News for 04 May 2020
All the news for Monday 4 May 2020
Tokyo adrift: With Olympics uncertain, Japan’s hockey players return to day jobs
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, athletes around the world have been forced indoors. Not in Japan, however. Half a dozen Japanese hockey players have to report for work daily, leaving coach Siegfried Aikman anxious for their well-being.
By Mihir Vasavda
Like most international hockey teams, all Japanese hockey players are amateurs, with nearly half of them still students. (Twitter/FIH)
If these were non-Corona times, Masaki Ohashi would have been in Berlin right now. With his Japanese teammates, he would have been practising alongside Germany, watching the hockey giants’ showdown against India and preparing notes for the Olympics. The defender, instead, is in Tokyo. Hockey gear chucked in some corner of his apartment, putting Olympics on the backburner, and, in the midst of a pandemic-induced lockdown, returning to his day job as an assistant manager at one of Japan’s biggest private security firms.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, athletes around the world have been forced indoors. Not in Japan, however. Despite declaring a state of emergency, the country, which has 14,877 cases as on Sunday, has not imposed a complete lockdown as seen in India and many Western countries. Businesses are still running, bars are open and, since they lack the legal powers to punish, the government can only ask people to stay home but they are not obliged to. So, half a dozen Japanese hockey players have to report for work daily – most of them in Tokyo and Osaka, the two worst-affected cities till date – leaving coach Siegfried Aikman anxious for their well-being.
Like the Indian hockey team, Japan too continued with its national camp after the Olympics were postponed. However, unlike India, who have a boarding facility within their training centre, Aikman says they have to look after their own accommodation for the duration of the camp. So, after they were asked to suspend their training two weeks ago, the players returned to their respective homes. “When they go home, they have to work and earn their money,” Aikman tells The Indian Express from the team’s training centre in the city of Kakamigahara.
As is the case elsewhere in the world, all Japanese hockey players are amateurs, with nearly half of them still students. The rest have full-time jobs. Captain Manabu Yamashita, for example, worked for the company that made maps for Tokyo’s underground railway. Yamashita is between jobs right now. But there are some, according to Aikman, who work in schools while a few others, like Ohashi, work for ‘big security companies’.
To make sure they remain healthy, the team management has come up with strict protocols. “We monitor them intensively. Every morning, they have to send us their reports, things like body temperature, fatigue level, muscle soreness, mental state and much more. We do it on a daily basis so we know exactly how they are feeling,” Aikman says.
If something goes wrong, he adds, the player is directly sent to the hospital for a detailed check-up. The team has already had a couple of scares – while the camp was still going on, two players went down with normal flu and were isolated from the rest. Only once they recovered completely, were they allowed to join the rest of the group. Days later, one of Aikman’s assistant coaches had to go into quarantine for two weeks after he came in contact with a staff member of his child’s kindergarten, who tested positive. “So when these players go out for work, I am worried, of course,” Aikman says.
It isn’t just the physical well-being that Aikman is concerned about. The uncertainty around the Olympics, which have been postponed until next year, has taken a mental toll on the players ‘who were preparing fairly well’ for the home Games.
Mental well-being
Under Aikman, a Dutch coach with Indian roots, Japan have blossomed. Not too long ago, they were on the fringes in Asia and barely a speck on the world hockey map. Aikman has turned them into a formidable unit, leading them to the Asian Games gold medal – and thus earning a rightful place at the Olympics rather than sneaking in as hosts – and turning them into a side that, on their day, can prove to be a banana skin for any team in the world.
To further improve themselves, Japan had set up joint training sessions and practice matches with Germany. It was a win-win scenario: for Japan, it was a chance to work on their skills while for Germany, bronze medallists at the Rio Olympics, it was an opportunity to get some game-time ahead of their twin Pro League matches against India, originally scheduled to take place late last month.
But as Covid-19 cases grew around the world, Japan’s trip to Berlin was cancelled. Weeks later, the Olympics – that were scheduled to open on July 24 – were postponed by a year.
