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News for 05 February 2020

All the news for Wednesday 5 February 2020


No stopping of Rani, this time against GB

s2h team



No stopping of India's Luciana Aymar, Rani Rampal. The forward, who is the talk of the town in the global hockey community, struck peach of a goal to get India a coveted victory over Great Britain at Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday. The solitary goal helped India to post a memorable victory which is also a repeat its show against the same rival in the last Commonwealth Games.

Fresh from getting the coveted World Games' Athlete of the year, Rani hogged limelight again when she posted a goal in the 47 minute against the reigning Olympic Champions Great Britian which turned out to the lone goal of the interesting contest at Auckland.

Her lone goals are fast becoming folklore of sort. The one she managed to score against the USA at Bhubaneswar in the double-header Olympic Qualifying test, when the team was trailing 0-4, got the Tokyo ticket for India.

On the same lines, she did the sole act at Auckland also.

It was visiting India's fourth match in New Zealand. Having won their first match in the New Zealand Tour 4-0 against the hosts Development Squad, Indian Women's Team had lost the following two matches 2-1 and 1-0 respectively to the New Zealand National Team.

However, on Tuesday, the Indian Women's Team led by Rani played with full gusto as they began the match with strong attack. The efforts paid off early as the team earned a PC but could not convert. But the team continued to play with a structured defence and tight passing, which ensured little room for Great Britain to counter attack or create chances to score. "We created enough chances and now we need to keep working on converting those chances but our defence stood strong through the match which was a good thing," expressed Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne after the match.

Ending the first half in a 0-0 stalemate, India made another PC attempt in the third quarter but could not make the opportunity count. The team however kept up a good line of defence and continued to carry on aggressive attack. It was not until the 47th minute when Skipper Rani created space in the circle, netting a powerful shot past Great Britain's goalkeeper.

The 1-0 lead put serious pressure on Great Britain who eventually could not recover, thus conceding the loss. "Towards the end of the match, we were under pressure but the team handled it well and even ensured a goal. The win is good for a morale boost but for me it's all about the performance and I see we can grow and become more dominant and calmer on the ball," he stated further adding that it's important for the team to recover fast in order to continue winning momentum against New Zealand in tomorrow's match. "We now need to ensure fast recover in order to be ready for tomorrow's match," Marijne stated

On 5 February 2020, India will take on Great Britain at 0830 hours IST.

Stick2Hockey.com



Rani strike helps India women’s hockey team beat Great Britain 1-0


Rani scored the goal in the 47 minute to give Indian team the lead and eventually seal the match.   -  PTI

Skipper Rani Rampal struck the solitary goal as the Indian women’s hockey team recorded a 1-0 win over Great Britain in its fourth match of the ongoing tour on Tuesday.

Rani scored the goal in the 47 minute to give Indian team the lead and eventually seal the match.

After winning their opening match of the tour against the host’s development squad, India had suffered two-back-to-back losses to New Zealand.

However, on Tuesday, India played with full gusto as it began the match with a strong attack. The efforts paid off early as the team earned a PC but could not convert. But the team continued to play with a structured defence and tight passing, which ensured little room for Britain to counter attack or create chances to score.

“We created enough chances and now we need to keep working on converting those chances but our defence stood strong through the match which was a good thing,” India chief coach, Sjoerd Marijne said.

Ending the first half in a 0-0 stalemate, India made another PC attempt in the third quarter but could not make the opportunity count.

However, the team kept a good line of defence and continued to carry on an aggressive attack. It was not until the 47th minute when skipper Rani created space in the circle, netting a powerful shot past Britain’s goalkeeper.

The 1-0 lead put serious pressure on Britain, which eventually could not recover.

“Towards the end of the match, we were under pressure but the team handled it well and even ensured a goal. The win is good for a morale boost but for me it’s all about the performance and I see we can grow and become more dominant and calmer on the ball,” Marijne said.

