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News for 08 May 2021

All the news for Saturday 8 May 2021


2021 Test matches RSA v NAM (M) - 8 May
Johannesburg (RSA)


1 May 2021     RSA v NAM   7 - 0 (Watch the match replay here)
2 May 2021     RSA v NAM   2 - 1
4 May 2021     RSA v NAM   3 - 0  
5 May 2021     RSA v NAM   6 - 0
7 May 2021     RSA v NAM.  5 - 0

No Spectators allowed due to COVID restrictions
All matches to be streamed live on the Watch Hockey App

FIH Match Centre



SA Hockey Men wrap up test series with superb second half



Photo – Marcel Sigg / Run, Ride, Dive

As the clouds opened up on Northcliff High School on the final evening of the test series between the hosts and Namibia, the South Africans also opened up in the second half to wrap up the series 5-0. It was a series that at times showed the lack of competitive action over the past year, but at times showed the talent on display in African hockey.

The first half did not offer many highlights other than DJ Strauss producing a fine save from a Ntuli drive and Fagan Hansen firing wide after a goal mouth melee dropped the ball into his path. At half time it remained 0-0 and a game that had produced very little to get excited about. It was clear however that Garreth Ewing had inspired his team at half time as they came out firing.

Tyson Dlungwana created space and drove around four Namibian players and crossed it strongly for Keenan Horne to dive in and finish. It was a finish that Horne made look easier than it was. One became two in sensational fashion. After some good possession Andrew Hobson fed the General, Peabo Lembethe, played a good ball to Bili Ntuli whose touch to play the ball into the path of Brandon Panther was exemplary. Panther took a touch and finished sublimely.

Another combination goal was next for the South Africans as Rusten Abrahams, Bili Ntuli, Alex Stewart and Keenan Horne interchanged passes for the skipper to dive in and net his second. The togetherness shown by the team when they celebrated the goal was testament to the togetherness the squad has fostered over the past 24 months.

South Africa would make it four when the ball found its way through to Matt De Sousa in the D. He took the touch, shifted across and as the rain came down de Sousa fired into the back of the net. The South Africans would add a fifth in the fifth test match to round out a five nil series win. Bili Ntuli mistrapped his first touch, but he fired it across brilliantly to cap off a good all-round performance for the striker, his 20th International goal.

Namibia who were without a few players due to injury including Liam Hermanus, gave a great account of themselves in the series. The focus for many of the players will now shift to the U21 World Cup Qualifier they are hosting later this year. The top two teams there will move to the world cup in India in December.

For South Africa eyes will shift to a potential series against Malaysia and the opportunity to move ahead of Ireland into 13th in the World Rankings.

SA Hockey Association media release



2021 Test matches AUT v CZE (W) - 8 May

Wiener Neudorf (AUT)

8 May 2021 18:00 (GMT +2)     AUT v CZE
9 May 2021 11:00 (GMT +2)     AUT v CZE

FIH Match Centre



London's calling for Charlotte and Die Danas



Charlotte Stapenhorst is a prolific striker with the German women’s national team and she will be looking to add to her tally as Die Danas travel to London to take on Great Britain in the FIH Hockey Pro League. The two teams are well matched: Great Britain is currently one point ahead of Germany in the league – fourth and fifth placed respectively – albeit the Great Britain team has played two more matches.

The matches will take place on 12 and 13 May at the Lee Valley Hockey Stadium in London and, for Stapenhorst, the trip will be something of a homecoming.

“It is little personal for me as I went to school at Repton College in England and I played there for Beeston Hockey Club. I know the players and I really like playing against them. I love playing in London, it just feels cool to go there.”

There is some disruption to the German squad as a number of players are still involved in the final stages of the German hockey league. As a result, a number of promising under 21 players are included in the squad travelling to London.

“It’s been a stressful few weeks with the domestic league so it is nice to be back with Die Danas,” says Stapenhorst. “But the preparation has been totally different with many players missing because of the German league finals. We have a lot of new players coming in but it is nice to be back with the squad.

