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News for 01 September 2019

All the news for Sunday 1 September 2019


South African 2019 Senior IPT - Men - Finals

Final results from the South African IPT Men's A and B sections.

2019 Senior IPT - Men's A-Section
Bloemfontein

Results

31 Aug 2019     SGW v WPP (Pos 7/8)     1 - 1 (3 - 2 SO)
31 Aug 2019     EP v KZNC (Pos 5/6)     0 - 2
31 Aug 2019     NG v SAU21 (Pos 3/4)     2 - 0
31 Aug 2019     WP v SG (Pos 1/2)         2 - 2 (3 - 2 SO)

Final standings

1. Western Province
2. Southern Gauteng
3. Northern Blue
4. SA U21
5. KZN Raiders
6. Eastern Province
7. SG Witsies
8. WP Peninsula

2019 Senior IPT - Men's B-Section
Bloemfontein

Results

31 Aug 2019     NC v MPU (Position 7 & 8)     1 - 2
31 Aug 2019     KZNI v NW (Position 5&6)     0 - 7
31 Aug 2019     KZNM v SGN (Position 3&4)     6 - 1
31 Aug 2019     SACD v FS (Position 1&2)     1 - 2

Final standings

1. Free State
2. SACD
3. KZN Mynahs
4. SG Nuggets
5. North West
6. KZN Inland
7. Mpumalanga
8. Northern Cape

SA Hockey Match Centre



South African 2019 Senior IPT - Women - Finals

Final results from the South African IPT Women's A and B sections.

2019 Senior IPT - Women's A Section
Bloemfontein

Results

31 Aug 2019     SAU21 v NW (7 & 8)     2 - 2 (4 - 1 SO)
31 Aug 2019     KZNC v EP (5 & 6)         4 - 1
31 Aug 2019    WP v FSA (3 & 4)         3 - 2
31 Aug 2019     SG v NG (1 & 2)         1 - 1 (0 - 2 SO)

Final standings

1. Northern Blues
2. Southern Gauteng
3. Western Province
4. Free State A
5. KZN Raiders
6. Eastern Province
7. SA U21
8. North West

2019 Senior IPT - Women's B-Section
Bloemfontein

Results

31 Aug 2019     SACD v NGD (5 & 6)         2 - 0
31 Aug 2019     FSB v NWB (7 & 8)             1 - 4
31 Aug 2019     MPUM v KZN MYN (3 & 4)     1 - 2
31 Aug 2019     WPP v SGW (1 & 2)         2 - 2 (1 - 3 SO)

Final standings


1. SG Witsies
2. WP Peninsula
3. KZN Mynahs
4. Mpumalanga
5. SACD
6. Northern Daisies
7. North West B
8. Free State B
9. SG Nuggets
10. Border

SA Hockey Match Centre



2019 Murugappa Gold Cup hockey: IOC begins title defence with nervy 3-2 win

A superb dragflick from Gurjinder Singh in the final minutes of the match helped defending champion IOC secure a 3-2 win against Indian Army in its first match of the 2019 Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament.

Samarnath Soory


Gurjinder Singh of IOC (left) celebrates after scoring a goal against Indian Army during the 93rd All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

Gurjinder Singh came to the rescue of defending champion Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) as it began its 2019 Murugappa Gold Cup campaign with a 3-2 win over Indian Army on Saturday. Even as Punjab National Bank beat Indian Air Force 2-1 in the first match, Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB) got held to a 1-1 draw by Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai.

Defending champion IOC won two penalty corners in the first quarter but it was Indian Army which took the lead in the 15th minute. A one-touch passing move involving Sanjay Toppo and Vishwa Thakur fell to Jitender Rathee who deflected the ball past the keeper to give his side the lead.

In the 20th minute, Army goalkeeper Akash Chikte made a double save from a penalty corner but was unable to prevent Armaan Qureshi’s equaliser off a goalmouth melee. Affan Yousuf put the holder ahead in the 33rd minute, slotting home S. K. Uthappa’s pass from the right side.

