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All the news for Sunday 4 April 2021

2020 FIH Pro League (Men) - 4 April

Cenard, Buenos Aires

3 Apr 2021     ARG v GER (RR)   2 - 3
4 Apr 2021 14:30 (GMT -3)     ARG v GER (RR)

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

Live streaming and full game replay on the Watch Hockey App (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

FIH Match Centre

2020 FIH Pro League (Women) - 4 April

Cenard, Buenos Aires

3 Apr 2021     ARG v GER (RR)   0 - 0 (3 - 2 SO)
4 Apr 2021 17:00 (GMT -3)     ARG v GER (RR)

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

Live streaming and full game replay on the Watch Hockey App (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

USA v NED (26.01.2020) worth double points because of the match cancelled on 24.01.2020
AUS v GBR (01.02.2020) worth double points because of the match cancelled on 02.02.2020

FIH Match Centre

Staib stunner gives Germany men victory over Olympic champions Argentina



Germany men continued their fine recent run of form in the FIH Hockey Pro League with a 3-2 away victory over Olympic champions Argentina in Buenos Aires. It was a different story in the women’s match, with Argentina winning a shoot-out against Germany to take two points from a possible three in Las Leonas’s first competitive match for over a year.  

The action began in the men’s competition, where a wonderful moment of improvisation from Constantin Staib late on gave Germany men a hard-earned 3-2 triumph over the hots. The result sees Die Honamas – who are targeting a fifth successive Olympic podium finish when they take part in the re-scheduled Tokyo 2020 Games later this year – move up to third in the FIH Hockey Pro League standings, adding another three points to the six that they claimed against the Netherlands in Amsterdam last month.

Germany twice held the lead thanks to strikes from Christopher Rühr and debutant Luis Gill, only for prolific penalty corner expert Jose Tolini to pull his team level on each occasion. The decisive moment arrived with just four minutes of the match remaining, with Staib collecting the ball with his back to goal before squeezing a shot between his own legs and into the bottom left corner of the net.

Germany's Mats Grambusch, who was named Player of the Match and played a pivotal role in setting up Staib’s outrageous winning goal, said: "To be honest, the [Best Player] Award isn't that important for me. What is important for me is the three points that we go today in a very, very tough match. I'm happy about that. We only arrived four days ago, and what with the jet lag, being used to winter in Germany and not used to these temperatures, all in all we are really happy that we had a performance like this today."

Argentina goalkeeper Juan Vivaldi said:"It was out first game in a long time, so I think it was a tough game for us, but it was a good feeling to be on the pitch again. We are growing, and tomorrow we hope to improve our on our mistakes today.”

More information on the game can be found by clicking here.

The women’s contest between Argentina and Germany was a cagey affair, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities in the opening two periods. The match opened up in the third and fourth quarters, with Argentina captain Delfina Merino having a goal ruled out before Germany’s Nike Lorenz missed a glorious chance to win the game from the penalty spot late on.

A 0-0 draw ensured that both teams would take a point from the contest, but it was the hosts who would steal the bonus point. Merino scored the decisive goal, but it was the goalkeeping of debutant Clara Baberi – who replaced regular shot-stopper Belen Succi for the shoot-out – that proved invaluable. Baberi conceded just twice from Germany’s five attempts, setting things up perfectly for the vastly experienced Merino to seal additional point as Las Leonas strengthened their grip on second place in the FIH Hockey Pro League standings.

"It was a hard game”, said Argentina’s Julieta Jankunas, who was named Player of the Match. “We are very happy that we won. Germany are a really good team, so we kept two points and are now waiting for tomorrow to win again."

Germany's Nike Lorenz said: "I think we definitely have to get more results in the circle. Our defence was really good I think, so we need to keep working like that and just score some goals."

More information on the game can be found by clicking here.

The two nations will face each other again on Sunday.

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

FIH Hockey Pro League
Saturday 3 April 2021 – Buenos Aires (ARG)

Men’s result: Argentina 2, Germany 3 (Match 1 of 2)
Player of the Match: Mats Grambusch (GER)
Umpires: Diego Barbas (ARG), German Montes de Oca (ARG) and Carolina de la Fuente (ARG - video)

Women’s result: Argentina 0, Germany 0 [3-2 After Shoot-Out] (Match 1 of 2)
Player of the Match: Julieta Jankunas (ARG)
Umpires: Irene Presenqui (ARG), Carolina de la Fuente (ARG) and German Montes de Oca (ARG - video)

#FIHProLeague
#HockeyInvites
#PlayHockeyStayHealthy

Official FIH Pro League Site

Men’s Olympic champions Argentina beaten by Germany on return to Hockey Pro League

By Neil Shefferd Saturday


Argentina's women beat their German counterparts in a penalty shoot-out to claim a bonus point in their Pro League meeting in Buenos Aires ©Getty Images

Argentina, the reigning men’s Olympic champions, returned to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Pro League circuit for the first time in just over a year, as they were defeated by Germany.

