News for 13 May 2020
All the news for Wednesday 13 May 2020
Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr. suffers cardiac arrest
The 96-year-old continues to be on ventilator assistance in hospital.
Balbir Singh at his residence in Chandigarh on February 26, 2020. - Akhilesh Kumar
Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr. on Tuesday suffered a cardiac arrest and his condition remains critical, his grandson Kabir said in a medical update. The 96-year-old, a triple Olympic gold medallist, was hospitalised in Mohali on May 8.
“Nanaji was admitted on Friday in a very serious multi-organ affected state. His condition had improved slightly but was and is still critical now. Doctors will be continuously assessing his condition over the next 24-48 hours, before any further statements about his condition are issued. He continues to be on ventilator assistance,” said Kabir.
In January last year, Balbir Sr. was discharged from PGI after spending 108 days in the hospital, where he underwent treatment for bronchial pneumonia. One of the country’s tallest athletes, Balbir Sr. was the only Indian among 16 legends chosen by the International Olympic Committee across the modern Olympic history.
His world record for most goals scored by an individual in the men’s hockey final of the Olympics still remains unbeaten. He had scored five goals in India’s 6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the gold medal match of the 1952 Helsinki Games.
He was conferred with the Padma Shri in 1957 and was also the manager of India’s World Cup-winning team in 1975.
Sportstar
Euro Hockey League announces plans for 2020/21 season to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
The Euro Hockey League (EHL) have today announced its plans for the rest of the current season and a temporary new format for the 2020/21 season to adjust to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the hockey calendar.
“It remains our intention to complete the 2019/20 season of the EHL Men and Women’s FINAL8 at AH&BC Amsterdam from October 14 to 18, 2020”, explained EHL Chairman, Hans Erik Tuijt.
“Unfortunately, it is not possible for the ABN AMRO EHL U14 events for 2020 to go ahead.”
Currently, the EHL Men and Women’s FINAL8 for the 2020 season – originally set to be played at AH&BC Amsterdam at Easter – remains “on hold”.
It is hoped the event can go ahead in October at the same venue; this is subject to advice from the Dutch government which will determine whether it is organisationally and financially feasible to run the event.
It means, for the 2020/21 season, it will not be possible to play the regular EHL Men’s KO16 event in October. For this season only, three separate competitions will take place at Easter 2021: the EHL FINAL12, the EHL Cup and the EHL Women’s FINAL8.
Marijke Fleuren, President of the EHF and EHL Board member explained “As you can appreciate, the situation we find ourselves in at the moment is highly unusual,”
“For the 2020/21 season, we have no possibility to play the KO16 in October. So, for one season only, we had to find a solution.
“The EHL and EHF Boards have reviewed many different options, assessing the impact on all the various stakeholders – athletes, clubs, NAs, sponsors and, last but not least, the host club. This was done while also keeping in mind the integrity of the EHL, the importance of a valid ranking system and the financial feasibility for the EHL itself.
“Given all these circumstances we believe the below is the best solution for all stakeholders of the world’s best club hockey competition.”
The EHL Women’s FINAL8 will be played over a five-day period from Thursday, April 1 to Monday, April 5, 2021.
The EHL Men’s FINAL12 will run from Wednesday, March 31 to Monday, April 5 and will consist of 12 teams from nine different countries. This will include the number one ranked team from the top nine ranked nations – Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, England, Russia, France, Scotland and Ireland. They will be joined by the second-ranked teams from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The number one seed from the top four ranked nations will receive a bye to the FINAL8. The remaining eight sides will play in four knock-out matches for a chance to join them in the FINAL8; the losers will subsequently contest ranking matches for 9th and 11th place.
The EHL Cup will feature eight teams in a knock-out format, playing three matches in four days. This competition will feature the third-ranked sides from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, the second-ranked sides from Spain, England and Russia and the first ranked clubs from Belarus and Austria.
The EHL Cup gives each side the chance to earn their nation important ranking points (for positions 13 to 20) which will impact future participation in the EHL.