“We now need to ensure fast recover in order to be ready for tomorrow’s match,” he added. The two teams will clash again on Wednesday.

Sportstar



2020 Test matches RSA v GER (W)
Stellenbosch (RSA)

30 Jan 2020     RSA v GER     0 - 4
2 Feb 2020     RSA v GER     1 - 8
4 Feb 2020     RSA v GER     0 - 4

FIH Match Centre



Tough final test ends in defeat for South Africa

The South African ladies took on Germany in the final match of the three test Summer Series in Stellenbosch yesterday morning. Although the Germans had already won the series by winning the opening two games, the South Africans knew that a shock victory would earn them more than just pride as ranking points are now available for every test match.

Having been completely outplayed on Sunday in the second test the South Africans wanted to give their fans a better showing in this match and for large portions they did just that. Kristen Paton continued to be a shining light for the South Africans while Erin Hunter and Onthatile Zulu themselves produced moments of quality to give real hope.

But in truth the South Africans were always second best to a very good Germany side. The South Africans were sitting back and absorbing waves of pressure looking to take advantage of counterattack opportunities. But once again the timing of a goal would have caused disappointment for Robin van Ginkel. Naomi Heyn beating her marker and finishing past Marlise van Tonder within a minute of break was perfect timing for the Europeans and more frustration for the South Africans.

The Germans finally made it 2-0 with their sixth penalty corner of the game when Sonja Zimmermans strike was deflected past Van Tonder and the resistance seemed to have finally been broken. Rebecca Grote made sure the Germans wouldn’t need another six penalty corners before they scored again as she finished the seventh expertly to make it 3-0. Their eighth corner produced another goal this time for the impressive Pia Maertens which rounded up the scoring.

The South Africans did produce a wonderful break away in the final minute of the game but Nicky Veto, who was on the end of the move, was denied by a good save. The play summing up the South African series as end-product is a significant concern for the management team.

That ends the Summer Series for the South Africans who disappointingly lost their six test matches. There was some good work and good processes put in place, but the hard yards are only going to get harder before the team embark on Tokyo.

Summer Series Results

First Test – SA 0-4 Germany
Second Test – SA 1-8 Germany
Third Test – SA 0-4 Germany

SA Hockey Association media release



2020 Test matches ARG v JPN (W)
Mar del Plata (ARG)

1 Feb 2020     ARG v JPN     3 - 1
2 Feb 2020     ARG v JPN     3 - 2
4 Feb 2020     ARG v JPN     6 - 1

FIH Match Centre



Argentina enter the fray in FIH Hockey Pro League 2020



Match Week 5 of the FIH Hockey Pro League sees Argentina’s men and women playing their first matches of the season, New Zealand’s national teams entertaining Great Britain and a mouth-watering clash between India men and reigning World and European champions Belgium in Bhubaneswar.

More information about all of this week’s double headers can be found below, with the complete match schedule available by clicking here.

Argentina v USA (W)
Where: CENARD, Buenos Aires (ARG)
When: 07 & 08 Feb 2020, both 1800 local time (GMT/UTC +3)

Summary: A Pan-American derby match between great rivals Argentina (FIH World Ranking: 3) and USA (WR:14) is a fine way to start three intense days of FIH Hockey Pro League action. The Americans suffered a crushing 9-0 defeat on home soil against the Netherlands recently, an opening match tinged with sadness following the recent death of USA National Teams Manager Larry Amar. This youthful, developing team certainly faces another stern test in Buenos Aires this weekend. Argentina have won 15 of their previous 24 meetings against USA and have not suffered defeat since a Pool B clash at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. However, the last time they faced each other on Argentinian soil was in last year’s Pro League, with USA securing a 2-2 draw in Cordoba before losing the subsequent shoot-out. In the Olympic year of 2020, Argentina’s charismatic, impassioned head coach Carlos Retegui will demand that his team hits the ground running, and with extraordinary attacking players such as Delfina Merino, Carla Rebecchi and Maria Granatto, they have the potential to score goals against any opposition.  

