News for 01 September 2020
All the news for Tuesday 1 September 2020
1983 Women’s National Team – Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame
Canada’s highest-ever ranking team goes down in history
By Josh Rey
The 1983 Women’s National Team is the winningest team in Canadian hockey history. They were at the peak of their decade-long success and won the silver medal at the 1983 Women’s Hockey World Cup in Malaysia. This year. This week, the 1983 Women’s National Team becomes the second-ever team to be inducted into the Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame.
Coached by Marina van der Merwe and Kathy Broderick, this team saw unprecedented success throughout the 1970s into the 1980s. Van der Merwe was at the helm for six World Cup runs and three Olympic Games. She was known for her imagination, ingenuity and toughness. Suffice to say, this team was stacked with talent, skill and athleticism, the 1983 squad included the likes of other hall of fame inductees such as Sharon Creelman, Sheila Forshaw, Shelley Winter Andrews and Nancy Mollenhauer.
Mollenhauer, at the time, one of the younger players on the team, recalls that era of success and spoke of that 1983 season where the team centralized in Australia before heading to Malaysia for the World Cup. According to Mollenhauer, her and her teammates didn’t know what to expect coming into the tournament and it was challenging in the Malaysian climate.
“You know, getting ourselves not only physically prepared for the challenge of the heat in Malaysian humidity but also the challenge of going into a World Cup,” said Mollenhauer. “That was the first kick at the can for myself. So I really had no idea what to expect. But I was along for the ride and enjoyed absolutely every minute of it.”
Winter Andrews was also inducted into the hall of fame this month in the athlete category, but the team induction has a more special feeling to it than the individual recognition.
“To be inducted with the 1983 team., to me that is the nicest thing about this whole thing because field hockey is a team sport,” said Andrews. “It always kind of amazes me that you have individuals who are honoured and selected and that kind of thing, when really without that team or those people around you…”
At the 1983 World Cup, Canada finished at the top of their pool after wins against West Germany, USSR and Argentina. They then went on to upset Australia on penalties in the semi-finals before losing to the Netherlands 4-2 in the gold medal match.
Reflecting on her time with the 1983 team, Mollenhauer said there were hard times and great times but overall, the team was amazing and she loved her time on and off the field.
“I look back at it with great fondness,” said Mollenhauer. “I had a great time, and in the end, it just worked out that we managed to get through and win that semi-final game and get into the final and it was absolutely fantastic.”
The induction of the 1983 World Cup team is a celebration of their success and achievement of the highest ranking of any Canadian field hockey team to this day.
1983 Women’s National Team
Lynne Beecroft
Shelley Andrews (Winter)
Nancy Mollenhauer (Charlton)
Jody Fitzpatrick (Blaxland)
Sharon Creelman
Diane Virjee (Mahy)
Heather Benson
Alison Palmer
Zoe McKinnon
Sheila Forshaw
Phylis Ellis
Karen Hewlett
Jean Major
Laurie Lambert
Darlene Stojka
Jan Borowy
Support Staff:
Marina van der Merwe
Kathy Broderick
Kathy Kurdyla
Suzanne Nicholson
Dr. Jack Taunton
Sue Neill
Click here for a Presentationon the 1983 Women's team and interviews with members of the team
Field Hockey Canada media release
Lauren calls time on indoor career
When Australia women’s national indoor squad next line up for an international competition one familiar name will be missing from the team sheet.
Lauren Austin has represented the national indoor squad at two World Cups – Berlin 2018 and Vienna 2007 – after she made her debut in 2006. She scored five goals across her two World Cup appearances and has also been voted Player of the Match on numerous occasions.
Austin is now retiring from the international scene to concentrate on building her business, although she also attributes the difficulties of continuing to train through Covid-19 restrictions as an influential factor in her decision to leave the game. It has not been an easy decision for the long-serving athlete but, she added that she also felt the need to spend more time with her family – currently work and training means she is travelling from one side of Australia to the other and that has a detrimental impact on family life.
In a statement announcing her retirement, Austin said: “As a self-funded athlete, which is what every member of the Australian Indoor Hockey squad is, the choice to fund a World Cup against getting back to see and support loved ones has caused me to consider my future playing at international level and come to this decision.”
The popular athlete says she will remaining the game in various capacities, particularly in the coaching field. In an interview with the national governing body Hockey Australia, she said: “I will continue to develop my coaching skills and learn more in that area, as well as doing what I can to grow the game in WA and Australia, to help develop generations of players to come through and hopefully one day maybe be back at a World Cup in a coaching capacity.”
National Indoor Team Head Coach Mark Sandhu paid tribute to Austin, who is known as ‘Ozzie’ within the squad, saying: “It has been my pleasure to have been Lauren’s coach at the 2007 World Cup and in numerous squads over the years. She has been a valuable member of the Australian squad for a long time.