The following season, all things being equal, the EHL Men will revert back to the KO16 in October 2021 and the FINAL8 at Easter in 2022.
***
EHL ranking explanation
Qualification for EHL 2020/21 is based on the Ranking Tables. The EHF has now published the EHL Ranking Tables Men and Women to include the following update from the 2019/20 season:
Men: full points earned for the teams which participated in EHL KO16 (Oct 2019) and average points used for the teams who have not played in the FINAL8 and Trophy events.
Women: nil points earned.
This means for the 2020-2021 season:
Men:
Germany, Netherlands and Belgium have 3 teams in EHL.
Spain, England and Russia have 2 teams in EHL.
France, Scotland, Ireland, Belarus and Austria have 1 team in EHL.
Women:
Netherlands and Germany have 2 teams in EHL.
Spain, England, Ireland and Belarus have 1 team in EHL.
In case the FINAL8 is played in October 2020, directly after, the ranking tables will be adjusted as follows:
Men: EHL teams the full points and the Trophy teams the average points.
Women: EHL teams the full points and the Trophy teams the average points.
The consequence of this is that there potentially can be some small ranking changes for:
Men: in the top 5. This could affect the EHL events.
Women: in the top 4. This could affect the EHL and the Trophy event.
** Click here to see full ranking tables:
Men https://eurohockey.org/download/outdoor-clubs-ranking-points-men/
Women https://eurohockey.org/download/outdoor-clubs-ranking-points-women/
Euro Hockey League media release
EuroHockey Championships in 2021 moved to avoid Tokyo 2020 clash
By Liam Morgan 
The 2021 EuroHockey Championships have been moved ©Getty Images
Next year's EuroHockey Championships in The Netherlands have been moved from August to June to avoid a clash with the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The European Hockey Federation (EHF) has rescheduled the event in Amsterdam, which includes men's and women's tournaments, for June 4 to 13.
The EuroHockey Championships had been due to take place in August.
Tokyo 2020, pushed back to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, has been rearranged for July 23 to August 8.
"It was clear that as soon as the Olympic dates were rescheduled, we would have to look at alternative dates for the EuroHockey Championships," EHF President Marijke Fleuren said.
"It is like putting together a tricky jigsaw puzzle, each piece simply has to fit, or the full picture is not revealed.
"To pre-empt any questions on the early dates I would add that as the EuroHockey Championships is a World Cup Qualifier, we don't believe that hosting it post an Olympic Games would be wise or fair to any of our stakeholders, especially our athletes."
Koninklijke Nederlandse Hockey Bond chief executive Erik Gerritsen admitted it was "anything but certain" that organisers will be able to stage the event "under normal circumstances" due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Netherlands will defend their women's title on home soil at next year's tournament ©Getty Images
"Nobody knows what the situation with regard to the coronavirus will be then," Gerritsen added.
"All we know is that it is not yet possible to organise large public events in The Netherlands.
"That is why we are not yet starting ticket sales, but we will be looking at the situation in the coming months and the prospects for public events."
The EHF has also conducted the draw for both the men's and women's competitions.
Reigning world champions and hosts The Netherlands will face Spain, Ireland and Scotland in Group A of the women's event as they seek to defend their title.
Group B comprises Germany, England, Belgium and Italy.
In the men's tournament, defending champions and World Cup holders Belgium have been drawn to play England, Spain and Russia in Group A.
The Netherlands, Germany, France and Wales make up Group B.
Inside the Games
Home Nations discover 2021 EuroHockey Championship opponents
Scotland Win 2019 EuroHockey Championships II
Scotland’s women will come up against reigning world champions The Netherlands at the 2021 EuroHockey Championships in Amsterdam next summer.
Having stormed to promotion and a gold medal on home soil during last year’s EuroHockey Championships II, Jen Wilson’s team will also face Spain and Ireland on their return to the top flight.
Following on from the postponement of Tokyo 2020 to next July-August, the Europeans have been brought forward to 4-13 June.