In the third quarter, Army was presented with a big opportunity to equalise from a penalty stroke, but Vishal Singh’s tame spot flick was saved by keeper Pankaj Rajak. IOC’s claims for a foul were ignored by the umpire when Army equalised in the 53rd minute from a penalty corner .

Army created a couple of good chances as it pushed for the third goal, but Gurjinder Singh kept his calm and won the match for IOC with a 56th minute dragflick into the roof of the net.

In the first match of the day, PNB took a 1-0 lead through Satender Dalal’s solo goal in the 14th minute. Sukhjeet Singh added a second in the 32nd minute from a penalty corner but IAF pulled one back through Ajit Pandit’s goal from a PC in the 40th minute. IAF pushed for an equaliser but wasted two corners as PNB saw the game out 2-1.

In the second match, Gaganpreet Singh (35’) opened the scoring for PSB, but P. R. Aiyappa’s (38’) finished from a penalty stroke to secure a 1-1 draw for RSPB.

Results

Group-A: IOC 3 (Armaan Qureshi 19', Affan Yousuf 32', Gurjinder Singh 56') bt Indian Army 2 (Jitender Rathee 15', Sukhdeep Singh 53'); PNB 2 (Satender Dalal 14', Sukhjeet Singh 32') bt IAF 1 (Ajit Pandit 40').

Group-B: PSB 1 (Gaganpreet Singh 35') drew with Railways 1 (P.R. Aiyappa 38').

Sportstar



IOC overcomes Indian Army

PSB holds Indian Railways

K. Keerthivasan

Defending champion Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was pushed to the limits by a resolute Indian Army in its first Group-A match of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament here on Saturday. However, like a true champion, IOC scripted a well-deserved 3-2 victory.

Earlier, Punjab National Bank (PNB) outwitted Indian Air Force 2-1 in Group-A before Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) produced a fine display to hold National champion Indian Railways to a 1-1 draw in Group-B.

Proving himself

Gurjinder Singh has generally been a big-match player for IOC and he proved it once again with a well-angled drag flick off a penalty corner for the decisive goal in the 56th minute.

Backed by a quick Affan Yousuf in the middle and supported by Roshan Minz, Talwinder Singh and Armaan Qureshi, it was a treat watching IOC in action.

Army was resolute, defended well, and counter-attacked too. Despite being at the receiving end in the first quarter, it was Army which opened the scoring. A deft deflection by Jitender Rathee found the target.

IOC had four penalty corners in the second quarter and converted one in the third through Qureshi, which resulted in the equaliser.

The spadework for the second goal for IOC came from S.K. Uthappa. He produced a fine run from the 25-yard-line and back-passed it to Affan who slotted it home.

Army’s best chance

Army had probably the best chance in the third quarter but Sanjay Toppo missed a sitter in front of an open goal. Immediately, the army men earned a stroke but this time Chandan Aind’s shot was saved by IOC ’keeper Pankaj Rajak.

Army finally drew level again through Sukhdeep Singh off a penalty corner.

Gurjinder struck the winner from the team’s sixth corner to give IOC a morale-boosting win.

Army can take heart from the fact that its custodian Akash Chikte effected several fine saves, off penalty corner shots from V.R. Raghunath and Gurjinder.

The results:

Group-A: IOC 3 (Armaan Qureshi 19, Affan Yousuf 32, Gurjinder Singh 56) bt Indian Army 2 (Jitender Rathee 15, Sukhdeep Singh 53); PNB 2 (Satender Dalal 14, Sukhjeet Singh 32) bt IAF 1 (Ajit Pandit 40).

Group-B: PSB 1 (Gaganpreet Singh 35) drew with Railways 1 (P.R. Aiyappa 38).