Match pages (Head-to-heads, squads* & officials*): Match 1 | Match 2 


Argentina v Spain (M)
Where: CENARD, Buenos Aires (ARG)
When: 07 & 08 Feb 2020, both 2030 local time (GMT/UTC +3)

Summary: Meetings between the men of Argentina (WR:4) and Spain (WR:9) are usually packed with excitement, passion and plenty of goals. The past eleven meetings have averaged over four goals per game, with reigning Olympic champions Argentina winning seven of those contests compared to European silver medallists Spain’s three, with one draw. Los Leones defeated the Red Sticks 3-2 in both of their Pro League meetings last season, although two test matches in Valencia (ESP) last October went the way of the Spaniards, who claimed a draw (2-2) and a win (2-1) against their higher-ranked opponents. Spain arrive in Buenos Aires still searching for their first win of the 2020 Pro League season, having taken just one point from their double-headers against both Germany and the Netherlands. Josep Romeu is Spain’s top scorer so far this season with three goals, all from penalty corners. Argentina have a penalty corner expert of their own in the shape of Jose Tolini, who recently scored five times in two test matches against Canada as he continues to shine in the absence of Gonzalo Peillat. Spain attacker Xavi Lleonart currently sits on 199 caps and could reach a double century of international appearances this weekend.      

Match pages: Match 1 | Match 2 

New Zealand v Great Britain (M&W)
Where: North Harbour Hockey Stadium, Auckland (NZL)
When: 08 & 09 February 2020

Men’s matches: 1700 (08 Feb) & 1500 (09 Feb) local time (GMT/UTC +13)

Summary: Two matches against top ranked Belgium did not exactly allow New Zealand’s men (WR: 8) to ease into this year’s Pro League, but despite two defeats, there were certainly some promising moments. The Red Lions were deserving winners of the first match but the Black Sticks were greatly improved in the second meeting, giving the World champions a serious run for their money but ultimately falling to another defeat at the impressive new North Harbour Hockey Stadium in Auckland. This weekend they face a Great Britain (WR:7) team that sits just one place above them in the rankings and has won all three of their meetings since a 2-2 draw in the pool phase of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, triumphing in both of their Pro League meetings last year. Danny Kerry’s team gave a terrific account of themselves in the first of their two matches against reigning Pro League champions Australia in Sydney at the weekend, drawing 4-4 (but losing the shoot-out) and scoring some wonderful goals, none better than a sensational solo effort from rising star Zach Wallace. A 5-1 defeat against the Kookaburras in the second game is unlikely to trouble a team that appears to be in a good place at this present time.

Match pages: Match 1 | Match 2 

Women’s matches: 1930 (08 Feb) & 1730 (09 Feb) local time (GMT/UTC +13)
Summary: New Zealand’s women (WR:6) did not make the best of starts to their 2020 campaign, losing 2-1 against lower ranked Belgium in a match they dominated but one in which they failed to make the most of their opportunities. A real positive was an outstanding performance from Gemma McCaw, who marked her first international appearance since the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with a goal. McCaw was also excellent in the second match, although it was super striker Olivia Merry who quite rightly stole the headlines, scoring all of her team’s goals as the Black Sticks emerged 4-1 winners. Merry and McCaw will be aiming to reproduce their stellar form this weekend against Olympic champions Great Britain (WR:5), with two New Zealand victories being enough for the hosts to move ahead of the Brits in the FIH World Rankings. That is easier said than done, especially in the light of GB’s solid performances against Australia in Sydney at the weekend. A 2-1 defeat in Match 1 came with just 12 seconds remaining thanks to Grace Stewart’s last-gasp strike, with the second game being cancelled at half time due to a thunderstorm that rendered the pitch unplayable with GB leading 1-0. Great Britain head coach Mark Hager, who coached the Black Sticks women between 2010 and 2018, will feel confident that his charges can challenge the home favourites in their own back yard.