Wales’ men will look to build on their fine efforts of last summer too when they also face The Netherlands in Pool B of the men’s competition. They are joined in their group by Germany and the newly promoted France.
Both England’s men and women have been handed exciting draws having finished fifth and fourth respectively in 2019. The former will take on Belgium, Spain and Russia in their group while the latter will come up against Germany, Belgium and Italy.
Scotland’s men will be looking to earn promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt when they contest the Men’s EuroHockey Championship II in Poland between 15-21 August.
And after finishing fifth last year, Wales women will also be looking to earn promotion to the top flight in the Czech Republic when they take part in the Women’s EuroHockey Championship II between 15-21 August.
The full draws and schedule for both of these events will be announced at a later date.
2021 EuroHockey Championships – Men’s Draw
Pool A
Belgium
England
Spain
Russia
Pool B
Netherlands
Germany
France
Wales
2021 EuroHockey Championships – Women’s Draw
Pool A
Netherlands
Spain
Ireland
Scotland
Pool B
Germany
England
Belgium
Italy
Great Britain Hockey media release
Jake Whetton: the Kookaburra’s Buzzy Bee
Jake Whetton is one of the Kookaburra’s long serving team players. With more than 200 international appearances to his name, Whetton has recently had his career re-ignited after moving from playing striker to a midfield role. As the vivacious Queenslander says, with a nickname such as Buzzy Bee, the energy demands of a midfield position suit his playing style perfectly.
Among the many medals adorning Whetton’s trophy cabinet are gold medals from the 2014 World Cup, first place in the inaugural 2019 FIH Pro League, two Commonwealth Games gold medals and two gold medals from the 2012 and 2018 Champions Trophy.
Since the Covid-19 lock down restrictions, Whetton has also rediscovered his passion for long-distance running.
Who or what first influenced you to pick up a stick and play hockey?
Jake Whetton: “The people who first influenced me to start playing hockey were my mum and dad. They both started playing hockey when they were young and they continued playing. When me and my sister were very young we would go to the hockey fields and pretty much stay there all Saturday. It was one of those things that, obviously, as we were growing up we were always around hockey and we picked up a stick very early. Those were the people who influenced me to first do it and I can’t thank them enough for doing that I guess.”
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
Jake Whetton: “Over the course of my career I have had a fair few people influence my career to date. One of the people early on would be Greg Browning. He was one of the youngest Australian players ever to play for the Kookaburras. He was then the Queensland Blades coach for a number of years and when I first came into the programme in Queensland, he gave me an opportunity to train with some of the Australia and Queensland Blades players when I was 16 or 17 years old. He gave me my first shot at the Australian hockey league in 2009.
I’ve had a few coaches over the time, with Matthew Wells, who is now at the Queensland Blades and the Brisbane Blaze with Hockey One. Ric Charlesworth was my first Australia hockey coach and he gave me my first opportunity to represent Australia and he is someone I have always looked up to, both as a player and with his highly decorated career as a coach. Graham Reid – I had a really good relationship wth Graham. He played at the same club as I do over in Perth. And more recently Colin Batch, who has had a really big influence by moving me back into midfield, which is a transition that I really, really like. I love now playing in the midfield. It is something I never saw myself doing but Batch and Rob Hammond set me a challenge and hopefully I am up to it. I have really been loving it for the past three or four years, playing in the midfield. It is something very different. I really love being involved in the game, so they are the main coaches that have influenced my career to date.”
What moment on the pitch are you most proud of and why?
Jake Whetton: “There is certainly numerous amounts of moments that I am proud of, not just individually but more as a team. the one that comes to mind straight away is my debut. Super, super proud of being able to represent Australia. It was a goal of mine when I was a kid and to be able to put on the green and gold for the first time was very, very special and a day I will never forget.”
It has been four years since Rio 2016, how have you changed as a player in that time?