In the first game of a double-header in as many days, Argentina were beaten 3-2 by their German counterparts in an entertaining affair at the National Centre of High Performance Athletics in Buenos Aires.

Germany took an early lead courtesy of a penalty corner from Christopher Ruhr in the eighth minute.

Four minutes later Jose Tolini scored his first goal of the game for Argentina from a penalty corner to make the score 1-1.

Debutant Luis Gill helped Germany retake the lead in the 29th minute, before Tolini scored his second penalty corner three minutes later to level the contest at 2-2.

With four minutes remaining, the winning goal came for Germany in spectacular style with Constantin Staib picking up the ball with his back to goal before squeezing a shot between his legs into the corner of the net to make it 3-2.

Germany claimed three points courtesy of the win, which moves them to third in the standings, two points behind The Netherlands.

The men’s match between the two countries was followed by the women’s contest between the nations.

This was a cagier affair with fewer scoring opportunities although both teams had chances to win it in regulation time, with Argentina captain Delfina Merino having a goal ruled out and Nike Lorenz missing from the penalty spot for Germany.

The contest finished 0-0 with both teams gaining a point, although a bonus point was up for grabs in the penalty shoot-out that followed.

Argentina won the shoot-out 3-2 thanks to scores from Merino, Maria Forcherio and Agustina Albertarrio.

Argentine keeper Clara Baberi was the hero for the hosts, denying Sonja Zimmermann, Selin Oruz and Lorenz.

After earning two points Argentina strengthen their hold on second place in the overall standings, five clear of third placed New Zealand.

Men’s and women’s fixtures between the two countries are scheduled to take place at the same venue tomorrow.

Inside the Games

Dutch-Spanish GRAND FINAL showdowns after epic FINAL4 contests



Monday’s EHL GRAND FINALS – presented by ABN AMRO – are set to be Dutch-Spanish showdowns after a wild FINAL4 day of action at the Wagener Stadium.

The first ever EHL Women’s final will be contested by Club de Campo and Den Bosch after they both won through after shoot-outs after normal time had ended 1-1.

Close-range corner goals from Carmen Cano – in the third quarter – and a Lisa Altenburg effort with just over a minute to go sent the game to shoot-out where Maria Ruiz made the key saves

Den Bosch snatched the second EHL Women’s GRAND FINAL place as they rescued a draw with 74 seconds to go and subsequently produced a perfect shoot-out set to beat AH&BC Amsterdam.

This one followed a similar pattern to the first semi-final with Marijn Veen opening the scoring in the third quarter only for the Brabant side to come back and equaliser with 74 seconds remaining courtesy of Frédérique Matla’s deflection. In the shoot-out, Josine Koning was superb to seal the victory.

The result means Club an der Alster meet AH&BC Amsterdam in Sunday’s BRONZE MATCH at 1.30pm (CET).

Monday’s GRAND FINAL is a repeat of the 2008 EuroHockey Club Champions Cup final when Den Bosch won out against Campo 7-0. The Spanish side will be hoping to improve significantly on that to try and land their first ever top tier title while Den Bosch are going in search of a 17th Euro crown but, crucially, the first EHL version.

In the EHL Men’s FINAL4, HC Bloemendaal were pushed to the limit to keep alive a chance of a fourth EHL Men’s title, getting the win over Royal Leopold in the first FINAL4 date via a sudden death shoot-out.

For a long-time, it looked like the Belgian sides would be the ones to prevail as Gaspard Baumgarten’s 33rd minute goal put them in pole position. But Wouter Jolie – in his first EHL game since 2015 – cracked home a corner to level the game and his side won a shoot-out in sudden death 5-4.

And there were yet more fireworks in the final game of the day when Pau Cunill wrote himself into Atlètic Terrassa club folklore with two goals in a crazy last three minutes to first them into a first ever EHL GRAND FINAL, outdoing Uhlenhorst Mülheim 3-2.

Timm Herzbruch scored the only goal of the first half before Atlèti came on strong in the second half and equalised via Jordi Bonastre. Cunill then stepped up to score in the last three minutes before Herzbruch tied it at 2-2 with 60 seconds to go. But, with just four seconds left, the Spanish side won a corner which Cunill nailed for 3-2.

It means Uhlenhorst Mülheim and Royal Léopold will contest the BRONZE MATCH on Sunday at 4pm (CET) with both sides hoping to win their first EHL medal.

On Monday, HC Bloemendaal go in search of their fourth EHL Men’s title while Atlètic Terrassa are assured of their very first medal but will be hoping it is a gold to match their success in 1985 and 1998 in the old EuroHockey Club Champions Cup. That game will be played at 1.30pm (CET).

