News for 22 July 2022
All the news for Friday 22 July 2022
Commonwealth Games Preview: Up for the challenge in Birmingham
The Commonwealth Games has a rich sporting tradition that goes back to 1930. In its earliest iteration, the multi-sport event featured 11 nations and 400 athletes. Now, in its 22nd edition, 4,600 athletes from 72 nations and territories will be participating in the English city of Birmingham in the event known as the Friendly Games.
Fresh faces diversify Canadian men’s squad ahead of Commonwealth Games
Ali Baggott, for Field Hockey Canada
There will be a whole new look for the Canadian men’s national side at the upcoming Commonwealth Games, hosted July 29-Aug. 8, in Birmingham, UK. The multi-sport games is one of the major competitions Canada can guarantee themselves to be a part of and it’s an experience of a life time. This will be the first major games for the majority of the men’s side, while six of the players are on target to play their first-ever senior international match.
Manpreet Singh: ‘We are right up there with the best’
The disappointment of missing out on a medal at CWG 2018 still rankles with the Indian men’s hockey team. Can the team led by Manpreet Singh bag the elusive gold this time?
Uthra Ganesan
Manpreet Singh controls the ball during the Hockey World Series Finals in June, 2019. Manpreet first played the Commonwealth Games in 2014. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride all these years, seen a lot of ups and downs both as a player and as a team, but it’s been a fun journey and I won’t have had it any other way,” says the midfielder. | Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
When Manpreet Singh first played at the Commonwealth Games, he was a fresh-faced 22-year-old who had recently graduated to the senior level of international sport. He was considered a prodigy. He has come a long way since then. Later this month, the 30-year-old Manpreet will lead the Indian men’s hockey team at Birmingham in pursuit of the one gold the country has never won in the Games.
Savita Punia: ‘Expectations from us have increased’
The Indian women’s hockey team heads into another tournament with hopes of a medal. Savita Punia talks about her team, her role in it, and coach Janneke Schopman.
Uthra Ganesan
Out of her comfort zone: As captain and a senior member of the team, Savita now has to regularly face the media on behalf of her team. It’s a role she says she has grown used to. “I have understood that there are things you have to do whether you like it or not, not because you don’t have a choice but because they need to be done and you cannot pick and choose your responsibilities to the sport,” she says. | Photo Credit: BISWARANJAN ROUT
Savita Punia has been the wall of Indian women’s hockey for so long that it is easy to take her for granted. Being spotlight-averse has only ensured that the credit she deserved either eluded her or took a long time coming.
FIH delegation to visit India next month as ban looms over Hockey India
A three-member FIH delegation, led by newly-appointed acting president Seif Ahmed, is expected to visit India on August 15 for an emergency meeting.
Indian Men's Hockey Team
A three-member FIH delegation, led by newly-appointed acting president Seif Ahmed, is expected to visit India on August 15 for an emergency meeting to assess progress made with regards to adoption of a new Constitution, which is a must to salvage the World Cup, the country is scheduled to host in 2023.
Kumar, Roslan out to hone coaching skills at goalie school
PETALING JAYA: Former Malaysian internationals S. Kumar and Roslan Jamaluddin will use their training opportunity at the Drijver Goalie Academy in Amsterdam to further improve their skills as hockey coaches.
Corry embracing big step up for Garvey in Europe
Lisnagarvey captain James Corry is expecting a massive difference in standard between their two European trips this year after they were drawn to play French champions CA Montrouge in late September in the Euro Hockey League.
Irish Under-21 men focus on promotion target in Czech Republic
The Irish Under-21 men’s side travel to the Czech Republic this weekend for the EuroHockey Championships II, looking to land promotion back to the top tier of continental action.
Scottish Thistles in Barcelona
The Scottish Thistles played in the Wim van Noortwijk Memorial Tournament in Barcelona from 26 June to 3 July 2022. The event, which was open to teams from as far away as Argentina and Australia, was for the Over 60’s, 65’s, 70’s and 75’s.
Hockey 5s and 11-a-side at the Olympics? It will be one or the other
The Hockey 5’s format is not well thought out, is potentially dangerous and it also eliminates lots of the elements why hockey is such a great game – transitional from defence to attack, writes Martyn Webb