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News for 01 June 2021

All the news for Tuesday 1 June 2021


Trans-Tasman series 2021 - 1 June
2021 Test Matches NZL vs AUS (M)
Palmerston North (NZL)

27 May 2021     NZL v AUS   1 - 3
28 May 2021     NZL v AUS   0 - 3
30 May 2021     NZL v AUS   2 - 4
01 Jun 2021     NZL v AUS   1 - 5

2021 Test Matches NZL vs AUS (W)
Palmerston North (NZL)

27 May 2021     NZL v AUS   1 - 1
28 May 2021     NZL v AUS   2 - 2
30 May 2021     NZL v AUS   2 - 2
01 Jun 2021     NZL v AUS   1 - 3

FIH Match Centre



Australia crush Black Sticks men to sweep trans-Tasman series


Brendon Egan


Shea McAleese, pictured in an earlier game, opened the scoring for New Zealand in the fourth trans-Tasman test. Dave Rowland/Getty Images

The Black Sticks men have plenty to stew over ahead of the Olympics after being swept by a classy Australian side.

Australia made it four wins from four to close out the trans-Tasman series in Palmerston North on Tuesday night with an emphatic 5-1 win.

New Zealand were in the contest, heading into the final quarter down 2-1, but three goals from Australia clinched a comfortable win.

Australia dominated the opening three games, outscoring the Black Sticks 10 goals to three and winning every match.

Wins against the Australian men, ranked No 2 in the world, have been few and far between for eighth ranked New Zealand over the last decade, beating the Kookaburras just twice.

New Zealand were desperate to make a strong start, but were again playing catch-up early.

They were under plenty of pressure right from the opening whistle with goalkeeper George Enersen making a fine save to keep out Josh Simmonds from a penalty corner.

Australia took just three minutes to hit the front as striker Nathan Ephraums made it three goals in three games.

Tim Brand did all the hard work, launching a cracking shot at goal, which Ephraums deflected in from close range.

It was 2-0 late in the first quarter with Australia pouncing after a sustained period of attack. Tom Wickham reacted quickly after Enersen couldn't keep out the initial shot, putting New Zealand in an early hole.

The Black Sticks looked to have been hard done by on the replay with Wickham appearing to have scored with the back of his stick, rather than the permitted flat side.

Trailing 2-0, New Zealand went into halftime with confidence after a late penalty stroke attempt to close out the second quarter.

Sam Hiha was pushed in the circle by an Australian defender, providing them with an opportunity to cut their lead in half.

Veteran Shea McAleese made no mistake with a textbook stroke, pulling the Black Sticks back into the game, scoring his 34th goal from 314 tests.

It was all Australia in the last quarter though, scoring three goals from Wickham, Jeremy Hayward (from a penalty corner), and Jacob Anderson to round off a memorable series for the tourists.

This won’t be the last time the Black Sticks men tackle Australia with another two tests in Perth over June 26-27. The sides are also in the same group for the Tokyo Olympics, along with Argentina, India, hosts Japan, and Spain.

AT A GLANCE:

Australia 5 (Tom Wickham 2, Nathan Ephraums, Jeremy Hayward, Jacob Anderson) Black Sticks 1 (Shea McAleese) HT: 2-1.

Stuff



Kayla Whitelock suffers knee injury in Black Sticks' series loss to Australia

Brendon Egan


Black Sticks great Kayla Whitelock suffered a knee injury in the last trans-Tasman test against Australia on Tuesday. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

New Zealand hockey great Kayla Whitelock’s hopes of attending a fifth Olympics is up in the air after suffering a knee injury.

Veteran midfielder Whitelock had to be helped from the turf on Tuesday in her hometown of Palmerston North.

It capped off a bleak night for the Black Sticks women, who were beaten 3-1 by Australia in the fourth and decisive test at the Massey University turf, which handed the Hockeyroos the trans-Tasman series.

Everything was on the line in the fourth test with the first three games all ending in draws.

Whitelock went down just five minutes into the game, injuring herself while challenging for the ball with Australia's Jane Claxton and then fell to the turf. It appeared as if Whitelock hurt her knee while contesting for possession.

She stayed on the ground for several minutes and looked in major discomfort as she was assisted to the sideline.


Olivia Merry, pictured in a prior game, scored New Zealand's only goal in the loss to Australia on Tuesday. Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

Scans in the coming days will reveal the severity of the injury. The Black Sticks’ Olympic squads are set to be unveiled next week.

With the Black Sticks’ opening match of the Olympics on July 25 against Argentina, the injury could potentially rob the 34-year-old of the chance to join a rare group of Kiwi athletes, who have attended five Olympics.

Whitelock went to her first Olympics in Athens in 2004 as New Zealand finished sixth and also attended the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Games.