EHL 2020-2021 Match schedule EHL Men and Women FINAL4

April 3-5, 2021 (Wagener Stadium, AH&BC Amsterdam, Netherlands)  
Saturday 3 April 2021  

WOMEN’S FINAL4: Club de Campo de Madrid 1 (C Cano) Der Club an der Alster 1 (L Altenburg), Campo win shoot-out 4-3; AH&BC Amsterdam 1 (M Veen) HC ‘s-Hertogenbosch 1 (F Matla), Den Bosch win shoot-out 4-3

MEN’S FINAL4: HC Bloemendaal 1 (W Jolie) Royal Leopold Club 1 (G Baumgarten), Bloemendaal win shoot-out 5-4; HTC Uhlenhorst Mülheim 2 (T Herzbruch 2) Atlètic Terrassa 3 (P Cunill 2, J Bonastre)

Sunday 4 April 2021  

M5 13.30h WOMEN’S BRONZE MATCH: AH&BC Amsterdam v Der Club an der Alster

M6 16.00h MEN’S BRONZE MATCH: Uhlenhorst Mülheim v Royal Léopold

Monday 5 April 2021  

M7 13.30h MEN’S GRAND FINAL:  Atlètic Terrassa v HC Bloemendaal

*prizegiving ceremony directly following the Men’s Final  

M8 16.00h WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL:  HC ‘s-Hertogenbosch v Club de Campo de Madrid

*prizegiving ceremony directly following the Women’s Final

Euro Hockey League media release

Campo become first EHL Women’s Grand Finalist with shoot-out win over Alster



EHL Women’s FINAL4: Club de Campo 1 (C Cano) Der Club an der Alster 1 (L Altenburg), Campo win shoot-out 4-3

Club de Campo became the first side to reach the EHL Women’s GRAND FINAL as they held their nerve to see off Germany’s Der Club an der Alster at the Wagener Stadium.

Normal time ended 1-1 with close-range corner goals from Carmen Cano – in the third quarter – and a Lisa Altenburg effort with just over a minute to go sending the game to shoot-out.

The Spanish side made the early running with Maria Lopez’s powerful corner shot in the third minute drawing a brilliant tip around the corner by Amy Gibson.

At the far end, Altenburg served notice of her attacking intent with driving runs down the right flank while Carlotta Sippel went closest with a drag-flick that was deflected inches wide.

And so it remained locked at 0-0 in an end-to-end first half. The tempo upped and Altenburg came within centimetres of breaking the deadlock, a brilliant run and flick that clattered off the front of the crossbar.

But it was Campo who hit the front in the 43rd minute from their second penalty corner when Lopez delivered the perfect sweep shot into the path of Cano who chipped the ball over goalkeeper Amy Gibson.

The Spanish champions tried to dig in after that but Alster puled on the pressure in the closing stages, winning a series of penalty corners.

And they eventually got back on terms with 69 seconds left on the clock when Sippel’s corner shot was brilliant saved by Maria Ruiz but fell for Altenburg and her shot just about slipped under the goalkeeper and over the line.

It led to a shoot-out where the first seven efforts were all scored, Bea Perez providing an outstanding rocket to the top corner with the pick of them as they built a 4-3 lead.

Felicia Wiedermann did find the net for Alster’s fourth shoot-out but a video review deemed her effort to have been back-stick and so it was ruled out.

It gave Campo the edge and while Gibson denied Alicia Magaz in the next round, Ruiz stood tall to block Viki Huse and, after a video review, their victory was confirmed.

Euro Hockey League media release

Koning crowns Den Bosch FINAL4 win over arch rivals Amsterdam



EHL WOMEN’S FINAL4: AH&BC Amsterdam 1 (M Veen) Den Bosch 1 (F Matla), Den Bosch win shoot-out 4-3

Den Bosch snatched the second EHL Women’s GRAND FINAL place as they rescued a draw with 74 seconds to go and subsequently produced a perfect shoot-out set to beat AH&BC Amsterdam.

Coming into the tie, Amsterdam had gone unbeaten in their last seven meetings with their Dutch rivals but Den Bosch almost got off to the dream start when Pien Sanders got fired into the sideboard with an inviting chance 30 seconds into the game.

It was tough and physical from the start with the Brabant club taking it to the Wagener Stadium hosts with Lidewij Welten going great guns.

She won a corner which was subsequently improved to a stroke for a body on the line but Ireen van den Assem’s effort from the spot was smothered by her international team mate Anne Veenendaal.

Two more Den Bosch corners were blocked away in Q2 with Frédérique Matla’s dizzying spin blocked and then a powerful push skimmed the outside of the post.

As time wore on, though, Amsterdam came more and more into the game with Veen at the heart of most of their big moments. She drew a cracking foot-save from Josine Koning in the 23rd minute and, from the next attack, Michelle Fillet’s excellent turnover set up a three-on-two with Veen’s shot blocked over.

That momentum continued into the second half and the opening goal came when Lauren Stam, from the left sideline, picked out Sosha Benninga who dug the ball out from under her nose and into the path of Veen. She came onto the ball at pace and flicked high over Koning for a narrow lead.

Indeed, it was not a comfortable one as Laura Nunnink’s deflection and a shot from Sanders threatened their resolve. In reply, Freeke Moes fired a reverse-stick shot just wide and a corner deflection move went similarly close to killing off the game in the last six minutes.