Jake Whetton: “I guess in the past four years I have changed a fair bit. Going back to what Colin Batch set me as a challenge to energise me and put me back in the midfield. The first few years were quite trying. It was difficult to get used to the more defensive style of play that you needed in midfield. It’s not like being a striker. You are attacking and then you are defending for a little bit of the time and then you might be subbed because the subbing now is so quick in hockey. It certainly changed me as a player and I am really thankful to Batchy for putting me back there and having the trust in me to go back and play some pretty good hockey.
The Covid-19 situation has obviously impinged on everyone's preparations but what are some examples of activities that you and the squad have used to keep a sense of 'team' throughout the lock-down period?
Jake Whetton: “It has certainly been an interesting time and such a sad time for many people around the world. It is one of those things that you wish had never happened. It is just horrible to see the amount of people who have lost their lives and people going through such a difficult time with the Covid-19 stuff. It is really difficult. I guess we have been staying connected as Kookaburras through Zoom meetings. The team meetings take place online once a week and as many guys and the coaching staff who can make it just to say ‘hello’ and keep encouraging people to work out at home and to do their conditioning, running or bike riding. Just to keep motivation is high as well can. It has just been a tough time, not just for sporting teams but for all over the world. That’s just a little way we have been able to stay together in times of need.”
Profile*: Jake Whetton - Australia
Nickname: ‘Whetty’
Position: Midfield
Shirt number: 12
Age: 28
International appearances: 202
Place of birth: Brisbane
Club: Victoria Park Panthers (Perth)
You can follow Jake Whetton on Instagram at whetty12.
*Information correct as on 12 May 2020.
FIH site
Pandanda Kuttappa, the man behind Kodava Family Hockey Festival
Pandanda Kuttappa (Kuttani), the man behind the genesis of the Kodava Family Hockey Festival, might have left us for his heavenly abode but his contribution to hockey will be remembered for generations to come and will forever remain in the hearts of hockey lovers. Here we publish an article by Pratap Simha, MP, Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha Constituency. —-Ed
By Pratap Simha
Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-lah…The name is pretty long, just like D-to-D pass on a hockey turf, right? As his name suggests, Azlan was a king and he, like his ancestors, ruled Perak region in Malaysia.
Here in India, we had our Princely States of Mysore, Indore, Gwalior and Pune. One can say that Perak region in Malaysia is no different than these Princely States of India. And as Mysureans loved Wadiyars, subjects of Perak loved their King.
Like our Wadiyars, Sultan Azlan was a great patron of poetry and art. While studying Barrister at Law in England, Sultan Azlan Shah got fascinated with hockey game so much so that after coming back to his country with a Barrister degree, he built a team of hockey players in Malaysia. At that time, most of the Malay islands were European colonies and the British supported him.
Azlan Shah started organising hockey tournaments in his country and within a short span, this sport became popular among the youth in his country. During those times, there was a significant population of Tamilians in Malaysia who used to work as labourers. Sultan noticed that these Tamilians had good physique and necessary talent for the game and so he nurtured a number of young talented Tamilian hockey players for his squad. Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament is now a major hockey event and the world calls him ‘The father of Asian Hockey.’
Just like Azlan Shah, if we utter the word ‘hockey’ in Karnataka, a name comes to our mind. He is the one who popularised hockey as a sport in our State. Very much like Sultan Azlan Shah, he was also rich and was pursuing a totally different profession. And the tournament he started is now featured in Limca Book of Records.
Pandanda Kuttappa, fondly called Kuttani by his near and dear ones, is the brain behind ‘Kodava Hockey Namme’ or Kodava Hockey Festival. This festival is now recognised as one of the largest field hockey tournaments in the world. Pandanda Kuttappa breathed his last on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The name of Pandanda Kuttappa will remain in the history books as long as hockey is played in India.
Family hockey of fame
Pandanda Kuttappa was working as a bank officer. Just like Sultan Azlan, Kuttappa established ‘Kodava Hockey Academy.’ In 1997, he organised hockey tournament for the first time in Kodagu and 60 teams participated in that ’Pandanda Cup’ hockey tournament. And the number of participating teams increased every year. His name has been featured in the Limca Book of Records for being instrumental in starting the Kodava Family Hockey Tournament.