“It has a huge impact not just on our schedule, but also on the mental state of our players because it is quite a long time,” Aikman says. “It means some of our players, those who wanted to retire after the Olympics, they have to do one more year. Most of them have families, have children… most of them are getting to an age where they might not recover well. So the question is, if they make it to the next Olympics, will they still add the same value? That’s something, I think, will be for all teams.”
On the flip side, he says, the extra year also gives him the chance to work on things which he otherwise could not have because of lack of time. Given that all coaches and players will use the additional period to come up with new strategies and study their opponents even more closely, Aikman feels the level of competition in Tokyo next year could be ‘stronger than ever.’
That is, however, if the Games take place at all. Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that if the coronavirus spills over into 2021, they would have to call off the Games completely.
It’s an ‘uncertainty’ Aikman has factored in while re-planning for the Games. But he insists it won’t impact how they approach Tokyo 2021. “We don’t know how the virus develops so the uncertainty that it might be cancelled… of course, it’s one of the options. It’s in our heads. But we have set targets till July next year and will work based on those targets. So, until they cancel, it’s on.”
Indian Express
Back from the brink, Reena Khokhar eyes spot in Tokyo Olympics squad
The midfielder is back from a career-threatening eye injury and is aiming to make the Tokyo cut.
Indian hockey women’s team midfielder Reena Khokhar would never have imagined that a routine workout could potentially end her sporting career.
“I was using a stretch-band to do some simple flexibility exercise when the band snapped and hit my left eye. It happened so quickly that I had no time to react,” Reena Khokhar told Hockey India.
To make matters worse, it happened in early 2019, a crucial year for the Indian hockey women’s team, as they were looking to qualify for their second-consecutive Games appearance at the Tokyo Olympics.
Reena Khokhar, who made her debut for the senior team in 2017, had slowly started to cement her place, even making it to the 2018 World Cup squad as a relatively inexperienced player.
Her surging run in the Asian Games semi-final against China sparked off several attacking waves from the Indian hockey women’s team and Gurjit Kaur’s winner eight minutes from full-time took them through to the final, where they eventually ended up with silver.
The freak injury and the subsequent diagnosis made her doubtful of regaining her career. "Initially the doctor has said it will heal soon but even after a month when the pain was persistent, the doctor then advised surgery to rule out permanent damage to the retina,” she revealed. “The news was devastating.”
Sjoerd Marijne’s belief
After undergoing surgery, Reena Khokhar was on bed rest for two months and was naturally not very confident when she returned to the national camp. This is where Indian hockey women’s team head coach Sjoerd Marijne stepped in.
The Dutch coach had always believed in the midfielder’s abilities and his support was how she had made it to the World Cup and Asian Games’ squads in the first place.
“Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne would talk to me regularly to pep me up. He would tell me about a player in the Netherlands who played hockey with vision only in one eye,” explained Reena Khokhar.
“Positive stories like these and emotional support from my parents and some close friends outside of hockey kept me motivated.”
Her condition improved and she made it back to the Indian hockey women’s team in time to be considered for selection in the squad for the Olympic qualifiers, where the eves secured their passage through to the Tokyo Olympics.
Reena Khokhar underwent another corrective surgery in December last year and is now ready to go through the hard grind again. "I got a break in the Indian team quite late. I was around 24 when I made my India debut and do not have much experience at the junior level,” she stated.
“So, the next one year I will do everything I can do to prove myself worthy of a place in the Olympic-bound India squad.”
The Olympic Channel
National hockey trainees itching for freedom
By Jugjet Singh
The national hockey players want to start training on the pitch again as they are feeling bored at home.
FREEDOM. That is what the national hockey trainees are hoping for soon.
They are eager to start training outdoors after more than six weeks at home.
Unfortunately, field hockey will not get its immediate freedom from the government under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
However, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC), headed by Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, are hoping to hand their players the freedom to train again.
The national body have come up with a proposal, titled 'Project Hockey Restart', which outlines a host of temporary changes to training protocols in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The proposal contains safety guidelines for players before, during and after training, and it will be presented to Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican today.