Matla was somehow denied an equaliser with four minutes to go when her ingenuity saw her weave into a pocket of space in the circle. There, she unleashed a brilliant shot but it came back off the inside of the post to keep Amsterdam just in front.

But 74 seconds from the end, Matla did get her goal, a brilliant tip-in from Rosa Fernig’s similarly perfect cross on the backhand from the left-wing.

And Den Bosch were able to take that positive outlook into the shoot-out where Sanders, Matla, Welten and Sanne Koolen all scored while Josin Koning saved a stroke from Eva de Goede in the first round and then, decisively, kept out Lauren Stam to win it 4-3.

Euro Hockey League media release

Bloemendaal scrap past Royal Leopold challenge to reach EHL Men’s GRAND FINAL



EHL Men’s FINAL4: Royal Léopold 1 (G Baumgarten) HC Bloemendaal 1 (W Jolie), Bloemendaal win shoot-out 5-4.

HC Bloemendaal were pushed to the limit to keep alive a chance of a fourth EHL Men’s title, getting the win over Royal Leopold in the first FINAL4 date via a sudden death shoot-out.

Leo were the side who looked the more likely to get the result in normal time as Gaspard Baumgarten put them in front but Wouter Jolie – in his first EHL game since 2015 – levelled before Maurits Visser made the crucial shoot-out saves.

The first half was balanced on a knife-edge with both defences holding the balance of power as it ended 0-0. Leo did suffer a big blow, however, with star striker Tom Boon departing the scene early with his injury not sufficiently healed to allow him to play a further role.

The pick of the moves came from the Belgian side via Max Plennevaux and Corentin de Trez who worked two clever spin-passes to open the door for Nicolas Poncelet. Overlapping from the back, his flick was well blocked by the out-rushing Maurits Visser.

The Brussels side went in front three minutes into the second half when Tom Degroote stole the ball off last defender Wouter Jolie before ripping a waist-high backhand across the face of goal. There, Baumgarten was waiting to guide the ball into the goal.

Visser kept it at just one with good saves from Dimitri Cuvelier and kept out a couple of Degroote corner flicks, Jasper Brinkman’s overlaps causing the problems.

Bloemendaal got back on terms with 12 minutes to go from their fourth corner, thumping home off Romain Henet’s pads after an initial Tim Swaen corner shot was blocked.

Leo won another couple of corners but their options were blunted by Boon’s absence and they did not cause Visser problems. Bloemendaal also had their set piece chances when Swaen tested Henet well.

It sent the game to a shoot-out – just like the two women’s games earlier in the day – where Bloemendaal took the initial advantage with Visser keeping out Tom Degroote in the first round.

The next six shoot-outs before Glenn Schuurman fired wide and it ended 4-4 after the regulation series of shoot-outs. Jorrit Croon scored his second shoot-out in sudden death to put the pressure and while Poncelet earned a stroke, Plennevaux was denied by Visser to seal the deal.

Euro Hockey League media release

Cunill writes himself into Atlètic folklore as late double denies Uhlenhorst Mülheim



EHL Men’s FINAL4: Uhlenhorst Mülheim 2 (T Herzbruch 2) Atlètic Terrassa 3 (P Cunill 2, J Bonastre)

Pau Cunill wrote himself into Atlètic Terrassa club folklore with two goals in a crazy last three minutes to first them into a first ever EHL GRAND FINAL, outdoing Uhlenhorst Mülheim 3-2.

As recently as November, he was in the club’s second team but his incredibly corner prowess has brought him to prominence.

Timm Herzbruch scored the only goal of the first half before Atlèti came on strong in the second half and equalised via Jordi Bonastre. Cunill then stepped up to score in the last three minutes before Herzbruch tied it at 2-2 with 60 seconds to go. But, with just four seconds left, the Spanish side won a corner which Cunill nailed for 3-2.

Uhlenhorst were the side in the ascendancy in the first quarter with Malte Hellwig firing the first warning shot in the first few minutes, producing an outstanding save from Marc Calzada.

Timm Herzbruch’s typical driving runs were also causing danger but it was from a more static position that he put the team in front in the 11th minute. Hellwig’s shot hit a foot to earn a corner from which the ensuing shot hit Ignasi Torras on the goal line on the body, leading to a stroke which Herzbruch scored.

Calzada saved once more from Hellwig to keep the gap at 1-0 at the end of the quarter as Pepe Cunill’s corner shot rebounded off the post, albeit after a free out had already been awarded.

Atlètic settled more into their rhythm in the second quarter with Albert Beltran and Marc Salles’ energy driving them forward to great effect but the one corner they received was annulled by a video review.

And the Catalan side continued to push for an equaliser in the third quarter. A lovely drive from Joan Tarres nearly unlocked the door but his high shot took Beltran by surprise as he almost turned in his high ball by accident.