Match pages: Match 1 | Match 2 

India v Belgium (M)
Where: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar (IND)
When: 08 & 09 Feb 2020, both 1700 local time (GMT/UTC +5.30)

Summary: Belgium’s men (WR:1) return to the scene of their greatest achievement this weekend, with Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium being the venue where the Red Lions lifted the FIH World Cup in December 2018. Whilst fond memories will come flooding back for Shane McLeod’s men as soon as they arrive in the city, reliving past glories will be far from the thoughts of a team determined to dominate throughout 2020. Belgium claimed 11 points from 12 in their away trips to Australia and New Zealand, putting them top of both the Pro League standings and the FIH World Rankings. The European champions have looked utterly irresistible at times, but in India (WR:5) – who earned five points from six in their Pro League debut double header at home against the Netherlands – they face a talented and extremely capable team. India’s impressive showing against the Dutch, particularly in Match 1 where they emerged 5-2 winners, will fill them with great confidence coming into these matches, and the home fans will certainly fancy their chances of staging an upset. Two Indian victories could see Belgium lose their top spot in the rankings table and, depending on results in Argentina, push India up one place to fourth.  

Match pages: Match 1 | Match 2 

China v Belgium (W) – Matches on hold. 
Due to the current uncertainties around the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, the International Hockey Federation (FIH), after consultation with the Hockey Associations of China and Belgium, recently decided that the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League matches between the women’s national teams of China and Belgium, initially scheduled on 8 and 9 February in Changzhou, would not be played. More information about this can be found by clicking here.

To find out how you can watch the action, please visit our broadcast page byclicking here. In territories where broadcast rights agreements are not in place, fans can watch live match action from the FIH Hockey Pro League via the FIH.live global broadcast platform. To visit FIH.live, click here.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via theevent website and through FIH social media channels -Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Want to win tickets to an FIH Hockey Pro League match? Here’s what you have to do! Take a quick snap or record a video to capture your “best FIH Hockey Pro League moment” and post it on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, using the hashtag #MyProLeagueMoment. For more info, click here.

* available 48 hours before each match

#FIHProLeague

Official FIH Pro League Site



PHF calls 48 players for Azlan Shah Cup training camp

KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has called 48 players for the training camp for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia, from April 11 to 18, a PHF press release on Tuesday said.

PHF has directed the following 48 players to report to Khwaja Junaid, the camp commandant, at the National Hockey Stadium, Lahore, on February 10.

Goalkeepers: Amjad Ali, Waqar, Muneeb ur Rehman, Agha Awn Ali, Abdullah. Full backs: Amjad Ali Khan, Mubashir Ali, Rizwan Ali, Atif Mushtaq, Sami ullah Khan, Usama Bashir, Arbaz, Abdullah Bhutto, Usman Bashir.

Half backs: Ammad Shakeel Butt, Azfar Yaqoob, Junaid M Manzoor, Rizwan Senior, M Adnan, Rashid Mehmood, Aqeel, Asif Hanif, Moin Shakeel Ahtisham.

Forwards: Umar Bhutta, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Aiaz Ahmad, Nohaiz Zahid Malik, Faizan, Ahmad Nadeem, Tazeem-ul-Hassan, Rana Suhail Riaz, Sulaiman Razzaq, Ali Shan, Sami Ullah, Qazi Asfand Yar, Mohsin Khan, Rana Waheed, Ghazanfar Ali, Hammadudin Anjum, Arfaz, Umair Sattar, Rooman, Ali Aziz, Bilawal, Asher Tariq, Zain Ejaz, Hamza.

The News International



China withdraw from women's Junior Asia Cup due to coronavirus

By Jugjet Singh

KUALA LUMPUR: China have withdrawn from the women's Junior Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan which will be held on April 6-12.

The defending champions were knocked out of the tournament, a qualifier for the 2021 Junior World Cup, by the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.

Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), in a circular to participating countries, noted that they are now looking for a replacement team to complete Group B.

