron of a home World Cup in November without the need of a team psychologist as they search for a first medal since winning the 1975 tournament.

That’s the view of current incumbent coach Harendra Singh, who told Indian media that having a sports psycologist attracted a “negative vibe”.

“Why do you need psychologists?” he said. “If gaining confidence is the aim, then you can even consult a commoner and take motivation from him.

“The word psychologist itself carries a negative vibe and the players feel that they are doing something wrong for which they need to consult a psychologist.

“I don’t know that word. In any team the biggest psychologist is the coach and you yourself. If I’ll not motivate myself then no one in the world can motivate (me).”

India recently failed to defend their Asian Games title as they had to settle for bronze after beating Pakistan in the third place play-off match.

Since winning the World Cup in 1975, India have failed to place in the top four as rival nations such as Holland, Germany and Australia overtook the once dominanant powerhouse hockey nation as grass pitches were replaced.

“Look at the positive side, look at the data and then move to the World Cup, Whatever happened at the Asian Games, that’s a big learning curve for the players, coach and the staff,” Harendra added to the Hindustan Times.

“…that should not be repeated, that is more important, whatever happened we can erase that bad memory when we do well in the World Cup.”

India are pitted in a group with Belgium, Canada and South Africa for the November-December tournament.

The Hockey Paper

Asiad bronze was consolation, looking ahead with fresh approach, says Indian hockey coach Harendra Singh


Harendra Singh , PTI

The Asian Games setback still fresh in his mind, Indian hockey team chief coach Harendra Singh is determined to start afresh with a positive mindset and make amends in the upcoming international assignments.

Going into the Asiad as the defending champions, India ended its campaign on a disappointing note with a bronze medal after beating arch-rivals Pakistan in the third-place game.

"The bronze medal was a consolation and there is no excuse for not making it to the final of the 18th Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang," Harendra said.

"There is no point looking back at the loss but now it's critical for us to look ahead with a fresh, positive approach," he added.

Hockey India Wednesday named a 25-member core group for a national camp in Bhubaneswar from September 16 as part of the preparation for the Asian Champions Trophy and the World Cup.

"The idea of training in Bhubaneswar was to get acclimatised to the conditions. We are also looking at playing on the newly-laid turf at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium which will host the World Cup," Harendra said.

"This is a very important phase in the lead up to the season finale starting on November 28 and we intend to critically analyse our mistakes during the 18th Asian Games not just in our match against Malaysia but the other matches too.

"Asian Champions Trophy will be one tournament where we will be executing the changes made during this national camp," he added.

In the probables, the forwards who have made the cut are SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Sumit Kumar.

Ace striker Ramandeep Singh, who underwent a knee surgery after sustaining an injury during the FIH Champions Trophy, and defender Birendra Lakra, will be undergoing rehabilitation from September 16.

The players will report to Harendra for a month-long training that concludes on October 14 ahead of the 10-day Asian Champions Trophy, which will begin on October 18 in Muscat, Oman where India will defend its title.

The core group includes three goalkeepers PR Sreejesh, Suraj Karkera and Krishan Pathak while the defenders are Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Gurinder Singh, Varun Kumar, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, Surender Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh and the young Pardeep Singh.

Among midfielders, Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Sumit, Simranjit Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and Vivek Sagar Prasad have been selected.

Daily News & Analysis

Murugappa cup: Indian Army makes the last four

Chennai Hockey Association rallies to hold Hockey Bengaluru

K. Keerthivasan


In the act: Hosali Shankar Patil of Central Secretariat scores the team’s second goal against Mumbai Hockey Association. Photo Credit: R. Ravindran

Indian Army chose the right time to put its best foot forward as it outplayed defending champion Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) 3-2 in a Pool A match of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup 92nd All-India hockey tournament here on Wednesday.

With nine points from its quota of four matches, the former champion became the first team from its Pool to reach the semifinals.

Later, in a Pool B contest, Chennai Hockey Association (CHA) played out a 2-2 draw with Hockey Bengaluru (HBN), after being down by two goals in the first half.

With the result, CHA ended up third (two points from four) in Pool B while HBN (one from four) finished in fourth and last place.

Very few expected such an improved performance from Army, given the manner it has performed in its last three matches.

Against ONGC, Army played an attractive and effective hockey, with the midfield and forward-line working in near-perfect harmony.

Champion last in 2009, Army also did a good job in marking the ONGC players, especially its forwards.