They went level amid a melée in the circle with the ball bouncing this way and that before Jordi Bonastre spotted the loose ball and poked it in.

And they looked the more likely to grab the next goal through the fourth quarter with Beltran continuing to be the main man, especially as Uhlenhorst struggled with discipline.

Captain Tobias Matania was shown a yellow to miss the last five minutes for hitting a ball away after a whistle to up the pressure as they also conceded a couple of corners, too.

And eventually it led to the go-ahead goal as Pau Cunill in the 57th minute – in his first ever EHL game – stood forward to shoot just past the head of Lennart Küppers with a vicious corner flick.

They were not yet over the line, however, as Uhlenhorst won another corner with 50 seconds to go and it was switched into the path of Herzbruch who dragged in off Calzada to make it 2-2.

But, with a free in the last few seconds, Atlètic threw on another outfield player and it worked as they won another corner which Cunill went low to power into the backboard for a famous victory.

Euro Hockey League media release

Double blow to UniKL as their men and women fall in finals

By Jugjet Singh


UniTen players celebrating after winning the Vivian May Soars Cup at National Hockey Stadium today. BERNAMA pic

KUALA LUMPUR: The TNB Cup final turned out to be an eight-goal thriller which went into a penalty shootout today. Finally, it was Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) who emerged worthy winners with a score of 2-0 at the National Hockey Stadium.

THT's Syarman Mat Tee and Firdaus Rosdi were the only ones on target in the shootout while Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) failed in four attempts.

The regulation time score, after a roller-coaster battle, was 4-4.

UniKL were unlucky not to claim a Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) treble after winning the Charity Sheld and League titles earlier with ease.

The THT goalscorers were Faizal Saari (15th), Arif Syafie Ishak (17th), Akhimullah Anuar Esook (21st) and Faizal Saari (38th).

UniKL got their goals through Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (ninth, 13th), Razie Rahim (35th) and Ashran Hamsani (51st).

It was a double blow for UNIKL as their women's team, UniKL Ladies fell in the Vivian May Soars Cup final.

UniKL Ladies paid a heavy price for being complacent in a match they dominated, and handed Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UniTen) the Vivian May Soars Cup on a tame 1-0 score.

And as predicted by Timesport, UniTen's wily coach Lailin Abu Hassan used a hidden "slice" weapon to defend their title.

League champions UniKL Ladies had five penalty corners and wasted them all, but UniTen nailed their only corner in the 54th minute with a low "slice slap" by 21-year-old Nurul Faezah Shafiqah Khalim.

It was Nurul Faezah's only third goal of the tournament, and UniKL Ladies defenders did not anticipate such a spin.

And when the ball crashed into the board, it extinguished the fire in the League champions and broke their unbeaten run in the Malaysia Hockey League.

"I told my players before the match that all we need is one penalty corner in the final, and it will be the game changer.

"I had noticed that there is a 'hole' in their penalty corner defence and I planned to hit that spot," said Lailin.

Faezah had trained on Friday, and when her only chance came, she made it count.

"When I stepped up to that penalty corner, I knew it was now or never, and sliced the ball just at the right angle and it turned our fortunes around," she said.

Lailin added: "My players were really determined to retain our Cup even though UniKL were the dominant side today.

"We had lost the League match 3-0 to UniKL but I saw that my players have the qualities to improve, and I impressed on them a 'winning mentality' and the Cup fell into our laps for the second consecutive year."

RESULTS

TNB Cup final: Universiti Kuala Lumpur 2 Terengganu Hockey Team 0, penalty shootout (4-4 regulation time)

Third-fourth: Maybank 0 Tenaga Nasional 1

Vivian May Soars Cup final: Universiti Kuala Lumpur Ladies 0 Universiti Tenaga Nasional 1

Third-fourth: Police Blue Warriors 4 Sabah 0

New Straits Times

Nurul 'slices' up UniKl ladies

By Jugjet Singh


UniTen players and staff celebrate winning the Vivian May Soars Cup. - Pic courtesy of UniTen

Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) Ladies paid a heavy price for being complacent in a match they dominated, and handed Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UniTen) the Vivian May Soars Cup on a tame 1-0 score yesterday.

As predicted by Timesport, UniTen's wily coach Lailin Abu Hassan used a hidden "slice" weapon to defend their title.

League champions UniKL Ladies had five penalty corners and wasted them all, but UniTen nailed their only corner in the 54th minute with a low "slice slap" by 21-year-old Nurul Faezah Shafiqah Khalim.

It was Nurul Faezah's only third goal of the tournament, and UniKL Ladies defenders did not anticipate such a spin.

And when the ball crashed into the board, it extinguished the fire in the League champions and broke their unbeaten run in the Malaysia Hockey League.


UniKL’s Nuraini Abdul Rashid (left) vies with UniTen’s Kirendeep Kaur in the Vivian May Soars Cup final yesterday. -Pic courtesy of UniKL

"I told my players before the match that all we need is one penalty corner in the final, and it will be the game changer.