“She is a super competitor, aggressive, a highly skilful player and she reads the game really well...she will be missed.
“It is always disappointing to lose a player of her calibre, however we support her decision and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”
Austin says her career highlights include scoring a penalty stroke in the last minute of the game against host nation Germany in the 2018 World Cup in Berlin and also: “Playing with an array of not only amazing players, but people who I can say are now great friends that I have made for life.”
FIH site
Kiana-Che Cormack: Namibia’s teenage sensation reflects on Youth Olympic Games and Indoor World Cup 2018
2018 was a year that Namibia’s Kiana-Che Cormack will never forget. At just 16 years of age, she was selected to represent her country at the FIH Hockey Indoor World Cup, a magnificent event that drew huge crowds to the Berlin’s Max Schmeling Arena. She was far from overwhelmed by the experience, scoring a remarkable nine goals in six matches to finish as the tournament’s joint-highest scorer, a prize she shared with Ukraine’s Yana Vorushylo.
It was a dazzling achievement for the youngster, who registered goals against Czech Republic (1), Australia (3), Ukraine (1), Russia (2) and USA (2) to help the 14th ranked Namibians to a ninth place finish, bettering the 10th place achieved at the Poznan 2011 event, which was their only other appearance in the competition.
Later in the year, Cormack enjoyed another wonderful hockey experience, captaining Namibia’s under 18s team in the Hockey 5s competition at the 3rd Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their stand-out result was a 4-3 victory over Australia, with Cormack scoring twice in the contest. Namibia eventually finished the competition in eighth position, above Uruguay, Zimbabwe, Mexico and Vanuatu.
In an interview with FIH, the now 18-year-old reflects on that incredible breakthrough year whilst also talking about her ambitions for the future.
Hi Kiana, thank you for talking to us. You captained Namibia at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Tell us about your memories of that amazing experience in Argentina.
Kiana-Che Cormack: “The Youth Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I think anyone that gets to compete at that level would definitely agree with me. Not many people know this, but a Namibian hockey team had never qualified for the Youth Olympics, so this was a huge milestone for our country. From being in the [Olympic] Village to going to the field where we actually compete, every moment is just amazing and incredible. It is something that you cannot really describe to someone who hasn’t been there. Especially for the hockey players – I’m sure that other countries can agree – being in Argentina, where hockey is such a famous sport, it is probably the best atmosphere that you can play in, with the crowd and all the support going around. I loved every single minute.”
Representing your country at a Youth Olympic Games is a huge privilege for any young player. What did it mean to you personally, and also your family?
Kiana-Che Cormack: “I actually get asked this question quite a lot! Anyone that goes to the Youth Olympics is going to say that it is one of the biggest privileges that an athlete can have. Especially being from a small African country – it is not something you can achieve every day, so you have to take the chance when you get it. For us to qualify and personally captaining the team through that, we were such a close unit, it is something I always wanted to do. I mean, I have goals to play at the highest level of hockey when I’m a bit older, and that was just another stepping-stone – it helped me gain so much experience. When it comes to how it felt for my family, my mum, Shayne Cormack, was the coach of our under-18s Hockey 5s team, so it was a goal of ours since I was young to go to such a prestigious sports event. For us to experience that, to go through it together, was something quite special that no-one can take away from us. My family has been involved in Namibian hockey for years, so this was another really important moment that we got to experience together, and I’m really grateful for that.”
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 global health pandemic, it was recently announced that the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal has been postponed to 2026. What are your thoughts about this, and how important do you think the 2026 event will be for Hockey in the African region?
Kiana-Che Cormack: “I was heartbroken when I heard that thy had postponed the Youth Olympic Games to 2026, not because it had any personal effect on me, but more for the generation of athletes that aren’t going to be able to experience going to the Youth Olympics. It was probably the only chance they were ever going to get. I know for a fact it was going to be one of Namibia’s strongest hockey generations, so I was looking forward to seeing how well they were going to do, if they had qualified for the Youth Olympics. Unfortunately that chance has been stolen from them, and I really am upset for each and every one of those players. However, there is going to be another one in 2026, which I am again excited to see, because in Africa we don’t have the strongest club hockey levels, so for us young hockey players to be exposed to a high level of playing, the only chance we really have is when we qualify for iconic events such as the Youth Olympic Games. So, whenever we get the opportunity, we always try to take it and make the most of it. Yes, there is going to be a generation that will be missing out on that, but the next generation is going to be even more talented and ready to take that opportunity, so I’m very excited to see how that works out.”
At the FIH Indoor World Cup 2018 in Berlin, you finished as joint top scorer with nine goals - a remarkable achievement for a 16-year-old. What are your memories of that competition?