“Normally we would have 25 girls who play in the [national] squad regularly but now it is different, with these [domestic] league fixtures still to fulfil. But it is also perfect to have lots of girls in the squad who want to play. After the Olympics they will be able to come into the squad full time and be ready to be Die Danas.”

While the inclusion of the under 21 players is good for Germany’s future squads, for the immediate challenge of the FIH Hockey Pro League, Head Coach Xavier Reckinger will need to call on all his coaching talent to gel a squad that has hardly trained together.

“Headaches for Xavier are fine,” says Stapenhorst with a smile. “He is totally used to it. The league has been very good for us. Travelling the world playing Pro League has not been possible so the [domestic] league has been really helpful for us to stay playing hockey.

“Against Argentina [in the FIH Hockey Pro League] we had people missing because of the EHL but everyone was really working for each other. It was a ‘team work’ win and we all really enjoyed it.”

And looking ahead to next week’s matches, Stapenhorst says: “Great Britain is always tough to play against. And everyone is preparing for the Olympics, so everyone is really approaching their best now. We have to be really prepared for a big defensive fight. What you can do, even if you haven’t played much international hockey, is you can defend. So I think it will be a hard-fought, defensive game.

“A good outcome is to get everyone in and make sure we take some learnings with us. We want to win, obviously, but we have a tough, intense few weeks. At the Euros’, we will see where we stand and see if we are going the right way.

“But, ultimately, we want to be at our best for the Olympics so we have to make sure that we build up and don’t be frustrated if things don’t go right to start with.”

Watch the full interview on Watch.Hockey

#FIHProLeague

Official FIH Pro League Site



Emily Defroand To Miss Tokyo Olympics Due To Injury



GB Hockey are sad to announce that Emily Defroand will not be available for selection for this summer’s Olympics due to injury.

The midfielder – who has played 55 games for England and Great Britain so far – has been ruled out as she continues to recover from a serious back injury initially sustained in January.

Having done everything she could to return to the pitch as soon as possible, Emily suffered a relapse of the injury in March that has meant she will be unable to be considered for the Olympics later this year or play for England at this summer’s EuroHockey Championships.

The recurrence of the problem left Emily in considerable pain and she will continue to receive the full help and support of GB Hockey and their medical team.

The 26-year-old said: "I struggle to find the words to explain the rollercoaster of emotions that I have experienced over the last four months.

“My hopes and dreams of playing at an Olympics – the second time around! - lasted just four days before I noticed discomfort in my back. As a result, my Olympic year was pretty much over before it had begun.”

I am also determined to use all of my energy and positivity to support the squad this summer... I will pride myself on being as big an influence as I can
Emily Defroand

Despite her injury, Emily will do everything she can to help the squad over the next few months as they prepare for the Tokyo Games.

The Surbiton player said: "First and foremost, I will continue to focus on my recovery. I hope that I will be able to return to some form of normality soon and enjoy the luxury of being free from pain and discomfort.

“I am also determined to use all of my energy and positivity to support the squad this summer. My own personal disappointment will always come second to the team’s success and I will pride myself on being as big an influence as I can, albeit from the sidelines.”


Emily has played 55 international matches so far and won three medals, including bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games

Mark Hager – the Great Britain women’s head coach – said: “Throughout what has been a very trying time for Emily, all of our thoughts have been with her. Emily’s commitment to the team will be greatly missed; the laughter she brings is infectious and I know the staff and her team-mates will miss that.

“Emily’s tenacity will be missed not only on the training pitch but also out in the battle of competition. I look forward to her speedy recovery and wish her well as she progresses through her rehab.”

GB Hockey’s Performance Director Ed Barney added: “It’s been an incredibly tough year for Emily. She’s gone about her rehab with the attention to detail and commitment that is an example to all. We all wish Emily the very best over the coming weeks and months as she returns to full health and fitness.

“To not have Emily’s presence around the squad day-to-day is a real loss. Emily has an infectious smile, energy and charisma which lifts all of us, whether in person, or on a video screen!”