"I had noticed that there is a 'hole' in their penalty corner defence and I planned to hit that spot," said Lailin.

Faezah had trained on Friday, and when her only chance came, she made it count.

"When I stepped up to that penalty corner, I knew it was now or never, and sliced the ball just at the right angle and it turned our fortunes around," she said.

Lailin added: "My players were really determined to retain our Cup even though UniKL were the dominant side today.

"We had lost the League match 3-0 to UniKL but I saw that my players have the qualities to improve, and I impressed on them a 'winning mentality' and the Cup fell into our laps for the second consecutive year."

RESULTS

Vivian May Soars Cup final: Universiti Kuala Lumpur Ladies 0 Universiti Tenaga Nasional 1

Third-fourth: Police Blue Warriors 4 Sabah 0

New Straits Times

Trio preps for indoor hockey

Bright Mpepe

Lilongwe – Southern African countries are ready to participate in the 2021 Federation International Hockey (FIH) Africa Indoor World Cup qualifiers, which is scheduled to take place between April 15 and 18 in Durban, South Africa.

The countries participating at the qualifiers are Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

The MTC Namibia Hockey Union, Men and Women indoor national teams all said they were set to travel to South Africa for the competition.

The president of the Namibia Hockey Union, Marc Nel said, “In order for us to secure our place there (at the World Cup), we must put on our best show during the qualifiers. Just like any other games, we are taking this seriously, our drive is to fly the Namibian flag high.”

Sponsors of the Namibia hockey teams, telecommunications behemoth MTC, urged the players to do their best at the qualifiers and to make the nation proud.

“Our stance has always been growth and development and we shall work hand in hand with the federation to achieve the goals we have agreed collectively” said MTC manager for sponsorship and communications, John Ekongo.

The Indoor Hockey World Cup takes place in Antwerp, Belgium next year.

The Southern Times

Pakistan will discuss resumption of hockey ties with India: report



Pakistan and India are expected to hold talks to resume hockey ties. The matter may be discussed on the sidelines of the 47th International Hockey Federation (FIH) Statutory Congress in New Delhi.

The meeting, which is aimed at electing the FIH president and executive board members for the next four years, will take place from May 19 to May 23.

PHF President Brig (retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa are expected to attend the meeting.

The officials have already applied for their visas and are expected to reach Delhi by May 22. They are also planning to hold meetings with their Indian counterparts, said sources.

Playing series against India could be a part of the PFF’s strategy, which is planning to organise bilateral series and regional tournaments in the country.

Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has also made a commitment to organise tournaments in Pakistan, Khokhar said.

The Nation

How Indian hockey cast a spell to win the 1928 Olympics gold

The gold medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Games was the first of the Indian hockey team’s record six-consecutive Olympic triumphs.

By Utathya Nag



As the Indian hockey team set sail for Amsterdam from the Bombay port to participate in the 1928 Olympic Games, only three people – the then Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president, vice-president and a solitary journalist – came to see them off.

When the hockey team returned from the Netherlands, though, thousands, including eminent dignitaries, thronged Mole Station (adjoining railway station of the old Bombay pier) to greet the triumphant heroes.

After all, India won its first Olympic gold medal in hockey at Amsterdam on their debut appearance. The victory was a significant milestone for Indian hockey for several reasons.

The win kickstarted an unprecedented domination over the sport which saw the Indian field hockey team win six consecutive Olympic gold medals – Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932, Berlin 1936, London 1948, Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956.

Here’s a look back at how India won their first Olympic hockey gold in Amsterdam.

Prologue

Before 1928, hockey was a part of the Olympic programme at the 1908 and 1920 Games but India was a part of neither. Though India did send a contingent to the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, there was no representation in hockey.

Still under the rule of Great Britain then, India lacked an official hockey governing body.

The IHF was established in 1925 and later became a part of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in 1927. That changed the landscape. India were set to mark their hockey debut at the Games in 1928.

The Olympic team’s preparations in India, however, was muted with the team losing 3-2 to Bombay during a practice match. Few expected a medal from Amsterdam but the team was confident of ‘avoiding any disgrace’ in the tournament.

The lack of expectations, perhaps, resulted in the low-key sending off of the team from Bombay.

Indian hockey team for the 1928 Amsterdam Games

The IFH initially named a 16-member squad, featuring nine Anglo-Indians and seven Indians, including Dhyan Chand. Thirteen would sail to Amsterdam from Bombay.

Three – Jaipal Singh, Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi or Nawab of Pataudi Senior (father of Indian cricket legend Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and grandfather of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan) and SM Yusuf – were set to join the team in England during a layover. Pataudi eventually dropped out of the team.

Shortly before setting off, a shortage of funds meant two players - Shaukat Ali and Rex A Norris - had to be axed from the travelling entourage. A last-minute intervention by patrons in Bengal, though, ensured the two had their bunks on Kaiser-i-Hind – the ship transporting the players from Bombay.