MHC's guidelines, however, are not for matches and tournaments.
"Although hockey is not on the list of non-contact sports, which can restart activities from today, MHC have prepared guidelines to make it safe for training.
"We came up with it after consulting national coach Roelant Oltmans and our coaching committee.
"Although our players are training well on their own, they are feeling bored. They need to come out and play again.
"Our proposal to the Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council will outline 'distancing' guidelines. Hopefully, in a week or two, the minister will make a decision," said Subahan.
Under MHC's safety guidelines, trainees will have to pass a Covid-19 test before returning to training.
Social distancing of 1.5m will be in place; no shaking hands, only small group session will be conducted; and players will have to return to their homes within five minutes after training.
Hand santisers will be provided at the training venue and all equipment will be disinfected after each training session.
"It is an effort to make training safe. However, the Sports Ministry may come up with other guidelines," Subahan added.
Oltmans, who is currently in the Netherlands, will return to Malaysia once travelling is permitted.
MHC hope their players will get to train again as they need to regain their touches for upcoming international tournaments.
New Straits Times
#ExtraTime with SA hockey player Siyavuya Nolutshungu
Welcome to #ExtraTime, where we delve deeper into the world of sport, and speak to the men and women who are changing the game.
Adrian Ephraim
SA men's hockey goalkeeper Siyavuya Nolutshungu has risen from the junior ranks to earn a place in the national hockey team.
In this the first instalment of #ExtraTime we feature exciting SA men's hockey goalkeeper Siyavuya Nolutshungu, who has risen from the junior ranks to earn a place in the national hockey team.
Born in Umtata in 1995, hockey for Nolutshungu started by accident. He had never really been the sporty type.
"I grew up with my mum. I went to a local school called Vela, until I got an academic scholarship to a school in Pietermaritzburg called Merchiston Prep School. From there I went to Maritzburg College. It started when one of the coached needed a volunteer goalkeeper because there was no one that could fill the position. I said to myself 'well, I've got absolutely nothing to lose, let's just go with it' and that was the lucky break I had," Nolutshungu said. "I made the SA under-16 side from the age of 15, to SA under-18 to SA under-21, and then eventually got my break into the SA men's team."
Hockey was not a natural choice for a kid from Umtata, but Nolutshungu fell in love with the game early on and found a way to succeed at it through natural talent and a determination to try something different.
"Most black parents don't know much about hockey. Explaining to my mother why I was so passionate and why I was so dedicated to my own game was a very difficult thing to comprehend and obviously in high school she couldn't come to my games because it was too far away. I had to keep performing as well as I could until I got to university and I got my scholarship for hockey, then my mother started thinking that there is something beneficial in some way or another," Nolutshungu explained.
In pursuit of his passion, Nolutshungu has played hockey in Argentina, France, and England – a journey that has been both challenging and exhilarating. It was a brave step for a young man just starting out in life.
"I finished my degree at the end of 2017, took the stride to change the hockey dynamic, and ended up going to Argentina. I lived there for three months, playing for a different club - all at my own expense. It was probably one of the best experiences I ever had - a culture shock, language barrier, there by myself, not knowing many people. It was just so mind-blowing to see what you can learn and what you can see from a different perspective," he said.
The postponement of the Olympic Games disrupted Nolutshungu’s plans for the year, but he adapted to the change and found the positives in it. "My objective was to get myself as hockey-savvy as possible and as fit as possible. So there was an element of sacrifice. You can't be in a full-time job and expect companies to give you leave to focus on hockey alone, so I'd been in contact with St Stithians College in Johannesburg, and I've been heading their goalkeeper programme. On the side, I started my own company, SN Goalkeeper Dynamics, and I've taken the skills I've learnt all around the world and filtered out all the good things we can take and creating something sustainable here in South Africa."