This hockey tournament is held every year in Kodagu district in the month of April and May. A special feature of this tournament is that each year this hockey festival is organised by one of the Kodava families and the tournament is named after the organising family. The organising family is responsible for arranging the finances needed for the festival. The inaugural edition of the festival was named as Pandanda Cup, after the organisers, Pandanda Family. In 2003, this hockey festival saw the participation of the highest number of 280 teams in the Kaliyanda Cup held at Napoklu.
Over the years, this popular sport event has greatly influenced the lives of Kodavas. This has become a motivating factor for those who are willing to join Indian Army. Every year, professional teams from different parts of the country eagerly wait to watch this hockey festival. Other than Kodava Hockey Festival and Azlan Shah Cup, probably there is no other example of such kind in the world where a sport event is making so much of an impact in the lives of general population.
Champions make a mark
‘Malaysia, Truly Asia’ captures and defines the essence of that country’s unique diversity and Azlan Shah Cup has been a major contributing factor. Similarly, Kodava Hockey Festival has become the nursery of Indian hockey. As we see in the history of hockey, in the beginning, this sport was popular only in Europe. After Sultan Azlan started organising hockey tournament in his country, Asian hockey became more than just a buzzword all over the world.
In fact, during the British rule, hockey was a popular game of Kodavas. Kodava clan have a long history of association with the game of field hockey. There is a long list of national-level players from Kodagu region including Maleyanda Muthappa, Paikera Kalaiah, the great goalkeeper or ‘The Wall’ Anjaparavanda Subbaiah, former captains of Indian Hockey team such as Govinda, Maneyapanda Somaiah, Mollera P. Ganesh, Arjun Halappa, Olympian Cheppudira Poonacha, Koothanda Poonacha who has coached a number of overseas teams, penalty corner specialist Ballachanda Len Ayyappa, striker Palanganda Amar Ayyamma, Raghunath, Sunil, promising players such as Nikkin Thimmaiah, Alemada Cheeyanna, Sannuvanda Uthappa and the list goes on and on.
Pandanda Kuttappa being presented Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2015 by the then Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree.
Dominating major teams
Players from Kodagu have dominated in all major hockey teams of the country and this includes national hockey clubs such as MEG, AAC, Railways, Air India, Canara Bank, SBI, HAL and Tata. You name any major hockey team in India and there would be at least one Kodava in each eleven-member hockey team. Even in hockey clubs of the State, one would certainly find either an Appanna or a Bopanna. Interestingly, in some Universities, the eleven-member hockey team comprise only Kodavas! The reason is very simple.
You might know how China prepares their children for Olympics. Just like that, every Kodava kid in Kodagu carries a hockey stick while going to their primary school. Coffee and hockey have become synonyms with Kodavas so much so that there goes a saying: If you throw a stone in Kodagu district, it will either hit a soldier or a hockey player. Hockey is like a religion in Kodagu and like each Kodava home has the traditional gun, each home will have a couple of hockey sticks.
Hockey clubs galore
All the major towns in Kodagu have at least one hockey club in their area. ‘Blue Star’ of Madikeri, ‘Dolphin’ and ‘Wanders’ of Somwarpet, ‘Towers’ of Virajpet, ‘Shivaji’ of Gonikoppal, ‘BBC’ of Gonikoppal, ‘Sports Club’ of Ammathi are the names of a few hockey clubs in Kodagu district. There is no wonder that this small district in southern part of Karnataka has given so many great hockey players for the field hockey teams in India. Here is one more interesting fact: It is said that both Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa and General Kodandera S. Thimayya caught the attention of British because of their keen interest in hockey.
