News for 10 May 2019
All the news for Friday 10 May 2019
2019 FIH Pro League (Women) - Weekend fixtures
10 May 2019 19:00 USA v AUS (RR) Spooky Nook Sports, Lancaster
12 May 2019 18:00 USA v ARG (RR) Spooky Nook Sports, Lancaster
Live streaming and full game replay on https://fih.live (Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)
FIH Match Centre
Kookaburras-India Test Series To Be Live Streamed
Ben Somerford
Hockey Australia (HA) is delighted to today announce that next week’s two-match Test series in Perth between the Kookaburras and India will be live streamed on Hockey Australia’s YouTube page.
The world number two Kookaburras will take on world number five India on Wednesday 15 May from 5pm (AWST)/7pm (AEST) and Friday 17 May from 6:30pm (AWST)/8:30pm (AEST) at Perth Hockey Stadium.
HA CEO Matt Favier said: “Following on from the success of the FOX Sports and Kayo Sports’ coverage of the FIH Pro League, we’re thrilled to be able to bring more access to international Hockey for our fans via this stream.
“This series brings together two of the top five ranked international teams in the world so we know Hockey fans will capitalise on the ability to watch the Test matches.”
The matches can be viewed at www.youtube.com/HockeyAustralia.
There’s plenty of subplots within the series, with former Kookaburras coach Graham Reid now in charge of India, supported by Australians Chris Ciriello and David John.
The two nations last met at the 2018 Champions Trophy in the Netherlands where Australia won their group match 3-2, before claiming a 3-1 shootout win after a 1-1 draw in the final.
Tickets are also available on the gate from $10 for adults, $5 for child/concession and free for children under 10. Gates open at 4pm AWST for both matches.
Wednesday 15 May 2019 – Perth Hockey Stadium
Kookaburras v India – 5pm AWST/7pm AEST
Friday 17 May 2019 – Perth Hockey Stadium
Kookaburras v India – 6:30pm AWST/8:30pm AEST
*Watch the stream at www.youtube.com/HockeyAustralia
**Tickets $10 adults, $5 child/concession, free for children under 10
Hockey Australia media release
MHC seek experts in ex-internationals to help Malaysia reach Olympics
By Aftar Singh
Whatever it takes: Besides national coach Roelant Oltmans (left), the Malaysian Hockey Confederation have also roped in former Dutch penalty corner expert Taeke Taekema (right) to beef up the squad.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) are leaving no stone unturned to make sure Malaysia qualify for next year’s Olympic Games.
And in their latest bid to improve the national team, the MHC are hoping that former internationals will come forward to lend a helping hand.
Malaysia last featured in the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
At the recent FIH Series Finals, Malaysia’s poor defending and finishing stood out like a sore thumb.
They let in 13 goals and scored 19 in six matches to finish runners-up in a weak field.
The MHC have also brought in former Dutch penalty corner expert Taeke Taekema to check the slide.
But the rot remains as shown during the Series Finals. In the final against Canada, the hosts failed to convert all five penalty corners.
The national body also brought in Dutch goalkeeping expert Martijn Drijver but it did little to help Muhd Hairi Abdul Rahman and Muhd Hafizuddin Othman’s performance.
They are also in the midst of roping in former Australian striker and five-time world hockey player Jamie Dwyer to help our forwards become sharper in the semi-circle.
MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said they will do whatever it takes.
“We brought in experts like Taekema and Martijn,” said Subahan.
“We also want former internationals like Mirnawan (Nawawi), who was one of the top forwards during his time to help our strikers be more clinical in their finishing.
“We also want Maninderjit (Singh), a no-nonsense and hardworking defender, to guide the boys.
“I also approached former penalty corner specialist S. Kuhan but unfortunately, he is now based in Nigeria. I appeal to former players who want to assist us, please come forward,” said Subahan.