In assessing the state of hockey in South Africa, Nolutshungu points to the steady stream of young talent that is coming through, thanks to a strong school hockey system. "Right I think hockey has been in the best place it has been in a long time. There's so much talent everywhere, especially in our own national team," he said. "We've got the likes of Mustapha Cassiem who is only 17, going on 18 and he's already got indoor and outdoor caps. One thing I cannot fault is the school's hockey in South Africa. It has developed so much so quickly, to a point where we're doing much better than overseas countries."
But one of the drawbacks is that hockey is not yet a professional sport in South Africa. A lack of financial support for the game has left a gaping hole between club hockey and the national team. Most top hockey players who want to play fulltime have to do so overseas.
"You'll find that most hockey players don't play hockey full-time. They have jobs. Some of them are executives or company owners, and we've created a cool network that has gone further than just the sport itself. I think is about people, not just the game," he said. "I have a passion for people and that's where it all connects altogether."
Eye Witness News
Why Blazers’ Okumu ditched football boots for glory in hockey
By Elizabeth Mburugu
USIU A's Phanny Teka (left) and Maureen Okumu of Telkom Kenya during Astro Turf tourney match at Sikh Union Club, Nairobi. Telkom beat USIU A 2-1 in the final period. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Her ability to run incredibly fast has seen her likened to speedy cartoon character Roadrunner
Former Sinyolo Girls student believes her club has what it takes to recapture the continental crown and continue ruling Africa.
She torments defenders and one needs a special pair of legs to keep up with her pace and contain her.
Christened Roadrunner, Blazers’ and national team forward Maureen Okumu is a pain in the neck of rival clubs in the Kenya Hockey Union women’s Premier League.
Those who grew up when Looney Tunes were every child’s favourite cartoon series are nostalgic about two characters: Roadrunner and Coyote.
It was indeed an interesting time to grow up! Those who had the luxury of owning a television set called the shots while others gave in to all of their demands so they could put in a good word for them so their parents could allow them to watch Roadrunner torture his nemesis Coyote.
It is Okumu’s ability to run incredibly fast, covering the entire pitch in a very short time has seen her likened to speedy Roadrunner who made Coyote miserable by subjecting him to countless disasters as he often fell in his own traps. Speed coupled with her enviable hockey prowess has set her above others.
Not even the Covid-19 pandemic that has brought almost to a standstill every activity can stop Okumu from working on her speed. She wakes up early and is ready for her morning run by the break of the overnight curfew.
“I must workout everyday and my day starts with running because I have to ensure that I keep fit and can still run fast because speed is my biggest strength. I run about five kilometers each morning for five days a week,” she said.
Okumu began playing hockey after joining Lwak Girls High School in 2011. Then, a promising footballer, she looked forward to success in football beyond secondary school. However, destiny had other plans for her as Lwak Girls hockey coach Elias Okal saw her play football and was impressed with her speed.
“Mr Okal invited me to the hockey training and after a session with the team, he told me to never return to the football pitch. He made sure that I had everything I needed to play hockey. He gave me shoes, socks and a hockey stick, he also came to class every games time so he could encourage me as we walked to the training ground,” Okumu said.
She learned basic hockey skills with the 2009 national schools champions before transferring to Sinyolo Girls while in Form Two in 2012.
“I had made it to the first team and I was impressive during the Nyanza Province games so I caught the eye of Booker Odhiambo, a teacher and coach at Kisumu Day who facilitated my move to Sinyolo,” she said.
It was at Sinyolo that she tasted victory in 2013 when the school won both the national and East Africa Secondary Schools Games titles and since then, she has been winning titles every year.
“When I transferred to Sinyolo, I blended in immediately with other players because we were familiar with each other having met during the previous events. My teammates like Gilly Okumu, who currently plays for Strathmore, were also hungry for trophies and we formed a formidable side and dominated our opponents.”
Okumu would lead her charges to their second East Africa title the following year despite relinquishing the national crown to St John’s Kaloleni. After school, Okumu signed for the-then Africa champions Telkom Orange that re-branded to Blazers last year.