Great Britain Hockey media release



Olympic gold is ultimate goal for all of us, says India midfielder Rajkumar Pal

The Indian team is preparing relentlessly to end its 41-year gold-medal drought in the Olympics, says India's Rajkumar Pal.


India midfielder Rajkumar Pal made his debut last year, at the FIH Pro League. - HOCKEY INDIA

Winning a gold medal at this year’s Olympics is the ultimate goal and the Indian team is preparing relentlessly towards ending the 41-year-old drought in the Olympics, says midfielder Rajkumar Pal.

The last time India won a gold medal at the Olympics was at the Moscow Games in 1980. The Tokyo Games are scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8.

“An Olympic gold is the ultimate goal for all of us and we have been putting in a tremendous amount of hard work to achieve our target in this year’s Olympics,” Pal said.

Pal made his debut against world champion Belgium at the FIH Pro League last year. The 23-year-old is delighted with his progress so far with the national team and aspires to achieve more for India in the near future.

'Dream come true'

“The way you start anything is very crucial and therefore I really wanted to get off to a good start in my international career. It was a dream come true for me when I got the chance to walk on the field with the Indian team for the match against Belgium in the FIH Hockey Pro League last year and I am really happy with the way things have panned out for me so far.

“Then the two goals I scored against Australia in the FIH Hockey Pro League gave me a lot of confidence and I have just looked to carry forward the momentum from thereon,” Pal said.

Pal said he was looking forward to making many more contributions to the Indian team’s victories in the future. “It felt great to contribute to the team’s victory with a goal against Argentina in our first match of the tour last month. My main objective is to help the team win in any way I can, and I was happy with the way I performed on our recent tour of Argentina. Even though I haven’t played too many matches for the Indian senior team, I have already started to feel very comfortable at the highest level.”

Sportstar



Hosts Bangladesh again beaten by Covid-19

By Jugjet Singh


Malaysian Junior team manager, I.Vikneswaran

KUALA LUMPUR: The men's Junior Asia Cup (JAC) has yet again become a victim of Covid-19.

Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) today announced that the JAC, a Junior World Cup qualifier, has been postponed due to the rising cases of Covid-19.

The JAC, which is an under-21 tournament, was initially scheduled to be held in March last year, but was moved to November the same year, and January this year, followed by July 1-10.

But Covid-19 was the winner yet again, beating off all the numerous dates set by AHF.

In a statement, AHF said: "We are all still going through difficult times of great uncertainty with the pandemic continuing to have a massive impact on daily life in many countries, and restrictions on travel still persisting.

"The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), as the host of the men's Junior Asia Cup in Dhaka, has had intense discussions with its government around some aspects, such as the ongoing lockdowns and recently introduced flight and travel restrictions.

"In the wake of the ongoing pandemic situation, BHF and AHF subsequently discussed the uncertainty around the ability to hold the JAC in an orderly, sensible and fair manner on July 1-10.

"Apart from the players, team staff and officials' health and well-being a priority, we also need to consider that the JAC is a Junior World Cup qualifier and so we must ensure appropriate conditions for the event and minimise the risk of qualified teams being unable to participate."

AHF have yet to decide on the new dates for the men's JAC while the women's JAC is slated for Aug 16-22 in Kakamiganara, Japan.

The competing teams are Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

"We respect the decision taken by AHF to postpone the JAC because the health and well-being of players and officials is paramount.

"However, Malaysia hopes the rules to allow 22-year-old players will also be extended with this recent announcement," said National Juniors team manager I. Vikneswaran.

Half of the Malaysian team will not be eligible if the AHF and FIH decide not to extend the age limit for the new tournament date.

New Straits Times



Bloemendaal, Kampong, Den Bosch and Amsterdam make midweek inroads



HC Bloemendaal, SV Kampong, Den Bosch and AH&BC Amsterdam hold the big advantages after away wins in the first legs of their respective Hoofdklasse semi-finals in midweek.

