News for 12 September 2021
All the news for Sunday 12 September 2021
Premiership back in action
The opening day of the Premiership produced some interesting results but 2020 leaders Grange (men) and Clydesdale Western (women) retained their reputation with first day victories.
Western Wildcats top Premiership table, but Grange make their case with win
Grange set out their stall for this season’s Premiership with a 3-1 win at Uddingston, a double from teenager Fraser Heigh was the highlight on his debut for the champions.
By Craig Madden
The scores were tied at 1-1 at the interval, Heigh’s opener cancelled out by Uddingston’s Gavin McKenzie.
UNC Field Hockey Falls Late to Saint Joseph’s, 3-2
By Michael Koh
A positive start didn’t hold for the No. 4 UNC field hockey team Friday afternoon in Philadelphia, as a late goal for the Saint Joseph’s Hawks doomed Carolina to its third loss in five games.
No. 10 Virginia Field Hockey Wins 4th Straight, Shuts Out Miami 2-0
Freshman Taryn Tkachuk led the Hoos with one goal and one assist.
Matt Newton
When a penalty stroke is earned in field hockey, the team turns to a reliable striker who they can trust to put the ball in the back of the goal with all eyes on them.
An evening with Olympic Gold Medallist Laeeq Ahmad
By Ijaz Chaudhry
Laeeq Ahmed (Centre) cutting cake. His 1968 Olympics captain Tariq Aziz (2nd right) extending helping hand.
Olympic gold medallist (1968) Laeeq Ahmed was the chief guest in the latest of 'Meet a Hockey Stalwart' series organised by Pakistan`s former international Maj (r) Zahid Peerzada.
As before, a number of former hockey stars and lovers of the game were present at the lawns of the golf and country club, Lahore.
Prominent among them were Laeeq`s 1968 Olympics captain Dr. Tariq Aziz, Lt Col (r) Saeed Khan & Rana Ehsanullah (both 1978 World Cup winners), and former international athlete Pervaiz Saeed Mir.
Interestingly, this meeting with the 1968 Olympic gold medalist was held on September 9; Pakistan won its first Olympic gold medal (in hockey) on this day in 1960.
The guests prayed for another member of the 1968 Pakistan team Jahangir Butt who passed away just two days back.
Laeeq Ahmed, the speedy inside left of his time, reminisced about the hockey memories, "I was born in Delhi. The family migrated to Pakistan and settled in the Punjab city of Jhelum where I started playing hockey. To hone my hockey skills, I joined the famous Government College, Lahore. Soon, I was playing for the strong Customs team in the domestic events.
The first international call came in 1965 and I regularly gained selection for Pakistan till 1969. The highlight of my career was of course the Mexico Olympics gold medal. I am also an Asian Games silver medallist (1966).
In the early 1970s, first some family commitments and then an injury kept me away from international hockey. `
At the 1972 Olympics, Pakistan, after the defeat in the final against the hosts former West Germany, blamed the umpires. Pakistani players misbehaved during the medal ceremony. The FIH imposed a life ban which was later reduced making players eligible for the 1974 Asian games.
However, for the 1973 World Cup, Pakistan had to raise a new side. It mainly comprised new players but some veterans still active on the domestic circuit were also recalled. Laeeq was one of them.
He recalls, `I was played as a center-forward instead of my usual position of left in. It was a second-string side from Pakistan but the team performed outstandingly. We topped our pool and only lost by a solitary goal in the semifinal to India. West Germany also defeated us by the same score of 1-0 in the 3rd position match. With three goals, I was team`s joint second top scorer.
Since retirement from customs in 2005, I am engaged in my personal automobile parts business in Karachi. `
Later, Mr. Laeeq Ahmed cut a cake with the inscription, an evening with Laeeq Ahmed.
Ijaz Chaudhry writes on hockey & other sports. For more about him and his work, visit: www.sportscorrespondent.info
FIeldhockey.com