“I was scouted by coach Josephine Ataro at the school games and was given a chance in the club after school, but I started training with the team in 2015. Since then, I have always been in the first 11 and only missed one match due to card suspension.”
She made the best of every opportunity given to her by the club and even scored in her first international game for Blazers during the 2015 Africa Cup of Club Championships (ACCC) held in Lusaka, Zambia.
Okumu was on a successful outing bagging her first continental gold medal at club level the same year. She has won three Africa and five Premier League gongs and says her side would have successfully defended the ACCC trophy last year had they travelled to Egypt for the annual tournament.
“We lost our title without a fight but I’m convinced that we are the best club in Africa. I believe that after we overcome the financial hardships we are currently facing, we will reclaim our trophy,” she added.
The rain started beating the 10-time Africa champions when Telkom withdrew their sponsorship mid last season. Okumu, who is pursuing a degree in education at Kenyatta University was hit hard by the withdrawal and was forced to defer her studies.
“I depended on my allowances to pay fees and upkeep but without sponsorship, I had to defer my studies.”
The Standard Digital
Hockey Australia welcomes AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport
Hockey Australia welcomes the recent announcement that the National Cabinet has endorsed National Principles for the Resumption of Sport and Recreation Activities allowing for a staged return of community and professional sport.
‘The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment’ outlines details to guide the Australian community to resume the playing of sport in a considered way. The details of the framework can be found here.
Hockey Australia Chief Executive Matt Favier said the framework is welcomed by the entire hockey community at this time.
“These guidelines are incredibly sensible and practical and they provide the necessary details around the requirements that sport, from community to high-performance, needs to consider as we approach the resumption of play,” said Favier.
“Dr David Hughes, AIS Chief Medical Officer is one of the world’s leading Sports Medicine practitioners and has led the development of this framework in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officers (CMO’s) of Australia’s National Sporting Organisations, including Hockey Australia’s CMO Dr Peter Steele.”
“Hockey Australia encourages all hockey clubs and associations to begin undertaking their own review of these Principles and to prepare for what we expect will be a staged return to playing hockey.”
“As we noted last Friday, Hockey Australia and the Member Associations are working towards providing guidance and support for the hockey community around the resumption of play, and the release of these guidelines are welcomed in terms of timing and detail.”
Hockey Australia media release
Indian women’s hockey team raises Rs 20 lakh to help people affected by COVID-19
The Indian women’s hockey team has raised funds to the tune of Rs 20 lakh to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Image: hockeyindia.org
The Indian women’s hockey team has raised funds to the tune of Rs 20 lakh to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indian team raised the money thorough an 18-day fitness challenge, which concluded on May 3 and resulted in raising Rs 20, 01,130. The funds have been donated to Delhi-based NGO Uday Foundation.
The funds will be used to provide basic necessities for patients at various locations, migrant workers and slum dwellers.
“The response we have received was really overwhelming. People, especially Indian hockey lovers from across the globe took part in the challenge and contributed to the cause.
“On behalf of the Indian Women Team, I would like to thank everyone who took part in this initiative to help the poor,” India skipper Rani Rampal said.
The challenge involved the team members who came up with different fitness tasks that ranged from burpees, lunges, squats to spider-man pushups, pogo hops and more.
Each day a player gave a new challenge and tagged 10 people on their social media handles to take up the challenge and donate Rs 100 to the fundraiser.
The Tribune
Batra's term as International Hockey Federation President set to be extended
By Liam Morgan
Narinder Batra has claimed his tenure as President has been extended ©Getty Images
Narinder Batra's tenure as President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) is set to be extended after the worldwide governing body confirmed it was expecting this year's Congress to be postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Batra had earlier retracted a claim that he would remain President until at least June 2021 after telling the Athletics Federation of India's special general body meeting that the FIH Congress in New Delhi later this year, where elections are due to be held, had been rescheduled.
"I will be President until elections in June next year," Batra had told the meeting.
Batra, a member of the International Olympic Committee, has seemingly been forced into a considerable backtracking of his initial comments, telling the Press Trust of India today that the Congress, scheduled for October 28 to November 1, had not yet been postponed.