Kiana-Che Cormack: “I don’t think anyone expected me to win that award, especially being the youngest player at the tournament and playing for a small country that has only every qualified to compete at the [Indoor] World Cup once before. It was a shock to everyone, and I could not believe it. But at the end of the day I have to give all the glory to God, because it truly was a miracle. I don’t know how I would have achieved something like that without him. The [Indoor] World Cup is a very intimidating and overwhelming experience, and the atmosphere is just incredible. Even just getting the opportunity to play at a tournament like that at the age of 16 is, yet again, a once in a lifetime experience. I remember playing my first game against Czech Republic and I scored my first goal. It was also the first goal for the team. I could have ended the tournament there – I was ecstatic, I was over the moon and I could not believe that I had even scored! But, as the tournament went on, I grew more confidence and the goals were coming naturally, which was the biggest blessing I have ever received. I am really thankful for that.”
What is your biggest ambition with the Namibia team in the coming years?
Kiana-Che Cormack: “Right now, my biggest ambition for the women’s team is to qualify for the next [outdoor] World Cup, so that we can compete there and improve our ranking. Obviously, these times during the pandemic are really uncertain and we don’t really know what is going to happen next, so I cannot look too far ahead. I can only focus on the next step, which is the qualifiers. I’m just going to trust god’s timing – I know that it will be revealed, and I’ll take it from there.”
FIH site
Savita Punia credits family for forging her hockey career
The goalkeeper was introduced to the sport by her grandfather and her parents’ constant support made it possible for her to have a career.
By Rahul Venkat
Savita Punia was encouraged into hockey by her grandfather.
Growing up, Savita Punia was a shy and reserved child, who would keep away from big crowds.
So having thousands watching your every move on a hockey pitch was not something she envisaged making a career in.
It has been quite a journey from there to now being the vice-captain of the Indian hockey women’s team. It means Savita is almost always in the limelight, a situation amplified by her role as the goalkeeper.
Savita Punia does enjoy the role now and credits her grandfather Ranjeet Punia for helping her discover love for hockey.
“Whatever I am today is only because of my grandfather. His love drove me to play hockey and he was a constant source of encouragement,” Savita Punia told the Olympic Channel.
“I remember the first time I was selected to play for the state, my grandfather had tears in his eyes. He was happy to see me progress,” an emotional Savita recalled.
However, it was not a smooth ride at all for the Indian hockey vice-captain.
People in her hometown in Haryana did not feel sports was the appropriate career choice for a girl. For them, her place was in the house doing the daily chores.
Moreover, when Savita Punia first started thinking about playing hockey professionally, her mother’s arthritis flared up, which made her bedridden for long periods of time.
Circumstances were against her, but Savita Punia’s family came to her rescue.
“My grandfather never went to school, but he was very open-minded. He always encouraged me to continue with hockey come what may,” stated Savita.
“Even when my mother fell ill, my parents never felt that I should stay back and help out at home. They knew I would not be able to pursue my dream, and they backed me all the way.”
“So that’s why my grandfather and my parents are my biggest role models in life.”
Savita Punia will be one of the senior players in the Indian hockey team at the Tokyo Olympics.
Parental pride propels Punia
The support would also prove crucial later in her career.
Savita Punia, after making her debut for the Indian hockey team in 2008, was still not assured of a starting spot a few years later and spent a lot of time on the bench.
However, her parents’ pride at her being the reserve goalkeeper kept Savita going.
Savita Punia went on to establish herself in the Indian hockey women’s team in 2013 and played a stellar role in the runup to Rio 2016, a first Olympics appearance for the women’s team in 36 years.
It may not have been an ideal campaign – the Indian team ended last – but the women’s performances since then have led many to believe that a first Olympic medal is waiting to be won at Tokyo.
And Savita Punia, spurred on by the belief her late grandfather and parents had in her, will most likely be in the spotlight as the Indian women seek to create history.
Olympic Channel
Asian Games hockey medallist Singh has road named after him in Indian hometown
By Nancy Gillen
Asian Games hockey medallist Ram Prakash Singh has had a road named after him in his Indian hometown of Churia.
Hockey India congratulated Singh after he had the two kilometre road in the district of Deoria named after him.
Singh, who moved to Lucknow to pursue a hockey career when he was 14, earned three Asian Games medals with India.
He achieved silver in 1982 in Delhi and in 1990 in Beijing, having taken bronze at Seoul 1986.
Singh was also part of the Indian team that participated in the 1986 Men's World Cup in London and the 1990 Men's World Cup in Lahore.
Having retired from hockey, he is now the director of the Department of Youth Services and Sports for the Uttar Pradesh Government. 
Ram Prakash Singh earned a silver medal in the men's hockey contest at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing ©OCA
The state successfully held the 2016 Junior Men's World Cup in Lucknow under Singh's supervision.