The Hindu



FIH mulling to have India, Pakistan play home and away ties in Europe for Olympic qualifiers

India and Pakistan have been seeded in two separate halves of the draw by FIH on Thursday and they could meet in the Olympics qualifying tournament.


India and Pakistan in action. Photo Credit: PTI

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is mulling to have India and Pakistan play their home and away matches in Europe if the arch-rivals face off in the Olympic qualifying tournament for a berth at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

India and Pakistan have been seeded in two separate halves of the draw by FIH on Thursday and they could meet in the Olympics qualifying tournament.

According to a source in the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the FIH will soon be announcing draws for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 qualifiers.

“In the qualifiers in September-October, the top tier teams will have to play against the lower tier teams and Pakistan and India which has already won one qualifying tournament could be drawn up against each other,” he said.

Pakistan, Egypt, South Korea, Spain, Germany, New Zealand, India, and some other teams are expected to feature in the qualifying tournament for the summer Olympics with seven berths at stake.

The PHF source said they had managed to convince the FIH to give them entry in the qualifying tournament after paying the first installment of the fine imposed on the PHF for not sending its team for the Pro Hockey League earlier this year.

“It is not necessary we might draw up India but if that happens then the FIH will probably schedule the matches in Europe as conditions are not conducive to play the matches in India or Pakistan,” he said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated in the aftermath of Indian government’s scrapping of Article 370 which had accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The source further said that preparations are on for Pakistan to compete in the Olympic qualifying events as appearing in the Summer Olympics would be a big boost for the game in the country.

Pakistan, currently ranked 17th in the world, had missed out on the last Olympic games in Brazil.

The Hindu



No shortage of guidance despite no coach: India Jr team's Mandeep Mor

Indian junior men’s team defender Mandeep Mor is confident that the team will win October’s Sultan of Johor Cup despite the post of head coach lying vacant for the past two months.

Samarnath Soory


Under the guidance of team manager B. J. Kariappa, Mandeep Mor is confident that the Indian junior team has a good chance in the Sultan of Johor Cup.   -  M. Vedhan

India junior men’s team missed out a third Sultan of Johor Cup after it agonizingly fell short against Great Britain in the final of the 2018 edition in Malaysia. The side defeated the likes of Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Malaysia earlier, only to lose 3-2 in the summit clash.

However, Mandeep Mor, who captained the side last year, is confident of lifting the title after 2018's heartbreaking loss.

“Last year, we had few players who were with the Youth Olympics team and some of us were in Johor Bahru. Missing few players did not help us in the final. But this time, we have a good unit and we have trained well,” Mor, who won six international caps for the senior team, said.

Jude Felix was sacked as the junior team’s head coach in June after the team finished sixth in the Eight-Nations invitational tournament in Madrid. The job, however, has been vacant ever since, as Hockey India is yet to find a new replacement, even after it extended the application deadline for the fourth time recently.

But under the guidance of team manager B. J. Kariappa, Mor is confident that the team has a good chance.

“Not having a coach is little problematic sometimes, but we have Kariappa sir with us. He guides us through our structural and individual plans for the tournament. The team is stronger and fitter this time,” he said.

Mor felt that the team can perform well without last year’s top-scorer Shilanand Lakra and key striker Gursahibjit Singh, who are currently with the senior team.

“This time we have Dilpreet (Singh), who has the experience of playing Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. We also have Yashdeep (Siwach), who was in the senior camp recently. For penalty corners, me and Pratap Lakra are in charge,” Mor said.

Mor, who made his international debut in 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, is confident that he is ready to play for the senior team and is hopeful of getting his next call up very soon.

“When I first played for the senior team, I was nervous and under pressure. Then being able to lead the junior team is something I am proud of. Now I feel that I am ready to play for the senior team,” he said.

The 2019 Sultan of Johor Cup will be held between October 12-19, and will feature Australia, Great Britain, Japan, India, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Sportstar



Aymar “the magician” reveals how she drove Argentinian hockey to the top



Luciana Aymar is not only the greatest female hockey player of all time; she also transformed the way an entire nation views her sport. It is quite a story and, after 20 years of sacrifice, the 41-year-old and now retired four-time Olympic medal winner is enjoying sharing it.