Rajneesh Salaria opened the account for Army after he received a fine pass from the left by Sanjay Toppo. Toppo, then, took it upon himself as he dribbled past a few defenders for a fine backhander that had no riposte.

Surprisingly, ONGC looked wayward. It’s midfield was shoddy and the forwards were not sharp enough to convert half-chances.

However, it reduced the margin through a penalty stroke. Sumit converted the resultant stroke.

The Army ’keeper Thamaiah objected to the goal, arguing that Sumit had dragged the ball and hence it should not be awarded, but the umpire stood his ground.

Rajnath used the body swerve to cover the defender and the ’keeper to flick one home to make it 3-1.

Nine minutes remaining for the hooter, ONGC found the net after a fierce shot from Tyron Pereira was deflected home by Sumit Kumar.

Credit to Army for defending really well for the rest of the period and script a fine victory.

The results:

Pool A: Indian Army 3 (Rajneesh Salaria 18, Sanjay Toppo 23, Rajnath 50) bt ONGC 2 (Sumit 34, Sumit Kumar 61).

Central Secretariat 2 (Pawan Kumar 8, Hosali Shankar Patil 70) bt Mumbai HA 0.

Pool B: CHA 2 (Hassan Basha 48, Veera Thamizhan 55) drew with HBN 2 (M. Rajendra 14, M.B. Cariappa 35).

The Hindu

Queen’s get Etain boost for Premier League push


Hilary McEwan and Martin Goss from Etain along with Queen’s Jessica McMaster

Queen’s University ladies have received a boost by securing a three-year deal with local software company Etain as they prepare for Friday night’s opening Ulster Premier League game with Banbridge in Belfast, writes John Flack.

Last season, Simon Bell’s team narrowly missed out on the title as Lurgan pipped them to the post on the last night of the season.

Once again, Queen’s narrowly missed out on a place in the EYHL but coach Simon Bell says his team are looking forward to competing in IHL 2.

However, Bell realises that there will again be stiff competition both domestically and at all-Ireland level.

He said: “We had a big turnover of players this year as many of the students complete their studies and move on.”

“Leaving the club are: Robyn McKee, Paige Brown, Rachael Henderson, Anna Hutchinson, Ellen Hood, Beccy Anderson and Jodie Kee.

“In terms of new arrivals, we have Alyssa Jebb (Lisnagarvey), Madison Bowyer (Pegasus), Emma Gregson (Banbridge) and Koren Ferguson (Rainey).

“All of the new signings travelled with the 1st XI to Edinburgh last weekend for three training games and we expect more new players to be added to the squad as we move towards the start of the new term.

“We are looking forward to the new season and particularly to the new IHL2 which appears to be a fairer conduit to the top league than the two rounds of play-offs at the end of the season.

“It will also be nice to play against different sides and to get a feel for what life is like in a national league format.

“It will be interesting to see how quickly we can get the new squad settled and used to playing with each other – we made some progress during our training weekend in Edinburgh but there is still a long way to go.

“It is an earlier start to the league this year and Banbridge are an improving side, with a number of talented young representative players, therefore we are expecting a very tough game on Friday night.”

“As we look forward to the season starting, we are delighted to have secured the sponsorship of our senior squad.

“We have had a very good partnership with Etain over recent years and we are very much looking forward to welcoming them as our lead sponsor during this exciting next stage in our development.”

Hilary McEwan from Etain added: “As an established tech firm with connections throughout the UK and Ireland, in recent years we have witnessed the rise of much-needed gender diversity in our traditionally male-dominated arena.

“At Etain HQ we have some of the most talented women in tech leading the charge in everything from project management to custom solution development and business analysis, so we are seeing first-hand the benefit not only of hiring exceptional local talent, but also in the unique perspectives and creativity brought to us by these women.

“For us, the opportunity to sponsor the Queen’s ladies hockey teams is not only an honour and a privilege but an opportunity to bring together two great teams, demonstrating the impact of exceptional women whatever the industry.

“We’re delighted to partner with Queen’s Hockey and are excited to see what the future holds for each of these outstanding players. We wish the ladies every success for the upcoming season and can’t wait to see them in action this year.’

The Hook

Naveed Alam Removed from PHF Office

Pakistan Hockey Federation has removed Naveed Alam, Director Development and Domestic PHF, from his office with effect from Tuesday, September 11 on account of sheer violation of disciplineas well as for complaints against him from a number of district hockey associations.

To address these complaints, received from the district hockey associations across the length and breadth of the country, the PHF has appointed an inquiry committee which will submit its report to the President PHF within 10 days.

PHF MEDIA