Malaysia will compete in a playoff match in October to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Star of Malaysia
Six of the best: snaps from Varsity Hockey’s Cape Town leg
Maxine Hannan & Natalie Esteves of TUKS during Maties v TUKS at UCT on 3 May
Varsity Hockey got off to a thrilling start this past weekend as the local teams, Maties and UCT, gave their fans a reason to celebrate. The picturesque UCT Astro played host to 16 matches over four days. It doesn’t get much more beautiful than high-octane hockey of the highest level, set beneath Table Mountain at sunset.
Here are six of the best snaps from the weekend.
1. At the foot of the table
Kovsies v UJ at UCT on 3 May
How about that backdrop? You just can’t beat it. UCT’s newly upgraded astroturf was the stage to an explosive weekend of #HardHittingAction.
2. Technical brilliance of Antonet Louw
Antonet Louw of Kovsies during Kovsies v UJ at UCT on 3 May
Kovsies’ Antonet Louw was on fire. This shot captures her perfect technique as she lashed home for another goal.
Her back-stick technique could even be the best in the competition.
3. Frozen in time
Erin Haupt of Wits during UJ v Wits at UCT on 6 May
Erin Haupt of Wits completes a deft back-stick sweep, lobbing a helpless UJ goalkeeper, who can only watch on as the ball drifts over her head.
4. UJ elated as their captain hands them a lifeline
UJ Celebration during UJ v Wits at UCT on 6 May
UJ’s Lisa Hawker scores a field goal, to hand them a 2-1 victory over rivals Wits and keep them in the running for semi-final spots heading into the Potch leg of Varsity Hockey.
5. It takes three to Tango
During Wits v NWU at UCT on 4 May
Wits do everything they can to prevent NWU from scoring, but even two-on-one isn’t enough to prevent NWU winning 4-1.
6. Varsity Hockey never tires of celebrations
Tuks Team Celebration during UJ v TUKS at UCT on 4 May
Celebrations and entertainment are at the heart of Varsity Sports and Sportainment. It’s why we’ll never tire of Tuks’ team celebrations. This one was an absolute gem!
Catch the next round of matches in Potchefstroom, beginning today. Click here for all the fixtures.
Varsity Sports media release
Ambition burns bright for Federico and Hugo
Sarah Juggins
Federico Garcia (URU), Hugo Romero (PAR). Photo: FIH
Federico Garcia (Uruguay) and Hugo Romero (Paraguay) are two umpires who are hungry for success. They have both been gradually moving up the ladder of international umpiring and have their eyes on the ultimate prize – Olympic and World Cup hockey.
They have also both achieved notable firsts. Garcia, who hails from Uruguay, was the first umpire from outside the ‘PAHF big three’ – Argentina, USA and Canada – to umpire at a top level international competition when he was appointed to the 2018 Champions Trophy in Breda, Netherlands.
Romero, for his part, was the youngest umpire to blow the whistle at the Pan American Challenge in 2015. The Paraguayan was just 18 at the time.
Garcia – who started umpiring in 2002 – first umpired an international in 2012 – a junior Pan Am competition, while that same year Romero was just setting out on his own umpiring career.
During the intervening seven years, things have changed in the world of hockey umpiring. The pace of the game, the fitness of the players, the increased coverage, which gives the spectators unprecedented visibility of every move on the pitch – today’s umpires have to be at the very top of their game.
A high fitness level is an absolute pre-requisite in these quasi-professional days and both Garcia and Romero take their fitness very seriously. At the recent FIH Series Finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Romero was to be found every day going through a strenuous exercise regime, despite the sweltering conditions, where temperatures were frequently hitting 40 degrees centigrade. An ability to cope with the extreme conditions in which hockey can be played is as essential to umpires as much as it is the athletes.
In a regular week, Romero trains for two hours a day, six days a week. His training is a mix of kick-boxing, swimming, gym work, running and other varied forms of training. As a sports science student, the umpire is highly knowledgeable about how to get the best performance out of himself, both physically and mentally.