History of modern hockey dates back to 1861 when Europeans took this game into their colonies in different parts of the world. A number of hockey clubs were established in all major provinces of British India, but people of Kodagu and Punjab gave special status to this game and kept it close their heart. In 1885-1886, British started playing this game in their favourite ‘Tiny Model State’ of Coorg (Kodagu). Probably, at that time, no European would have hoped that this game would become so popular in this region; so much so that every ordinary Kodava started using a branch of tree as a hockey stick and any hard wooden nut as a ball. Meanwhile, British started recruiting young Kodavas for their troops.
Tale behind Men’s Compound
Even British were enthralled with this game. There is an interesting story here. In Madikeri, there is a hockey ground by the name ‘Men’s Compound.’ History says that this British coffee planter with last name ‘Men’ or ‘Mann’ was so fond of this game that he turned part of his coffee estate into a hockey ground! Even to this day, hundreds of young players are being trained in this popular hockey ground known as ‘Men’s Compound’ in Madikeri. None of that Englishman’s descendants are now living in the region, but his name has now become synonymous with hockey for passionate players of the game. It is said that during British rule, hockey tournaments were held in this ground every Sunday. British used to bring players from faraway places such as southern part of Kodagu and organise tournaments in memory of their senior officials.
On a bullock cart
There is another interesting story here. It states that to participate in a hockey tournament, which was to be held in Cantonment area of Bengaluru, a hockey enthusiast by name Pattada Somaiah had travelled to Bengaluru from Kodagu with his team members in a bullock cart!
Here is one more from the pages of history. In 1960s, there was a hockey team comprising primary school teachers who used to participate in major national level hockey tournaments. This ‘Coorg Teacher’s Team’ came to limelight for playing against a number of international teams and had created history by scoring 20 goals against Sri Lankan team in Madras! Some members of this troupe had even represented India. Where else can we find such a passion and affection for the game? For Kodava clan, hockey is just not a game but part of their culture. All the credit definitely goes to Pandanda Kuttappa, the legendary figure.
Star of Mysore
Surbiton’s Ogunlana hails inner city hockey project
With few Black or Asian hockey players, Hockey Inner City is ‘amazing’ initiative
By The Hockey Paper
One of the few black players in English elite hockey has praised the recently-launched Hockey Inner City (HIC) project for including more minority players.
Ore Ogunlana, 22, was one of the standouts as Surbiton men won the Jaffa Super 6s finals at the Copper Box this year.
South Londoner Ogunlana grew up with Rhys Smith, who runs HIC, and says the initiative is “amazing”.
The goalkeeper said: “He’s always made sure that everyone can be included. Hockey Inner City, there is nothing else like it and it’s exactly what we need in the sport. A lot of the most talented players out there can’t afford to play the sport and without this initiative they would not be playing hockey.”
Ogunlana has known Smith since they were nine and the first day of sports induction at Whitgift School.
“The little videos he’s putting up on social media and now the kids who are playing at Immanuel School in Streatham [Smith’s former junior school] are better than some of the Year 6’s at Whitgift. Mr Stagno won’t like that! But for Rhys to give them the opportunity to play, the time on the pitch and with sticks is just great.”
Ogunlana was one of three goalkeepers in Surbiton’s 14-strong squad at the Copper Box as coach Mark Pearn’s indoor pedigree saw his side earn a second title in four years thanks to a 3-2 win over Holcombe.
“Three goalkeepers from the outside might look quite weird but from the inside we all get on really well,” addd Ogunlana. “It’s really competitive and the foundation is that we’re all mates and we are pushing each other. With three keepers, you need to work harder and harder.”
“Everyone is communicating. Jonny [Gall, captain] is talking more than me. It’s experience more than anything and most of the time you don’t need to talk and you know where your men are. It all clicked.”
Ogunlana, a former East Grinstead player, has represented England at under-18 level as well as England in the 4 Nations. He attended Durham University and now works as a finance recuiter for Page Personnel in London.
“Surbiton is my boyhood club and I decided to move back and give Harry [Gibson] a run for his money. Jack [Tranter] turned up at the first session and I thought ‘Here we go!’, but team cohesion wise it’s been brilliant.”
For more on Rhys Smith’s initiative go to www.hockeyinnercity.co.uk
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