News for 17 February 2021
All the news for Wednesday 17 February 2021
Much-improved Dilpreet Singh eyes India hockey team call-up for Tokyo 2020
The 21-year-old is making a case for himself at the national camp in Bangalore
By Samrat Chakraborty
Young striker Dilpreet Singh, a member of men's senior core probable group, is hoping to make it into the Indian hockey team for the Tokyo Olympics.
The 21-year-old is making a case for himself at the national camp, which is underway at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center in Bangalore.
"We don't want to be worrying about factors that are not in our control. I don't want to wait until I get an opportunity to play a match for India to make a strong case for myself but make the most of the opportunity I am getting here at the camp to showcase my skills and prove my worth. We are giving 100 per cent in each and every training session," Dilpreet told Hockey India.
Dilpreet, a member of the 2018 Asian Games bronze medal-winning squad, is keen to improve on the technical aspects of the game and spending time with the senior players at the camp has helped him.
Dilpreet Singh (Courtesy: Hockey India)
"I have been working on my technical game. I have improved on my finishing. Watching senior players and spending time with them helps younger players gain confidence and of course, improve our game. We ask senior players for tips and guidance, and they have been helpful to us throughout," he said.
The Amritsar player was part of the junior core group for the 2018 World Cup. His consistent performances in the junior group have helped him find a place in the FIH Pro League tie against World Champions Belgium a year later.
"I trained really hard in the Junior camp to at least make a place in the senior team. I used to shadow each, and every drill done by the senior team. I was in constant touch with senior players for that, I asked them for guidance, and finally in 2020, I was back in the core group for the FIH Hockey Pro League," Dilpreet said.
The youngster also believes that the postponement of Tokyo 2020 is a blessing in disguise as it helped players like him to improve.
"Postponement of the Olympics gave players like myself an opportunity to improve and make the most out of the situation. Team selection is not in my hands, I am focused on giving my 100 per cent on the field and improve day-by-day," he said.
India will send a squad of 16 to the Tokyo Olympics.
Olympic Channel
Rourkela sets platform as world’s biggest international hockey stadium
The first foundations for India’s biggest international hockey stadium were laid on Tuesday as preparations for the 2023 men’s World Cup were cemented.
The new 20,000 capacity hockey stadium in Rourkela “will be a model of green, functional, cost effective design” according to a release, together with graphical images of the new stadia.
Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the venue would set a “benchmark” for world hockey, with the Rourkela stadium named after freedom fighter ‘Birsa Munda’.
“With a seating capacity of more than 20,000, it will be the largest hockey stadium in the country. It will set a new benchmark in global stadium design for hockey, offering one of the finest spectator experiences in the world,” Naveen said.
Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri @Naveen_Odisha laid the foundation stone of India’s largest Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. It will be named after freedom fighter “Birsa Munda" and will offer one of the finest spectator experiences in the world with a seating capacity exceeding 20000. pic.twitter.com/UHK4a7Azfu
— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) February 16, 2021
In a release, it is claimed that fans will be closer to the pith than any other hockey stadia in the world.
It was also noted that commercial flights will also be operational soon, with an airstrip located adjacent to the venue.
The Rourkela stadium will act as the second World Cup venue to the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
It's going to be phenomenal, even if comes out to be 70% of what this video visualizes. And yes, the graphics remind a bit of MCG periphery as well. #hockey @sports_odisha pic.twitter.com/6KRxPu616l
— Jaspreet Singh Sahni (@JaspreetSSahni) February 16, 2021
The 2023 Men’s World Cup is due to be held from January 13- 29 in Odisha.
India will become the first nation to host four men’s World Cups after hosting the 1982 (Mumbai), 2010 (New Delhi) and 2018 (Bhubaneswar) tournaments.
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Mental health in hockey players
Photo credit: Hockey India
While athletes are less likely to be impacted physically by the Covid-19 virus – most young, fit athletes will shrug off the symptoms, if indeed they even realise they have contracted the virus – the mental impact can be far greater.
Global lockdown and social distancing has meant athletes all over the world have had to adapt their training routines and most have had little or no opportunity to play competitively for months.
A quick glance at social media whenever there is a chance to return to action indicates just how much the athletes have been missing their sport.
“The long awaited moment. RESTART of the COMPETITION”, tweeted Marlena Rybacha of Poland as her Dutch club team HC Oranje-Rood resumed Hoofdklasse action at the end of January.
“I have been playing with my school team, it has just been great to get back on the field,” said Kelsey Bing, goalkeeper for the USA women’s team.
Photo credit: Hockey India
And speaking ahead of the recent tour by India to Argentina, India hockey captain Rani said: "It feels amazing to be touring again.
"Playing in international matches is going to be a bit different this time, since we will be in a bio-bubble. However, the team is excited to be back on the field in the best possible manner at the moment."
Speaking during an interview for the FIH podcast, Hockey Pod, South Africa’s Austin Smith spoke of the extreme frustration of the national team as they have been unable to get together to train or play in months. “To be honest, we are really struggling,” he said, although he added that the team regularly got together on Zoom calls, which was having a good impact on team culture.
The problem is the uncertainty. Athletes and coaches plan their lives around a sporting competition. Argentina’s Carla Rebecchi retired from the sport because the Tokyo Olympics was postponed for a year and she couldn’t see herself spending long periods of time away from her family for another 12 months.