The top three teams in Kakamigahara will qualify for the Junior World Cup.

China finished 10th in the last World Cup. For the record, Malaysia, who will be playing in Group A, have never qualified for the women's Junior World Cup.

GROUP A: India, Japan, Malaysia, Uzbekistan

GROUP B: South Korea, Thailand, Singapore

New Straits Times



Surbiton line up yet another Euro trip as their men win English indoor title

England’s EHL FINAL8-bound side Surbiton have another European trip to look forward to next year as they won their national indoor Jaffa Super 6s title with a 3-2 final win over Holcombe.

Goals from Rob Farrington, Arjan Drayton-Chana and Ben Boon were enough to ensure they would lift the trophy and halt East Grinstead’s reign of dominance of the competition.

Reaching the final with an emphatic 6-2 victory over Wimbledon, Surbiton looked in good form through the semi-finals as braces from Jonny Gall, Arjan Drayton-Chana and William Marshall secured a big victory.

Holcombe booked their place in the final with a narrow 4-3 victory over last year’s champions East Grinstead in what was a highly entertaining watch for the Copper Box Arena crowd as Anton Parente, Robert Field and Nick Bandurak’s two goals gave them the victory.Surbiton continued their fantastic form into the final with Rob Farrington finding the backboard with less than a minute on the clock.

Holcombe quickly replied with a swift passing move from one end to the other as Nick Bandurak swept the ball in to finish the move and level the scores at 1-1.

Surbiton regained the lead just before the end of the opening quarter as Drayton-Chana’s drag flick thundered against into the goal.  s Ore Ogunlana made a superb save to deny Barry Middleton from close range before quickly counter attacking with the ball falling nicely to Ben Boon to put Surbiton 3-1 to the good.

With the half drawing to an end, Holcombe got one back, Robert Field finding the back of the net from the top of the D with a superb strike to close the scores at the break.

Holcombe restarted quickly, Middleton flashing the ball across the face of goal with Bandurak coming within inches of finding a touch to knock it in.

With both sides struggling to make a breakthrough in the third quarter, the final ten minutes proved decisive. Farrington made a critical goal line block to deny Holcombe from levelling the scores from a penalty corner as Holcombe’s chances stacked up.

Though Holcombe continued on the offensive, there was to be no stopping Surbiton whose resilient performance saw them claim their first Jaffa Super 6s title since 2017.

In the women’s final, meanwhile, Buckingham narrowly defeated Bowdon Hightown 4-3 in the women’s Jaffa Super 6s final, taking the title for the first time in their history and avenging their 2019 final defeat.

In what was a thrilling match, Buckingham secured their place in the final with a 5-4 victory over last year’s champions East Grinstead. Katrina Nicholson, Lottie Porter, Abbie Brant and a Rebecca Arrowsmith brace were enough to see them through in what was an even contest throughout.

The second semi-final was another gripping watch as Bowdon Hightown booked a place in the final with a 6-3 victory over Sutton Coldfield, making it consecutive games with nine goals scored. Sally Walton, Megan Batchelor, Charlene Mason, Lucy Tennant and a Hannah MacDonald double booked their place in the final as they come out on top over the newly promoted side who had put in a spirited performance.

Euro Hockey League media release



Complutense oust Club de Campo as Spanish women’s indoor champions



SPV-Complutense, are the new Spanish indoor champions after they got the better of Club de Campo in San Fernando in a shoot-out.

Normal time ended 5-5 before Complutense beat their Madrid rivals 2-1 in the shoot-out in a thrilling final.

It was a repeat of the 2019 final but saw the roles reversed as the university students came out strong in the final when they built a 4-0 lead.

Campo replied with a string of goals from Laura Barrios – the tournament top scorer with 21 goals – which helped bring about the shoot-out.

But the reprieve was short as Complutense, coached by Victor Sojo, held their nerve to win 2-1.

The bronze medal went to Santander as CH Sardinero defeated CD Málaga 91 5-3.