Garcia runs a minimum of three or four days a week, incorporating speed training with endurance. He also does a lot of strength and core training. “I do a lot of training that is similar to tennis training,” he says. “It replicates the rapid change in direction and the change of pace. I work with a personal trainer to ensure my training is as suited to the demands of the sport as possible. And those demands have definitely increased as my umpiring standard has risen.”
It’s not just physical strength that is important. When working in a highly stressed situation such as a top flight hockey match, where a win or a loss could be the difference between qualifying for an Olympics or World Cup, then things can get heated.
“I have learnt over time how to stay calm and move on from any bad decision I might make,” says Romero. “It used to really depress me, I struggled to cope with criticism but now I take it as a learning point and move on."
“It is the same with video referral,” adds Federico. “We know that we cannot always be right. Once we accept that, we can quickly move on. The video is not your enemy, it is your friend. And if you are fit, if you are aware, if you are prepared for the game, then you can enter the field of play and perform with confidence.”
When it comes to preparation, Garcia says he takes learning points from every situation. “It doesn’t matter if it is a low level league match at home or an international game between two high-ranked teams, there will always be something to learn. With a lower league game, I might plan a focal point beforehand and really concentrate upon that during the match.”
One feature of the umpiring preparation that is relatively new is the uptake of technology. Before a contest the umpires will study video clips that highlight certain points within a game. Groups of umpires communicate via WhatsApp or Facebook pages, where they swap information and debate the finer points of decision-making. Then there is the use of video feedback, which both umpires agree is a vital part of the modern game.
“We use the Coach Logic platform,” explains Garcia. It allows you to watch matches and clip and tag the parts of the game that are relevant to us. We do our own tagging for every match. For me, I watch the FIH Pro League on Coach Logic so I can see what those umpires are tagging. That is a very important part of my own development.”
The sorts of things that the umpires, all of whom use the Coach Logic platform for any International Hockey Federation events, are looking for are things such as umpire positioning, the angles they are seeing the action from on the pitch and their interpretation of a passage of play.
“It is important to be able to see where you were positioned and why that may have influenced the way you made a certain decision,” adds Garcia.
The use of video feedback is increasingly important thanks to the advent of the FIH Pro League. Whereas at a tournament, a group of umpires can get together for intense 10-14 day period, with plenty of group discussion, at a single Pro League game only two or three umpires get together for a few days. Here, for umpires, the Coach Logic platform is vital. As Garcia explains: “Not every Pro League match has an umpire manager, so you don’t get feedback at the time. It becomes even more important to get that feedback when you get home.”
Besides the group chat around video clips, any interaction the umpires can get between themselves or with players and coaches is vitally important to development. Romero emphasises this point: “I am a young guy, so I can learn a lot from the other, more experienced people within hockey. On occasions like this [FIH Series Finals] where we are together for intense periods of time, this is a great way to chat formally and informally about the matches.”
One point that is often open for discussion is the difference in playing styles between continents. “Pan Am teams are passionate. Spain and Italy are the same,” says Garcia. “They take a lot of football into the game,” he adds with a smile.
“The management of that is the most important thing for us. It is all about player management. The European teams are very skilful, the Asian teams are very fast. So we might talk to the European umpires about how they deal with three-D skills in the air, while they might ask us about managing players in heated situations or how to handle crowding around the umpire.”
Talking to the two umpires is an opportunity to understand the commitment umpires have towards their own personal development and the burning ambition to join the ranks of the very best. “I want to get to the very top,” says Romero with disarming honesty. “I work at every tournament as hard as I can to get to top.”
Garcia has had a taste of umpiring at the top level through his appointment in Breda. Getting to the Champions Trophy in Breda was amazing. It was the best experience I have ever had as a hockey umpire. It has fed my hunger to keep developing as an umpire.”