Playing her 260th test on Tuesday, Whitelock is the fourth most capped player in Black Sticks’ women's history with only captain Stacey Michelsen (291), Emily Gaddum (274) and Anita McLaren (271) having played more games.

Things went from bad to worse for New Zealand after Whitelock left the turf with Australia scoring shortly after.

Having been under pressure in the opening stages of the game, Australia scored at the other end, netting in a goal-mouth scramble in one of their first scoring chances.

Steph Kershaw got the final touch after several players went close to scoring as the ball bobbled around the goal-mouth.

Australia almost had a second in the first quarter, going inches away from scoring, but the whole ball did not travel over the goal line.

Goalkeeper Georgia Barnett denied the Hockeryoos a second with a strong save from the penalty corner to deny Penny Squibb.

Barnett was unable to prevent Australia from scoring on their next trip to the goal circle though with Kershaw turning provider.

Kershaw made a smart baseline run and delivered a well-timed pass to Kalindi Commerford, who tucked home for her ninth international goal, four minutes from halftime.

Down 2-0 to begin the second half, New Zealand almost made the perfect start, but the ball travelled into the goal off Hope Ralph’s knee, rather than her stick.

New Zealand pulled a goal back midway through the third quarter with prolific goal scorer Olivia Merry firing home at the second attempt after a wonderful cross from Rose Keddell.

Australia quickly restored their two-goal cushion late in the term with a powerful finish from Savannah Fitzpatrick, leaving Barnett with little chance of keeping it out.

The Black Sticks tried everything in the closing minutes to get back into the game with Barnett pulled from the goal to give New Zealand an extra attacker.

New Zealand will get another shot at the Hockeyroos before the Olympics in a two-test series in Perth over June 26-27, which also includes the country’s men's teams.

AT A GLANCE:

Australia 3 (Steph Kershaw, Kalindi Commerford, Savannah Fitzpatrick) Black Sticks 1(Olivia Merry)

Stuff



“The Dutch have put us back on the ground”



The match was certainly without a stake, since even before entering the Wilrijkseplein in Antwerp on Sunday afternoon, the Red Lions had already won the second edition of the Pro League. Nevertheless, a confrontation between Belgium and the Netherlands is never trivial, except that the Red Lions have visibly approached it with much less determination and envy than their rivals. And with less than a week before the Euro which will take place in Amsterdam from Friday, Max Caldas’ men have shown that they are already well into their tournament; much more than the Belgians, as observed by Florent van Aubel.





Former India hockey player VR Raghunath says current team better prepared for Games than Rio

At the Olympics, it is all about winning those close games, said Raghunath, who is currently the vice-president of Karnataka Hockey Association.


File image of Indian men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh. Hockey India

Bengaluru: Veteran India dragflicker VR Raghunath thinks that the current team is better prepared for the Olympics than the side which finished eighth in the previous edition in Rio de Janerio.

India had lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals in the 2016 Summer Games. Raghunath is not in the list of Olympic probables this time.

"The Canada match which we drew cost us in 2016. That result put us in a different qualification group. But I feel the current batch of players can handle the Olympics a lot better.

"The same batch of players have been around for seven-eight years now, they are in touch with European players.

They can perform much better than Rio," said Raghunath in a Hockey India release.

At the Olympics, it is all about winning those close games, said Raghunath, who is currently the vice-president of Karnataka Hockey Association.

"It comes down to one or two matches and how you get your rhythm right in the arena. I have seen teams keeping it simple and playing with a free mind. I'd tell the players not to think much about the occasion.

"The players are in the same age group and have been quarantined together for a long time so they are familiar with each other and have been winning Pro League games as well.

"Players like Rupinder and Manpreet were around in the previous edition as well. They have covered every area well," the 32-year-old added.

The former Asian Games champion was full of praise for current vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh, who took over drag-flick duties from Raghunath.

"Harman had immediately arrived after the U-21 World Cup win. There were instructions from the coaches to take him under our wing; to protect him at least for 30-40 matches so that he could get an idea of what international hockey is all about. We guided him and he grasped things very quickly.

"We could see the results in just 3-4 months. He started scoring as well. Rupinder Pal Singh and I tried to treat him like a brother and not as a player. Our coaches have moulded us in such a way that the juniors are comfortable around the seniors.

"He has come a long way over the last four years, and I feel, he has another 8-10 years of international Hockey in him. Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas have also entered the mix. This is good for Indian hockey as we are not sure when a player will be down with an injury."

Firstpost



Birendra Lakra desperate to be in Indian team for Tokyo Olympics

Lakra, who has played 196 matches for the Indian team, missed out on the Rio Olympics due to a knee injury.


Birendra Lakra. File  

He is still unsure about his place in the Indian hockey team but defender Birendra Lakra is determined to make the cut for the Tokyo Games and make it count.