Euro Hockey League media release



SAI holds Haryana to enter quarters

SAI came back from three goals down to hold Haryana to a 3-3 on Tuesday to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Indian National Senior Women's Championship (A Division).

M.R.Praveen Chandran

Last year's B division champion SAI staged a fine comeback to overcome a three goal deficit to hold fancied Haryana to a 3-3 draw and qualified for the quarterfinals from Pool B  in the 10th National Senior Women's Hockey Championship (A division) at the National Games Hockey stadium here on Tuesday.

SAI women exposed the fallibility in Haryana defence which was rarely tested in the previous matches.  If not for the profligacy of SAI forwards, Haryana could well have lost the contest.

A rout appeared on cards when Haryana slammed three goals inside the first quarter. Prolific striker Deepika was on target with a field goal in the fifth minute and she increased the lead by converting a penalty corner in the 12th minute. Annu added another goal within two minutes as SAI defence looked clueless against the Haryana strikers.

SAI regrouped after the break and gradually took control of the midfield. The fleet-footed SAI women used the flanks to pressurise the Haryana defence as it finally caved in and conceded a goal in the 24th minute. Gayatri Kissan tapped in from close after receiving a fine pass from the left and two minutes later Dung Dung Betan made it 2-3.

SAI was relentless in the second half as well, forcing Haryana to defend for major part of the half. Dung Dung Betan missed back-to-back chances in the 40th minute but made amends by slotting in the equaliser in the 42nd minute. SAI created more chances but failed to convert any of it as the match petered to a draw.

Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Jharkhand and Punjab moved into the quarterfinals after winning their final league matches. Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy routed Chhattisgarh 8-1; Madhya Pradesh trounced Himachal 4-0; Jharkhand edged out CRPF by a solitary goal and Punjab blanked Tamil Nadu 4-0.

The results

Madhya Pradesh 4 (Akansha Singh 12, Manisha Chauhan 35, Karishma Singh 36, 50) bt Himachal 0; Haryana 3 (Deepika 5, 12, Annu 14) drew SAI 3 (Dung Dung Betan ( 28, 42, Gayatri Kissan 24); Karnataka 6 (M.G.Yashika 4, Anjali 36, R. Sushmitha 38, Soumyashree 54, K.S.Vidya 55, M.Devi 58) bt Rajasthan 0; Punjab 4 (Rajwinder Singh 4, 47, Jaspinder Kaur 10, Pooja Rani 34) bt Tamil Nadu 0; Jharkhand 1 (Albea Rani Toppo 3) bt CRPF 0; Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy 8 (Jyoti Pal 3, 50, Kanchan Nidhi 9, Yogita Verma 11, Upasana SIngh 21, Anjali 27, Neeraj Rana 39, Sadhna Sengar 52) bt Chhattisgarh 1 (Aanchal Sahu 60).

Sportstar



Not good enough for India, Walmiki and Harjeet making most of Dutch experience

Aiming for a comeback into the national hockey team, Devinder Walmiki and Harjeet Singh are plying their trade in the Dutch top-division league.

Uthra Ganesan


Devinder Walmiki in action for HGC in the Dutch top-division hockey league Hoofdklasse.   -  special arrangement

Playing for the national team may be the ultimate ambition for most hockey professionals across the world, the holy grail, however, remains the Dutch League. Only two Indians have managed to not just make the cut there this season but also play the European League.

Devinder Walmiki and Harjeet Singh may have been cast out of the Indian side but have earned enough plaudits with H.O.C. Gazellen-Combinatie, or HGC, one of the oldest and prestigious clubs in the Hoofdklasse, the top-division Dutch league. After a month-long winter break, the duo would be rejoining the club for the second half of the Dutch season on February 20.

“I have played in the German league for three years and was looking to experience the Dutch league. Everyone knows it is the best and toughest domestic league in the world, all the top guys from across the world play there. When (former India coach) Paul van Ass took charge of HGC last year, I got in touch with him. I already had offers from HC Bloemendaal and SV Kampong but my comfort level with Paul made me decide on HGC,” Walmiki told Sportstar.