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
Hockey goalie Akash wins anti-doping appeal
Vinayak Padmadeo
Akash Chitke was provisionally suspended on March 27 last year after his out-of-competition sample showed the presence of the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone.
Indian goalkeeper Akash Chitke has got a lucky break. The anti-doping appeal panel (ADAP) has reduced his suspension from four years to 13 months, which clears him to play again.
Chitke was provisionally suspended on March 27 last year after his out-of-competition sample showed the presence of the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone. Chitke had claimed unsuccessfully that the adverse analytical finding (AAF) was a result of prescribed medication, and was suspended for four years by the anti-doping disciplinary panel.
However, a Vibha Dutta Makhija-chaired ADAP panel — which also included Vinay Lamba and Dr Harsh Mahajan as members — found reason in Chitke’s appeal.
Three key points convinced the panel to award the verdict in Chitke’s favour. Firstly, they agreed that the source of AAF was verified as Chitke had furnished proof of the prescription and invoices. They also agreed that the goalkeeper couldn’t apply for therapeutic use exemption in time for the prescribed drug due to his father’s medical condition, for which to he submitted verifiable documents.
Chitke’s unblemished record of not registering a single AAF in his decade-long career convinced the panel that the violation was not intentional. His counsel, Parth Goswami and Hemant Phalper, argued that since it was established that the consumption of the prohibited substance was unintentional, the degree of ineligibility had to be calculated on the basis of the athlete’s degree of fault, under Article 10.5.2 of the NADA code.
And the panel agreed. “…the ineligibility of the appellant for 4 years under article 10.2.1 from the date of the appellant’s provisional suspension, i.e. 27.03.2018, is modified to a period of 13 months from the date of his provisional suspension,” the verdict read, adding: “We however confirm the sanction under article 10.8 of disqualification of all other competitive results obtained by the athlete from the date of provisional suspension with all resulting consequences including forfeiture of medals, points and prizes till the end of ineligibility period of 13 months.”
The Tribune
Hockey goalkeeper Akash Chitke's suspension reduced to 13 months by National Anti Doping Agency
New Delhi: Hockey goalkeeper Akash Chitke's two-year dope suspension was on Thursday reduced to 13 months after the National Anti-Doping Agency concluded that the player did not take the prohibited substance "intentionally".
Chitke, a former India player, was provisionally suspended by NADA's Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) for a minimum of two years for using banned anabolic steroid (Norandrosterone) during an out-of-competition test during the senior team's hockey camp in Bengaluru on February 27 last year.
But Chitke's punishment has been reduced by the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel (ADAP) following a hearing on Thursday.
"The Disciplinary Panel after going through all the records concluded that the appellant had not committed the anti-doping violation intentionally," the ADAP said in its judgement.
"We are therefore of the opinion that the ineligibility of 4 years (later reduced to a minimum of 2 years) imposed on the appellant is erroneous and must be substituted by the benefit available to the appellant under the NADA Anti-Doping Rules, 2015.
"We hereby modify the order of the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel and subsequently the ineligibility of 4 years under Article 10.2.1 from the date of the appellants provisional suspension, i.e. 27-03-2018, is modified to a period of 13 months," it added.
Chitke's urine sample report had Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) for 19-Norandrosterone (19 NA, metabolite of Nandrolone or its Precursor) at a concentration level greater than 15 ng/ml, Androgenic Anabolic Steroid, which is non-specified substance as per NADA/WADA prohibited list.
Once Chitke's 'B' sample also showed similar AAF finding, a hearing was conducted on August 13 last year. The player appeared before the panel and he said he had consumed medicines prescribed by his doctor for treatment of the index finger on his left foot.
While it was proved that Chitke neither sought Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Certificate) nor did he mention about the injection taken on the Doping Control Form, he was able to establish that he had no knowledge of the injection prescribed by the physician, whom he consulted in Pune.
Thus, he was able to avoid the maximum sanction of four years and he later appealed against the two-year suspension, which has now been reduced to 13 months.
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