“There was no outstanding sport for women when I was young. We were divided between tennis, volleyball and gymnastics,” Aymar said. “So, as a group of players and coaches we decided to change the look of our sport. We wanted hockey to be one of the best, most popular sports in the whole country.”

The scope of such ambition was monumental. When the seven-year-old Aymar first picked up a hockey stick, the Argentinian women’s team had never won a hockey World Cup, having reached the final in both 1974 and 1976. But the weight of history was never going to stop the bristling youngster from Rosario, a city 300km up the Paraná River from capital Buenos Aires and also the birthplace of Argentina’s footballing maestro, Lionel Messi.

“When I was 17 years old, I had to travel to Buenos Aires every week to train. I would get up on Sundays at 3 a.m. and take a bus to be in Buenos Aires at 7 a.m., to start training at 8 a.m. sharp,” Aymar recalled, with a laugh. “I came back from Buenos Aires on Thursday to get to my club training on Thursday afternoon. Then I would play on Saturday and go back out on Sunday to Buenos Aires.


Getty Images

“I did this crazy routine for many years. My head was determined I would be the best player I could be.”

Such dedication was swiftly rewarded. Aged 16, Aymar became the youngest-ever female hockey player to pull on an Argentina shirt for the senior team. And that was when things really started to change.

“The coaches were the ones who imposed the rules. We started training double shifts every day, lifting weights, running marathons with weight vests on, training in the pool and running on the track,” she explained. “The change in our bodies and in our minds was radical. In four years, we created a group of people passionate about hockey with the clear conviction of becoming the best.”


Getty Images

By the time the Olympic Games Sydney 2000 came around, the young, hungry Argentinian women were ready. Sporting T-shirts with lionesses emblazoned on them, the blue and white army powered through the competition, winning five of their seven matches before falling 3-1 to the hosts in the final.

“We became what we aspired to be for so many years, the Lionesses,” Aymar said, the pride at winning silver, her nation’s first-ever Olympic hockey medal, still evident. “The popularity we got was incredible, Argentina recognised all of us.”

On the back of such a wave and fuelled by Aymar’s super-charged talents, the Lionesses began carving their name deeper into the history books. A first Champions Trophy followed in 2001 – the year in which Aymar won the first of a record eight International Hockey Federation (FIH) player of the year awards – and then the big one came in 2002. Led by player of the tournament Aymar, Argentina claimed its first-ever women’s World Cup title.


Getty Images

The honours continued to roll in, both for Aymar herself and for her team. Over the course of the next decade, Argentina strode to a further four Champions Trophies, a second World Cup – won in Aymar’s home city – and two Olympic bronze medals. The woman everyone began to refer to as La Maga (the magician) was at the heart of every triumph, hailed by a nation in love with its relentless superstar. Comparisons with Argentina’s most famous of all sporting heroes inevitably followed, with Aymar’s pace and lyrical dribbling abilities likened to the one and only Diego Maradona.

For the Rosario native, who had grown up, like most of her peers, idolising the diminutive striker and attempting to ape his mesmerising twists and turns in the school playground, it was the ultimate accolade.

“There was no pressure at all. For me it was nice to have so much recognition from the media and from the people,” Aymar said. “I will always be grateful to all my team-mates and coaches who always tried to make me the best player. Without them I would not have achieved anything. It was my marriage for 20 years. Being on a pitch gave me happiness.”


Getty Images

The Olympic Games London 2012 almost provided the perfect swansong for one of hockey’s greatest-ever ambassadors. For the second time in her career, Aymar drove her compatriots to the Olympic final but, for the second time, they came up just short, losing 2-0 to the Netherlands.