In the men’s matches, Bloemendaal were the big winners with a thumping 5-1 victory over Den Bosch at Oosterplas. They did the hard way, coming from a goal behind to Arjen Lodewijks’ opener in the 21st minute.

But the lead did not last until half-time as Thierry Brinkman equalised and then further goals from Florian Fuchs, Roel Bovendeert, Yannick van der Drift and Tim Swaen put de Mussen out of sight.

Kampong also took a big win from their Wednesday game when they beat HC Rotterdam 3-0. Robbert Kemperman got them up and running before Martijn Havenga – who announced he would finish up with the club at the end of this season – scored the next in the 25th minute.

Mats Gruter completed the win with 10 minutes to go. Bloemendaal meet Den Bosch at home in the second leg on Saturday at 2pm before Kampong host Rotterdam at 4pm.

Michelle Fillet’s first half penalty corner was all that stood between Amsterdam’s women and SCHC in their first leg at Bilthoven following a tight match-up. Anne Veenendaal made some strong corner saves in the first half to preserve their 1-0 win and give them the advantage going into the second of their best of three ties.

Frédérique Matla’s second half hat trick powered Den Bosch to a 4-0 win over hdm who were making their debut in the playoffs. A close first half ended scoreless with the hosts repelling six Den Bosch corners but the EHL champions soon found their rhythm.

Matla’s trio of corners – in the 42nd, 56th and 62nd minutes – put them in the clear and Noor Omrani’s close range tip-in completed the victory.

Saturday’s second legs are both at 12pm with Amsterdam hosting SCHC and Den Bosch welcoming hdm.

Euro Hockey League media release



Mannheim to host German final four series this weekend



Mannheimer HC hosts the climax of the extended German season with the final four playing out this weekend for both the men’s and women’s competitions.

All games will be broadcast live via the club’s highly impressive media team which can be seen on www.twitch.tv/trops4

And Mannheim are hoping they can push for double glory with the women facing Rot-Weiss Köln in their semi-final while the men are up against Uhlenhorst Mülheim.

As a statement of intent, they have re-signed internationals Teo Hinrichs and Linus Müller on extended contracts while Spanish player Clara Badia Bogner has lengthened her spell with the women’s team.

Her side had the third best record from the regular season before outdoing Berliner HC in the semi-final series. Rot-Weiss, meanwhile, had the fifth best record but overcame the seeding system to beat UHC Hamburg in a high quality meeting.

The first semi is a showdown between recent rivals Düsseldorfer HC and Der Club an der Alster, the clubs who had the best results before the playoffs.

For Alster, they have won nine successive games in 2021 while Düsseldorf also have perfect series in this calendar year, making this a huge contest.

In the men’s semi-finals, Rot-Weiss Köln begin against Berliner HC for whom this will be a farewell weekend for club legend Martin Häner who confirmed he will step down from playing.

“I wanted to quit when the club was in a good position and no longer played against relegation,” said the 2012 Olympic champion. “We are now very professional and have an outstanding coach in Rein van Eijk and Aditya Pasarakonda a very good consultant.”

Berlin are in strong form with nine wins from their last 10 games, knocking out UHC Hamburg last weekend.

Reigning champions Uhlenhorst Mülheim face Mannheim in the second semi-final at 7pm.

Schedule (times CET)

Women

Saturday, May 8, semi-finals: Düsseldorfer HC v Der Club an der Alster, 10am; Mannheimer HC v Rot-Weiss Köln, 1pm

Sunday, May 9: final, 1pm

Men

Saturday, May 8, semi-finals: Rot-Weiss Köln v Berliner HC, 4pm; Uhlenhorst Mülheim v Mannheimer HC, 7pm

Sunday, May 9: final, 4pm

Euro Hockey League media release



Carolina field hockey shuts out Iowa to earn shot at NCAA crown

The Tar Heels, two-time defending champions, will play for the ninth title in program history Sunday at 7 p.m. on their home turf. It will be the team's 20th championship appearance.