HGC finished third in the league last season and qualified for the reformatted EHL in 2019-20, reaching the KO16 stage before narrowly missing out on a spot in the top-eight. “We are still third in the league. Our target is to finish in the top-three and qualify again for the EHL. Personally, I can say point-bank that the level of competition and professionalism in the Dutch league is so high that I don’t think any Asian side can match up to them,” Walmiki said.

That Malaysia lost 1-4 to HGC ahead of their Olympic qualifiers proves his point. The current squad includes Argentine Maico Casella and Kento Tanaka of Japan with the likes of Ashley Jackson, Gonzalo Peillat and Tanguy Cosyns being past players. The only other Indian to play in top-flight Dutch league in the past was Sardar Singh, who turned out for Bloemendaal.

Harjeet, meanwhile, admitted it was huge culture shock both on and off the field but has now accustomed to it. “You get to learn so much about European hockey and their structure. Playing other Dutch top-level teams is big enough but playing in the EHL against the best from all of Europe is a huge thing,” the former junior India captain said.

“I think they are both very good and very important members of our side. Walmiki is a warrior and is comfortable with the culture and system here given his past European experiences. For Harjeet, this is his first outing in a European league and so he has taken some time to get used to it but he is getting there,” van Ass said from Holland.

Unlike many former coaches Van Ass, whose son Seve is part of the Dutch national side and the club, has kept track of the Indian team and was even present during the first leg of the Pro League in Bhubaneswar recently. “Devinder should be part of the national set-up, he is at that level. Harjeet, because he was out for a long time, is now on his way back and I am sure by the time the season ends (in June) should be perfectly placed to join him. But it is up to the Indian selectors,” the Dutchman asserted.

Sportstar



The corner man can

By AFTAR SINGH


Scoring machine: Mohd Razie has lined up for 16 penalty corners in eight matches for UniKL, and has scored from seven so far.

KUALA LUMPUR: Penalty corner specialist Mohd Razie Abdul Rahim has lined up for 16 penalty corners in eight Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) matches and has scored from seven – a conversion rate that has UniKL coach Arul Selvaraj pleased.

The coach believes Razie could be the main man in the team as they bid to continue their winning run, by triumphing in the remaining six league matches.

National defender Razie gave UniKL the lead in an away match against Terengganu on Sunday in Kuala Terengganu before the varsity team doubled the score with a field goal to win 2-0 and register their eighth consecutive victory.

UniKL lead the MHL with the maximum 24 points from eight matches and are five points clear of second placed Tenaga Nasional, who have 19.

“Razie is an asset to the team as he has scored important goals, ” said Arul. “On Sunday he gave us the lead against Terengganu. In our first-round, Charity Shield match against Terengganu, he also converted two penalty corners in our 3-2 win.

“Scoring goals from penalty corners is important and I hope he can continue with his conversion rate.”

Arul added although they have won all eight matches, they did not want to think about the league title just yet.

“I want my players to take it one match at a time and approach every match as though it is a final.

“The focus should be on the matches, ” said Arul.

UniKL’s next match is against Hockey Academy (Hockademy) today at Tengku Abdullah Hockey Stadium in Bangi.

“I want my players to play cautiously against Hockademy. In the first-round match (on Jan 12), my forward Tengku Ahmad (Tajuddin Tengku Abdul Jalil) suffered a broken jaw after being hit by a ball struck by an opponent.

“We made a complaint to MHC (Malaysian Hockey Confederation) about the dangerous play and I must thank them as the umpires have started taking strict action against players who hit the ball into players and also make rough tackles, ” said Arul, who will also welcome back defender Baljit Singh for the Hockademy match.

Baljit did not play against Terengganu as his wife Jasvin Kaur gave birth on Sunday.

The Star of Malaysia

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