Lakra, who has played 196 matches for the Indian team, missed out on the Rio Olympics due to a knee injury.

“It was really hard time for me in 2016 when I missed out on the chance of representing India in the Rio Olympics. After my recovery, my sole goal has been to ensure that I am fit and absolutely ready for the Tokyo Olympics,” Lakra was quoted as saying in a media release.

“I have worked very hard on my game in the last five years, and I am very determined to make it to the Indian squad for the Tokyo Olympics. I am ensuring that I am playing at my absolute best during practice and giving my 100% in every training session,” Lakra added.

The defender asserted that Indian team’s bench strength is now such that no player can take his place for granted in the side.

“Even though I am one of the most experienced players in the Indian side, my place in the team is not guaranteed. There is a lot of competition for each of the positions and that is what keeps all of us on our toes. Everyone is determined to play and perform for India and therefore all of us make sure that we are giving everything we have during every practice session. Apart from skill development, we also make sure that we are giving enough attention to our fitness regimes as well,” said Lakra.

The 31-year-old said that the recent tour of Argentina has given the players a lot of confidence.

“We played very well as a unit, and we took away a lot of positives from that tour. We noted down a few things that we need to work on post the tour and we are currently working on each of them at SAI. By the time the Olympics start, I think we will be fully prepared to play at our best,” he said.

The Hindu



Tokyo Olympians must sign waiver on Covid risks


There is mounting public anger at the staging of the Olympics

Hockey Olympians must sign a waiver and assume all risk related to Covid-19 and extreme heat during the Tokyo Games.

Athletes have signed similar entry forms at previous Olympics, while the document for Tokyo 2020 says that they will compete at their own risk, including ‘serious bodily injury or even death’ through exposure to Covid.

In extracts from the waiver, published by Yahoo Sports, it stated:

“I agree that I participate in the Games at my own risk and own responsibility, including any impact on my participation to and/or performance in the Games, serious bodily injury or even death raised by the potential exposure to health hazards such the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious disease or extreme heat conditions while attending the Games.”

The IOC said that “entry forms have been in place for previous Games, and have been updated to include Covid-19-related consideration.”

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The Hockey Paper



No lockdown blues for coach Arul

By Jugjet Singh


National coach Arul Selvaraj is not a worried man, although the nationwide lockdown from today would mean no field training for a longer period. Pic courtesy of MHC

MALAYSIAN National coach Arul Selvaraj is not a worried man, although the nationwide lockdown from today would mean no field training for a longer period.

He, however, believes his players are training hard on their own.

"We have experienced several Movement Control Orders together, and my players did not show any signs that they were skipping training.

"They are responsible and hardworking, and that is why I am not worried about the two-week nationwide lockdown," said Arul yesterday.

Malaysia have only played in one tournament in the pandemic era.

The Malaysian Hockey Confederation hosted a three-nation tournament, comprising Japan and Britain, in April.

The Speedy Tigers, however, lost all of their matches, scoring only once and conceding eight.

"It was the only tournament we could arrange before everything came crashing down again.

"So far, the trainees are diligently following the programme. We are monitoring their progress online," he added.

The seniors are preparing for this year's Asian Champions Trophy.

Meanwhile, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have named two Malaysians to officiate at this year's men and women's Junior World Cups.

P. Kuganeson has been appointed as a technical official for the women's Junior World Cup in South Africa on Dec 5-16, while K. Ilanggo will be umpiring at the men's tournament in India on Nov 24-Dec 5.

New Straits Times



Presidential Elections… Are they as honest as we are led to believe?



With the latest FIH Presidential election between Dr Narinder Batra and Marc Coudron, the answer is a definite and resounding NO!





German university hopes to lift lid on hockey injuries


There is little global data on injuries in hockey PIC: Worldsportpics

A study to find out the most common injuries in hockey is being undertaken.

The university Hospital of the Technical University of Munich has put together a survey and is working in close collaboration with active hockey players.

It is designed to specifically investigate injuries in hockey, their impact, as well as possible prevention strategies and hopes to include a large number of players from around the globe.

ACL injuries are a common occurence in hockey, while there is currently little data on areas such as concussion.

Maximilian Hinz, who is coordinating the study, said: “There is quite some data on injuries field hockey, however, we felt that the available studies did not yet assess injuries in hockey comprehensively enough.

“The aim of this study is to figure out what the most common and most severe injuries are in field hockey in terms of both overuse and acute injuries as well as to get insight into injury mechanisms, return to sport time frames and preventative measurements and their effectiveness.”

The survey questions relate to training, competitive play and injury prevention as well as the injury history of athletes.

This study was initiated by medical student Felix Winden, who played until a few years ago and now has a clinical and scientific focus on sports injuries.