By GoHeels.com


Katie Dixon notched the game winner with the first score of her Carolina career. (Photo by Jeffrey Camarati/GoHeels.com)

Two freshmen scored their first career goals and the nation’s leading scorer added one more as top-seeded North Carolina shut out fourth-seeded Iowa 3-0 at Karen Shelton Stadium to earn a spot in the NCAA field hockey championship game on Sunday.

The Tar Heels, two-time defending champions, will play for the ninth title in program history Sunday at 7 p.m. on their home turf. They’ll face the winner of Friday’s second semifinal game between Louisville and Michigan.

After a scoreless first quarter, Carolina (18-1) went up for good in the 23rd minute while at a player advantage because of an Iowa green card. Sophomore Romea Riccardo sent a long ball to the right corner, where freshman Mia Leonhardt hustled to receive it then delivered a pass from the right corner into the circle. Classmate Katie Dixon sent a backhand shot past Iowa keeper Grace McGuire and into the left side of the cage for a 1-0 Tar Heel lead. It was Dixon’s first goal as a Tar Heel and Leonhardt’s first assist.

Shortly after that score, the game went into its first of two lengthy weather delays because of lightning in the area. The teams spent 40 minutes in their locker rooms before returning to the turf to play out the rest of the second quarter. Just as the halftime clock sounded, the game went into another weather delay – this one including heavy rain and even hail – and the “halftime” break stretched to nearly an hour instead of the typical 10 minutes.

Back on the field for the third quarter, the Tar Heels drew two penalty corners and scored on both. In the 40th minute, junior Erin Matson’s initial shot was saved but Leonhardt grabbed the rebound and popped a shot over diving keeper and into the cage for a 2-0 Carolina lead on her first career goal.

Four minutes later the Tar Heels drew another penalty corner, their fourth of four on the day, Matson, who leads the nation in scoring, blasted a shot to notch her 27th goal of the season, with Paityn Wirth and Romea Riccardo on the assists. The goal was Matson’s 15th in 10 NCAA Tournament games and she now ranks second in tournament history for career goals. (The all-time NCAA Tournament leader, ODU’s Marina DiGiacomo, scored 21 goals in 12 games.)

The teams finished tied in shots with nine each, but Tar Heel senior Amanda Hendry made seven saves – including five in the final period – to preserve the shutout. In two NCAA Tournament games, Carolina has yet to allow a goal.

Iowa (12-6) drew six penalty corners, including five in the fourth quarter, and Carolina had four.

The Tar Heels are making their 12th straight Final Four appearance, the 25th in program history. Friday’s game was the program’s 100th in NCAA Tournament play, more than any other school. Sunday’s championship game will be Carolina’s 20th. The Tar Heels are 8-11 in their previous 19 appearances and won the 2018 and 2019 titles.

University of North Carolina media release



Michigan Downs No. 3 Louisville in Shootout, Advances to NCAA Championship Game

No. 2 Michigan defeated No. 3 Louisville, 2-1, in the NCAA semifinals on a clinching goal from Katie Anderson in the sixth shootout round.



CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Junior Katie Anderson converted in the sixth round of the shootout to propel the No. 2-ranked University of Michigan field hockey team to a 2-1 win against No. 3 Louisville in the NCAA Tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon (May 7) at North Carolina's Karen Shelton Stadium.

It was Anderson's second marker in the shootout after Louisville rallied from a two-goal deficit to force the sixth round. Junior goalkeeper Anna Spieker made a crucial stop to lead off the extra round, forcing the shot wide to the left, before Anderson finished to the right side, pulling the Cardinal goalie just out of position and squeezing it past the post. It was Michigan's second shootout win of the season.