India hockey squad for Amsterdam 1928 Olympics: Jaipal Singh (captain), Broome Eric Pinninger (vice-captain), Syed M Yusuf, Richard J Allen, Michael E Roeque, Leslie C Hammond, Rex A Norris, William John Goodsir-Cullen, Kehar Singh Gill, Maurice A Gateley, Shaukat Ali, George E Marthins, Dhyan Chand, Feroze Khan and Frederick S Seaman

Captain Jaipal Singh’s sacrifice

Jaipal Singh was the designated captain. A Munda tribal, Jaipal was sent to London by missionaries to study in Oxford and had earned his name as a hockey player in England, including a spread on the prestigious World Hockey magazine.

At the time, Jaipal was studying for the Indian Civil Services (ICS) in Britain and wasn’t granted leave to participate in the 1928 Olympics. He, however, paid no heed to warnings and travelled to Amsterdam with the squad.

Upon his return, Jaipal cleared his ICS finals but was penalised and asked to repeat the year. Jaipal resigned and came back to India.

He would later become a prominent campaigner for tribal rights in India and came to be known as marang gomke (great leader) of the adivasi population inhabiting the Chhota Nagpur plateau of the erstwhile undivided Bihar.

The build-up

During a 20-day layover in London, the Indian team, led by Jaipal Singh, played several practice matches and caught the attention of the European media.

Their victories in London featured a 4-0 drubbing of the England national hockey team in an exhibition match at the Folkestone festival. England had won gold medals at both the 1908 and 1920 Olympic hockey events.

Interestingly, England withdrew their team from the Olympics after the defeat to India.

Though there was no official reasoning for the pullout, it was believed that the British Raj was unwilling to accept a defeat by one of its colonies on the international stage.

The English team re-emerged at the 1948 Olympics – a year after India’s independence.

“I reiterate that this is mere hearsay (that England dropped out of the Amsterdam Games fearing the Indians), although we fondly hoped that at least in future Olympics we would have the honour of meeting Great Britain and showing them how good or bad we were. It is my regret that this hope was never realised so long as I participated in Olympic events,” Dhyan Chand had noted in his biography years later.

India also played matches in Germany and Belgium before arriving in Holland for the main event.

How India won its first Olympic hockey gold in Amsterdam

A total of nine teams participated in the 1928 Olympics hockey event.

India, with Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria were drawn in Division A while hosts the Netherlands, with Germany, France and Spain were in Division B.

The topper of each group faced each other for the gold medal, while the second-placed teams played for the bronze.

India’s debut match saw Dhyan Chand emerge as an unstoppable force in world hockey.

Wizard Dhyan Chand weaves his magic

Dhyan Chand already had a reputation preceding himself after his brilliant showing in the Indian hockey team’s maiden foreign tour to New Zealand and his performances in practice matches. But it was the first time his wizardry with the stick found its rightful stage on the biggest sporting event on the planet.

Dhyan Chand scored four against Austria in India’s opening match to help his team to a 6-0 win. George Marthins and Shaukat Ali netted the other two goals.

Belgium tried to mark Dhyan Chand to curb his threat but the ploy backfired as it set the rest of the Indian team free to run havoc in front of the opposition goal. Despite being hounded by markers, Dhyan Chand himself scored one and helped set up several of the remaining eight.

Feroze Khan top-scored with five as India ran away as 9-0 winners against the Belgians.

Dhyan Chand scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the next two matches as India thrashed Denmark 5-0 and Switzerland 6-0.

After the match against Denmark, Jaipal Singh left the squad due to personal issues with Broome Eric Pinninger taking over the reins for the final two matches of the campaign including the final. That didn’t halt India’s momentum, though.

Having topped their division with a 100 per cent record, India set up a final against the the Netherlands, who had won the other division.

Heading into the big match on May 26, 1928, India faced a few odds. Feroze Khan was ruled out due to a broken collarbone he suffered in the match against Denmark while Shaukat Ali and Dhyan Chand were down with fever.

The wizard, though, still turned up with a brace as India beat the host nation 3-0 in front of 50,000 Dutch fans, half watching from inside and the rest waiting outside the Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam.

I was ill, and running a high temperature which persisted all throughout the game. That day, our manager A. B. Rosser coined a slogan for us - Do or Die. I was a soldier by profession, and when the country's honour was at stake, there was no alternative but to march boldly into the battlefield,” Dhyan Chand recalled during a later interview.

Dhyan Chand finished as the top-scorer in the tournament, scoring 14 of India’s 29 goals.

India goalkeeper Richard Allen had to do very little and ended the tournament without conceding a single goal - a record only matched by the Indian team which won gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

It was also the first Olympic gold medal won by Asia in the modern Olympics.

Olympic Channel

PHF bans Punjab hockey players, coach after fight during Balochistan Cup

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has banned players and coach of Punjab team after they indulged in a fight during a match against National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in the Chief Minister Balochistan Gold Cup.

In a report on The News, PHF secretary Asif Bajwa told the media that Punjab’s player Shafqat Rasool has been banned for ten years while his teammate Kashif Shah and skipper Haseeb were handed five-year bans each.