While it seems cruel from the outside that Aymar’s talent was not rewarded with the ultimate sporting prize, the woman herself does not view it that way.

“All the Olympic Games that I participated in were incredible. For any athlete, the Olympic Games is the best event because it is different from any other tournament,”

Aymar said. “You share 15 days in an Olympic Village with the best athletes in the world, where everyone is focused on giving their best while enjoying meeting other athletes.

“One of the most beautiful moments for me was to carry the flag at the Olympic Games [Opening Ceremony] in London.”


Getty Images

It was an entirely fitting reward for a player who gave so much. As was the honour of being named an Ambassador for the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

Like other such prestigious roles, it enabled Aymar to continue to inspire generations of young girls, a task to which she is wonderfully suited. Just do not ask her to get back on a hockey pitch, even for fun – her obsessive mentality simply will not allow it.

“Today my energy is set on trying to live a normal life, learning to live in a relationship with another person and not with my sport,” Aymar said with a loud laugh. “When I stopped playing I distanced myself to be able to fully release my sport.”


Getty Images

International Olympic Committee site



UNC field hockey opens season with win over Michigan in ACC-Big Ten Challenge

By Andrew Montross


Erin Matson competes against William & Mary on a Nov. 9 game in 2018. On Friday, the sophomore scored three goals in the season opener against Michigan. Sarah Redmond

The No. 1 North Carolina field hockey team (1-0) started off its season strong on Friday, earning a top-10 victory by a margin of 4-2 at No. 8 Michigan (0-1).

What happened?

Not even two minutes into the game, North Carolina allowed a goal off of a direct corner shot to Michigan’s Meg Dowthwaite.

“We probably started as poorly as we could, getting down a goal early in the game. They executed it well, credit to Michigan for doing that,” head coach Karen Shelton said.

The Tar Heels responded with a three-goal outburst from sophomore forward Erin Matson in a span of less than 10 minutes. Michigan tied the game up at two after UNC’s second goal, but Matson completed the hat trick a minute later. This set the tone for North Carolina, and they never looked back.

After the first five goals in the first half, the last goal was scored by senior forward Marissa Creatore in the fifty-eighth minute.

After the game, Shelton gave her thoughts on her team’s performance.

“What I liked was we didn’t lose our composure and we battled back,” she said. “It was a back and forth game. I think both teams learned a lot, and at the end of the day we played pretty good defense, we moved the ball, we executed on our penalty corner late and we put pressure on them.”
Who stood out?

The outstanding performance of the night was definitely by Matson. Her consistent scoring kept the Tar Heels in the game and alleviated pressure off the defense, who struggled a little bit by letting in two goals at the beginning of the game.

“She played amazing,” Shelton said.

Other notable performances came from Yentl Leemans, Madison Orobono and Romea Riccardo. Leemans was battling sickness earlier in the day which kept her out of practice in the morning, but she ended up playing the entire game and was a significant contributing factor to the Tar Heels win.

Shelton added some comments on the play of the other two. “Madison Orobono, she’s playing a critical position, she’s a freshman in the back field, I thought she played very well. And Romea Riccardo, who’s right back, she was a redshirt freshman last year. She played in her first game today, so it was really fun to see her play really well."

When was it decided?

Going into the fourth quarter, it was anybody’s game. North Carolina had a 3-2 lead, and the game had been going back and forth the entire time.

However, Creatore’s late-game goal sealed the victory for UNC.

“You want to win the fourth quarter,” Shelton said. “We had a one goal lead going into it and we were able to get a goal and secure the 4-2 win.”

Why does it matter?

This game was significant because it was a contest of two notorious teams. A season opener win against top-10 competition certainly boosts confidence, but the team also learned a lot about themselves.

“It was a great game really, a great opening game for both teams to learn a lot and get better and we found a way to win,” Shelton said.

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels play again on Sunday, when they will match up against No. 10 Iowa at 2 p.m. This is the last game for UNC in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

The Daily Tar Heel

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