The Wolverines (15-2) advance to the NCAA championship game for the third time in program history and first time since capturing the 2001 national championship -- the first by a women's program in Michigan Athletics history. Michigan will face two-time defending NCAA champion North Carolina (18-1) at 7 p.m. on Sunday (May 9) at Shelton Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

After a scoreless first half, Michigan struck first -- while shorthanded -- on a penalty corner at the 34:34 mark in the third quarter. Freshman Anouk Veen buried the direct shot on a rocket to the lower-left corner of the cage -- her fourth marker of the season. Graduate student Clare Brush and junior Kathryn Peterson earned assists on the stop and insert, respectively.

Louisville put U-M on its heels for much of the fourth quarter. The Wolverines stopped five penalty corners over an eight-minute stretch but could not stop the sixth, as the Cardinals converted at 58:42 -- with just 1:28 remaining in regulation. It was just the third goal allowed by Michigan over its current 12-game win streak.

The Wolverines played shorthanded for 15 minutes after a 10-minute yellow card late in the third and a five-minute yellow late in the second overtime. Michigan appeared content to wind down the clock after the overtime card, but junior Kathryn Peterson put a near-miss shot on goal in the final 30 seconds and sailed the rebound high.

Louisville outshot the Wolverines, 8-7, and outcornered them, 8-4, in the game -- mostly due to the fourth-quarter onslaught. Spieker earned two saves in the U-M cage, while Cardinal goalkeeper Sam Minrath posted four stops.

Go Blue



Moscow Olympics hockey champion Ravinder Pal Singh dies of COVID

Ravinder Pal Singh played centre-half in the Indian hockey team that won gold at Moscow 1980. He also represented India at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

By Ubaid Parkar



Former Indian hockey player Ravinder Pal Singh, a member of the team that won the gold medal at the Moscow 1980 Olympics, died on Saturday due to COVID-19 related complications. He was 60.

Ravinder Pal Singh was admitted to a hospital in Lucknow on April 24 after contracting the novel coronavirus. He tested negative on Thursday and was shifted to a general ward. But Ravinder’s condition took a turn for the worse on Friday.

A two-time Olympian, Ravinder Pal Singh also represented India at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. The centre-half also featured in the 1980 and 1983 Champions Trophy and the World Cup and Asia Cup in 1982. His international career spanned from 1979 to 1984.

“Shocked to hear about the passing away of Ravinder Pal Singh sir,” former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay said on his Twitter page. “A 1980 Moscow Olympics hero, he will forever be remembered for his invaluable contribution to hockey as a finest player.”

Born in Sitapur, Ravinder Pal Singh remained single and is survived by a niece.

The gold at the 1980 Olympics remains India’s last medal won in hockey.

Meanwhile, another member of the gold-winning team, MK Kaushik, is battling with COVID. In a hospital in New Delhi since April 24, his condition has deteriorated and is critical. Kaushik is under observation.

Olympic Channel



Moscow Olympic gold medallist hockey player Ravinder Pal Singh succumbs to Covid

Singh had also represented India in the Champions Trophy in Karachi (1980, 1983), Silver Jubilee 10-nation Cup in Hong Kong in 1983, 1982 World Cup in Mumbai and 1982 Asia Cup in Karachi, among other tournaments



Former India hockey player and a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics-winning side, Ravider Pal Singh died on Saturday morning in Lucknow after battling COVID-19 for nearly two weeks.

He was 60.

Singh was admitted at the Vivekananda Hospital on April 24 after contracting the deadly virus.

According to family sources, Singh had recovered from the virus and was shifted to non-COVID ward on Thursday after testing negative.

But his condition suddenly deteriorated on Friday and he was put on a ventilator.

Singh, who also played at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and did not get married, is survived by a niece, Pragya Yadav.

Singh also played in the 1979 Junior World Cup and took voluntary retirement from State Bank of India after quitting hockey.

Born in Sitapur, Singh excelled as a centre-half from 1979 to 1984.

Besides two Olympics, Singh had also represented India in the Champions Trophy in Karachi (1980, 1983), Silver Jubilee 10-nation Cup in Hong Kong in 1983, 1982 World Cup in Mumbai and 1982 Asia Cup in Karachi, among other tournaments.

The Tribune

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