TAKE PART IN THE SURVEY HERE

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The Hockey Paper



Nia Fowler: Wales International


Nia representing Wales in Barcelona

The Hockey Family was saddened to hear that former Welsh International hockey player, Nia Fowler, passed away on the 25 May 2021 at the age of 39.

Nia began her hockey journey at Swansea Ladies playing alongside her older sister Sian. It was clear then, as a youngster, that she had great potential, holding her own in the first team as a 16 year old alongside seasoned international players.  Nia was an exceptionally skilful player, a nippy number 9, who proudly represented Swansea Ladies for all of her playing career, competing regularly in National Cup Finals, the English National League and European tournaments, once winning the award for the tournament’s Best Player.

Nia represented Wales in all age categories Under 16's, Under 18's, Under 21's and Seniors, obtaining her first senior cap in 2003. More recently, Nia, as Vice-Captain, represented the Welsh Ladies Masters. She competed for Wales in the U21 World Cup in Argentina and at senior level in an A division European tournament in Barcelona.

Those who had the honour of knowing Nia would agree she was an incredibly gifted player, a kind and caring person, a dedicated mother and a good friend to many. Nia's smile and infectious laugh lit up the room.  She will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.

Her family would like to thank the hockey community for its support but is kindly asking for flowers not to be sent to the family home. A Just Giving page has been set up for her children in her honour. Donations can be made here:

www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/niafowler

Hockey Wales media release



'Kake’ eulogised as true servant of hockey game

By  Ayumba Ayodi


Hockey legend Parminder “Kake” Saini at City Park Stadium. He died on May 30, 2021 at a Kisumu hosptial.

Legendary Kenya international and Olympian Parminder “Kake” Saini has been eulogised as the finest hockey player Kenya has ever produced.

The 66-year-old “Kake”, who passed away on Sunday at 10pm at a Kisumu hospital following a short illness, was cremated Monday at Kisumu Crematorium.

Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Chairman Nahashon Randiek, who led the sporting fraternity in mourning, described “Kake” as a great servant of the game.

Coach Gursharan Singh Lall, who handled the national hockey team during the 1987 All African Games (renamed African Games) in Nairobi, said that “Kake” was one of his dependable players who fitted in any position comfortably.
Mentored great players

Former national team head coach Meshak Senge said “Kake” gave him his first taste of club hockey and mentored him to greatness at Kisumu Simba, before he joined Kenya Defence Forces hockey team.

“This is the time we really needed his expertise and services as our technical director,”Randiek said. “He was a committed servant of the game and always put the game first before anything else.”

Randiek, who played alongside “Kake” when the national team won gold during the 1987 All African Games, said that he is yet to meet a utility player of “Kake”s calibre. “He would play anywhere; in defence, middle or attack easily,” said Randiek, adding that “Kake” has mentored great players like Meshak Senge and Zack Aura, among others.

“On my behalf, Kenya Hockey Union, the hockey fraternity, and the Olympic family, I do extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends,” said Randiek.

“He was simply a gem, fitting in the league of players like Avtar Sohal, Inderjeet “Coolie” Matharu and the late Cliff Odendo,” said Lall, who now coaches Karate Axiom.

Lall, who met “Kake” for the first time in 1979, said as his finest fullback, he was picked alongside Peter Akatsa in the Africa XI for the inaugural Inter-Continent Tournament played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in December 1990.

“He told me as a defender, one must gain respect early and that stuck in me,” said Senge, adding that he has never known a fighter greater than “Kake” on the pitch. “With a red ribbon on his head,  for “Kake” it was time for war, and we fought to the last second without giving up.”

The KHU technical advisor is survived by a widow, Rajinder Kaur, and two sons - Manpreet and Jasraj.

“Kake” was born on September 19, 1957 in Kisumu and went to Miwani Primary School the later Kisumu Boys High School where he played hockey for the institution until 1976.

In the same year, he moved to the United Kingdom for further studies at Langley College, Slough, Berkshire where he enrolled for Slough Hockey Club  - one of the top clubs in the country.

He returned to Kenya in 1979 and joined the defunct Kisumu Simba Union Club. He was called up to the national team for the Six Nations Tournament in Loisano, Italy where he earned his first international cap when he was selected to play against India on September 5, 1981.

“Kake” captained Kenya at the East African Championship in Tanga, Tanzania in 1983 before featuring in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Kenya finished eighth overall.

“Kake” was part of the team that qualified for the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in which Kenya were 12th. That is the last time that Kenya’s hockey team partcipated at the Olympic Games.

“Kake” played at the Indira Gandhi Memorial tournament in India in 1990. Upon retiring, he coached Kisumu Simba Union before being appointed Team Kenya manager at the All African Games in South Africa in 1999.  

He served as KHU vice chairman from 2014 to 2015 ,and was the union’s technical advisor until his demise.

Daily Nation

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