"It is a nostalgic moment for me," Singh said.
"Although I moved to Lucknow at a very young age to pursue my career in hockey, I remained connected to my roots and the people of Churia.
"It is a proud moment for them too.
"I have dedicated my whole life for sports, first as a hockey player and then as an administrator.
"I hope this recognition will inspire athletes from my state to achieve success in the field of sports."
Inside the Games
Indoor spark yet to catch fire
By Jugjet Singh
Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) vice president Shurizan Mansor (centre). - Pic source: Facebook/MalaysianHockeyConfederation.
MALAYSIAN Hockey Confederation (MHC) vice president Shurizan Mansor started an indoor revolution but has received lukewarm response so far.
However, the MHC Indoor Hockey chairman is least worried, as he knows he will face many challenges.
"Even though Malaysia are the Sea Games indoor men's and women's champions, the majority of hockey players prefer the outdoor game.
"We have received only 10 men's entries and even fewer from the women. But I expected the first season to have a slow start.
"With more promotions at state-level, it will pick up over the years."
The inaugural Indoor Malaysia Hockey League will be held from Oct 17 to Dec 20 at Sultan Idris Education University in Tanjung Malim.
The university, which has been actively promoting the sport, has three international standard indoor pitches. However, the lukewarm response could be due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Malaysia came close to qualifying for the Indoor World Cup last year, even though the players had next to none in training and exposure.
In last year's Indoor Asia Cup in Chonburi, Thailand, Malaysia's men were bronze medallists (behind champions Iran and runners-up Kazakhstan) while the women finished fourth (behind Kazakhstan, Thailand and Uzbekistan).
"Recently, we held an indoor hockey seminar to 'introduce' the sport to states as well as impart knowledge on the rules and regulations.
"Hopefully, the inaugural tournament will start the fire that takes Malaysia to the World Cup in a few years' time," said Shurizan.
Every revolution starts with a spark, and MHC have lighted theirs. Now it's up to the states to get things rolling.
New Straits Times
Tamil Nadu hockey players set to resume training after five months
By Srinidhi PR
CHENNAI: AS Tamil Nadu enters Unlock 4.0 with major relaxations, the new guidelines seem to be in favour of athletes. The state government announced on Sunday that all sports complexes, public and private, shall be opened sans spectators from Tuesday.
It came as a major boost for state-level players who were denied permission to practice outdoors for more than five months due to the lockdown. Many top athletes have already begun training in August after the government allowed them to use the facilities owned by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).
In a first, hockey players will be setting foot on the turf for the first time on Tuesday since March. The SDAT-owned hockey stadiums have already been disinfected. With the first step in resumption taken, the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu (HUTN) is mulling conducting inter-district tournaments between October and November if the normalcy is restored. “We will look at having inter-district events after a month at various venues. Following that, we will have a training camp for state players in November-December ahead of next year’s nationals,” said HUTN president Sekhar J Manoharan.
New Indian Express
Event planned to celebrate centenary of Britain's 1920 Olympic hockey gold medal
By Duncan Mackay 
Britain's men's hockey team - not England as written - won the Olympic gold medal at Antwerp 100 years ago this Saturday ©The Hockey Museum via Marlborough College
A special celebration is planned on Saturday (September 5) to mark the centenary of Britain’s hockey team winning the Olympic gold medal at Antwerp 1920.
The tournament marked the first time in history that a British team had competed together in an international hockey event.
A team from England had won the Olympic gold medal at London 1908, and it had originally been thought that Britain had not competed together as one team until the next Games in Britain in 1948.
But research from The Hockey Museum in Woking in the United Kingdom has since uncovered evidence that there were, in fact, non-English players as part of Britain’s team at Antwerp 1920.
Britain won the four-nation round robin tournament by winning two of their matches, including 5-1 against Denmark and 12-1 versus hosts Belgium, and being given a walkover against France.
Britain did not win an Olympic gold medal in the sport again until the men upset the odds to triumph at Seoul 1988.
The women won their first Olympic gold medal at Rio 2016.
The Hockey Museum also plan to use this significant day to formally launch its project to make available commemorative honours caps to current and former British players.
Extensive research by a group of volunteers at The Hockey Museum over the last five years on Britain’s player history has produced a record of 366 men and 210 women who have represented the country since the first official international matches.
The research designated that the first to represent Britain, as the goalkeeper, at Antwerp 1920, was Birmingham-born Harry Haslam.
His family are due receive his Britain cap at a presentation ceremony at The Hockey Museum on the day of the centenary.
Each of the other players, including those no longer alive and former living internationals, are scheduled to receive their cap during the coming year, the deceased via their families.
It is planned that Britain’s current players will receive theirs during Britain’s home International Hockey Federation Pro League games next May.
For more details about the event on Saturday click here.
Inside the Games