Punjab’s coach Mujahid Afzal has also been banned for five years. Meanwhile, Punjab manager Rai Usman and the NBP’s manager both received strict warnings in this regard.

“Strict warning has also been given to Punjab Manager Rai Usman Kharal and National Bank Manager and Coach Tahir Zaman,” Bajwa was quoted as saying. “Punjab players indulged in a fight during a match. The PHF has imposed bans on three players and the coach of Punjab team.”

The PHF secretary said that the step was taken to set an example and ensure no such incidents occur again. “They violated game rules. We punished them so that other players get a lesson,” Bajwa told reporters.

“We have made a three-member committee to further investigate this matter and find out others who were involved in this incident,” he added.

Geo Super

'They really competed': Duke field hockey's upset bid at No. 1 North Carolina falls just short

By Sasha Richie


Freshman goalie Piper Hampsch notched a career-high 19 saves in the defeat, more than double her previous career-high. Photo by Courtesy of Jeffrey Camarati/UNC Athletics | The Chronicle

Hearts were broken Friday afternoon.

No. 15 Duke was the undisputed underdog heading into its matchup at No. 1 North Carolina, a team that has lost only one time since the beginning of the 2018 season. However, what looked like it could’ve been a blowout instead turned into a tight, exciting game as the two teams played hot-potato with the lead until Duke tied the contest for the final time halfway through the third quarter.

Ultimately, though, the Blue Devils fell 4-3 for their fourth straight loss, as the Tar Heels clinched the win on a penalty stroke in double overtime. North Carolina’s victory keeps its perfect 34-0 record at Karen Shelton Stadium intact dating back to that 2018 campaign.

“They really competed, from start to finish,” Duke head coach Pam Bustin said of her team. “We're competing against the No. 1 team in the country, we're doing it at their field, on [North Carolina’s] senior day, with a few injuries, and…with some of the tough losses that we've had recently, it was really impressive and encouraging the way that the team came in and competed.”

That competitive drive was palpable from the entire roster, but from no one more so than freshman goalie Piper Hampsch. The Massachusetts native was phenomenal, tallying a career-high 19 saves—more than double her previous career-high—including five in the second overtime to give the Blue Devils (3-11, 1-2 in the ACC) a fighting chance. Halfway through that second overtime period, Hampsch delivered a save that will surely go on a highlight reel, as she dropped into the splits to block a low snipe and stave off the Tar Heels’ victory.

“She just continues to learn,” Bustin said of Hampsch. “I mean, probably the hardest thing for a goalkeeper is consistency, right, because you're always facing something different and there's always pressure…. But I couldn't be more proud and happy and satisfied with what she’s bringing into the games.”

Another notable Duke performance came from senior forward Libby Thompson, who scored her first goal of the season to tie the game 1-1 early in the second quarter. The Blue Devils made a great push out from their defensive end, where Thompson collected a long pass and carried the ball all the way to the scoring circle while flanked by a Tar Heel defender. She took the shot immediately upon stepping in the scoring circle, and almost as soon you heard the clang of the ball hitting the back of the cage, Thompson was jumping in the air and getting hugs from teammates as they celebrated her milestone.

Just a few minutes later, freshman midfielder Darcy Bourne notched her team-leading eighth goal of the season to put Duke in the lead 2-1. But after a pair of goals from North Carolina (13-1, 2-0) and the Blue Devils’ equalizer in the third quarter, both teams failed to tally a goal in the fourth—the Tar Heels likely should have, receiving seven penalty corner opportunities in that final period, but Duke’s impeccable defense in those situations pushed the game into overtime.

In overtime, things got interesting.

After playing largely clean games in regulation, both teams drew cards: a green card for North Carolina near the end of the first overtime and a yellow card for Duke that put the visiting squad down a player down for five minutes in the second. However, the defense for both teams didn’t budge. Even as the Blue Devils took control in the first overtime and the Tar Heels played with an advantage for half of the second, neither team could get an edge over the scrappy, aggressive play of the other.

“You’ve got to be a little bit more crafty and a little bit more resilient [in overtime], but I couldn't believe that we played so well…. A lot of that has to do with just the team's determination,” Bustin said.

Despite impressive play from the underdogs, it all came down to one moment. Seven minutes into double overtime North Carolina was awarded a penalty stroke, where an attacker goes one-on-one with the opposing goaltender, and in a sudden death overtime that spelled the end for Duke. There was nothing Hampsch could do to stop the shot, and the Blue Devils headed home with a loss.

Nevertheless, Bustin said she’s proud of the work her team has put in, especially after going toe-to-toe with the best team in the country.

“We're continuing this process of building a field hockey team that's going to sustain a few seasons, not just one or two games…. We grow a little and we’re going to be all right,” Bustin said.

Duke will look to rebound next Saturday at home against No. 5 Louisville in its penultimate match of the regular season.

Duke Chronicle