Photo taken from Delfina Merino's Instagram account
On the flip side, another Argentinian, Delfina Merino is pleased that the period of time between the 2020 Olympic Games and Paris 2024 is reduced, meaning she will probably stay in training at least until then.
While there are some positives to be taken from the situation, on balance, the pandemic has created problems that athletes would never normally have envisaged facing. The magazine Sports Injury Bulletin identifies the following feelings that athletes are likely to experience at this time.
“Due to social isolation, athletes may feel: less prepared as a result of lockdown; at a competitive disadvantage; worried and likely to catastrophise their thoughts – for example, ‘What if I catch Covid?’ or ‘What if I lose my funding?’”
Over the course of the past year many athletes have spoken out about feeling lonely, isolated and disconnected. They may also be feeling confused and anxious about their life direction.
Photo Credit: RFEH Hockey
One team that has really addressed many of these issues is Belgium men. In an interview with FIH, Head Coach Shane McLeod said that the players had been encouraged to use the lockdown period as a time to develop other skills away from the hockey field. Whether that was studying for a profession or learning a new skill, the players were encouraged to develop personal skills.
While the pandemic is slowly releasing its grip and we are seeing a drip-feed return to international competition, it is important that coaches and support staff recognise the difficulties faced by their players. As the Sports Injury Bulletin makes clear, the risk of heightened feelings of worry, anxiety, depression are all likely in the face of the global pandemic and it is important that coaches recognise and address mental health issues that might be affecting their athletes.
FIH site
Dar Academy Boys Figured in 6 of 9 Teams in Punjab Inter Division Hockey
By Ijaz Chaudhry
Punjab, the largest province of Pakistan, makes around 52% of country's total population. It has also been the biggest nursery of hockey. Players from almost all parts of the province have donned the coveted green shirt. For last many years, Punjab`s players have usually made up around 80% of the Pakistan team.
All nine divisions of the province participated in the recently held Punjab Under 23 Inter Division Championships in Lahore.
Dar Hockey Academy, based in Lahore, has been constantly churning out quality players. The Academy recruits players from all over the country.
As many as six of the nine teams at the Punjab Inter Division Under 23 Championships, including the winners Faisalabad and the runner up Lahore, had the services of Dar Academy's players.
Faisalabad: Shahbaz
Lahore: Shahzaib & Salman
Sahiwal: Faizan Janajua, Bilal Aslam & Haris
Gujranwala: Afaq, Hamza & Hassan Cheema
Multan: Haji Usman, Kashif & Shamoon
D.G.Khan: Ali Shah & Ahmad
Ijaz Chaudhry writes on hockey & other sports. For more about him and his work, visit: www.sportscorrespondent.info
Fieldhockey.com
Holland's Abigail Neitch commits to Syracuse to play field hockey
Rachel Lenzi 
Holland field hockey goaltender Abigail Neitch has committed to Syracuse University. Harry Scull Jr.
Abigail Neitch knew that as she pursued playing college field hockey, her recruiting process would have a different tone.
Instead of making unofficial visits to schools she was interested in attending, the Holland junior had to coordinate her own visits during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Also, because coaches could not attend games or tournaments where she played, due to the NCAA’s extended dead period in recruiting, Neitch had to get creative in how she could illustrate her skills and her development as a goalie.
“It was stressful with Covid, not being able to meet with coaches or meet with teams, and you can’t play in front of coaches during the dead period,” Neitch said. “I made sure to do what I could. I was fortunate to be able to practice, so I’d bring my phone to practice to take video.”
Neitch, a two-time All-Western New York first-team selection, asked teammates and coaches to help film her as she practiced, then edited the footage and uploaded videos to a recruiting website.
While she couldn’t go to offseason field hockey events, she made sure to keep in contact with the coaches who were recruiting her. Neitch verbally committed in January to play field hockey at Syracuse. She plans to sign a national letter of intent with Syracuse in November, and plans to join the Orange in the fall of 2022.
“I’ve wanted to go to Syracuse for a while, but I’ve been back and forth,” Neitch said. “When it came time that I could finally commit to a school, I was looking at a bunch of different schools. I found myself visiting other campuses and what they had to offer, and I kept comparing those schools to Syracuse.”
Neitch also considered Colgate, Albany, Penn and Lafayette. Syracuse, she said, was far enough away from her home in South Wales but still close enough to return for a day trip, and a place where she would have a new academic and athletic experience, as she plans to study civil engineering.
While the Holland field hockey team finished 1-14 this season, Neitch stopped 341 of the 397 shots she faced as the goalie for the Dutchmen. She was selected as Section VI's goalie on the all-state team, one of 12 players from Section VI who was recognized by the field hockey state committee.
Neitch also trains with the WNY Field Hockey Club, and plans to participate in USA Field Hockey’s Under-19 National Indoor Tournament, Feb. 26-28 in Richmond, Va.
“When I made my commitment, I was told by the coaches, continue going to camps, to clinics to tournaments when they’re available again at Syracuse, hopefully," Neitch said. "But who knows what could happen with the pandemic.”
She also plans to return to the Team USA Futures program; she has played in three National Futures tournaments.
“It’s going to look a little different, but it looks like USA Field Hockey is organizing something for us," she said, "and I’m looking forward to it."
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