A spokesperson for the FIH said the Executive Board is expected to reschedule the Congress during its meeting on Friday (May 8).
A logical conclusion of the postponement of the Congress would be Batra, whose first four-year term expires at the Congress, retaining his position until elections can be held.
Narinder Batra, left, also heads the Indian Olympic Association ©Getty Images
The FIH has not announced any postponement of the Congress publicly and the event is still listed on the 2020 calendar on its website.
insidethegames understands some National Federations have not been informed of any delay to the Congress and the elections.
"Similar to other sports federations, the question of maintaining the 47th FIH Congress as initially planned in 2020 (28 Oct – 1 Nov) has already been raised and discussed by the FIH Executive Board, due to the uncertainty of the evolution of the global COVID-19 pandemic," the FIH spokesperson told insidethegames.
"The matter is on the agenda of the next Executive Board meeting, which will happen through an online video conference next week.
"The Executive Board is expected to confirm new dates for the Congress during that meeting."
The confusion surrounding his public comments marks the latest episode of controversy involving Batra, elected FIH President in November 2016.
The 63-year-old, who was expected to stand for re-election at the 2020 Congress, has faced criticism during his first four-year term amid concern that he has not been dedicating enough time to the worldwide governing body.
Batra also heads the Indian Olympic Association, a high-profile role in the country which some in hockey believe he is prioritising over his FIH position.
Suggestions of financial difficulties for the FIH have also gathered pace in recent months.
Batra helped oversee the launch of the FIH Hockey Pro League, a home-and-away competition which has effectively replaced the Champions Trophy and Hockey World League tournaments.
Inside the Games
Narinder Batra backtracks on statement regarding extension of tenure as FIH chief, say polls will happen in October
File image of IOA president Narinder Batra. AFP
New Delhi: International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Narinder Batra on Sunday backtracked on his statement that his tenure is set for extension due to the postponement of FIH elections to 2021, saying that the polls "as of now" will go ahead in October this year.
During the Special General Body Meeting of Athletics Federation of India held online on Saturday, Batra, also the head of the Indian Olympic Association and a member of the International Olympic Committee, had said that his tenure as FIH chief will be extended as the elections have been postponed in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As of now, the FIH elections will be held in October this year, there is no change in that," Batra told PTI.
On Saturday, during a discussion on the date of AFI elections, due to be held last month but postponed due to the pandemic, Batra had said that the FIH elections have been postponed.
"FIH elections were to be held in October this year but now will be held in June next year under these circumstances (of COVID-19 pandemic). So, I will be president till elections in June next year," Batra had said.
Batra was elected as FIH president in November 2016, becoming the first Indian to head the international federation of an Olympic sport.
Firstpost
One for the hockey lover
Vikrant Parmar
Book Title: The Mohammed of Benares And Other Stories Author: Sundeep Misra
In a cricket-crazy nation, there are only a handful who are attached to our national game — hockey. Leading the pack is journalist-author Sundeep Misra, who in his collection of articles written over the past three decades for various publications, titled The Mohammed of Benares And Other Stories, delves deep into the world of hockey and comes out with pearls that will forever be prized by the ones who love the game.
Starting from India’s thrashing at the hands of Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games, to the gradual resurgence and eventual triumph at the Junior World Cup in 2016, the author has covered hockey from various perspectives — be it ace players, coaches, support staff or the political angles involved. So while there are interesting stories related to stars like Mohammed Shahid, ‘whose wrists worked like a windmill’, Dhanraj Pillai, Dilip Tirkey, Rajiv Mishra, Sardar Singh and more, also in focus are able coaches like Cedric D’Souza.
The author’s love for hockey comes out in each word he chisels, while his passion for the sport is imbued in each line. This one is sure for the hockey-lover out there.
Find the book here:
The Mohammed of Benares And Other Stories by Sundeep Misra
Authors Upfront, Pages 180, Kindle price $3.44
The Tribune