News for 09 August 2023
All the news for Wednesday 9 August 2023
Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 - 9 August
Chennai (IND)
All times GMT +5:30
8 Aug 2023 was a rest day
9 Aug 2023 16:00 JPN v CHN (One Pool)
9 Aug 2023 18:15 MAS v KOR (One Pool)
9 Aug 2023 20:30 IND v PAK (One Pool)
10 Aug 2023 is a rest day
Pool standings
FIH Match Centre
India hopes to continue momentum against arch-rival Pakistan
India is unbeaten so far with three wins and a draw while Pakistan managed its first win in the competition against China to stay in the race for the semifinal.
Uthra Ganesan
Though the numbers favour India, rankings, performances and form will matter little when the two teams face off in the Asian Champions Trophy on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: PTI
The clash between India and Pakistan in the last league match of the Asian Champions Trophy, for obvious reasons, will be the highlight of the tournament.
India face Pakistan with aim of avoiding laxity, clinch top spot
India take on Pakistan in the last group stage game of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey in Chennai.
India lead the points table after four matches in the Asian Champions Trophy. PTI
India are already through to the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy with three wins and a draw. The last game is a mere formality before the last-four stage. But it wouldn’t allow India to sit down and relax for it comes against arch-rivals Pakistan and weeks before the all-important Asian Games.
Experience v/s Youth: India takes on Pakistan in Asian Champions Trophy
India will be up against young Pakistan in Asian Champion Trophy with a motive to register another win over their arch-rivals.
By Pritish Raj 
Chennai: With the final group game of the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 on the horizon, it is not just any game, it is India v/s Pakistan, a hockey rivalry that has seen a glorious past.
Pakistan turns to mind games before clash against India
India secured a semifinal spot with a nervy win over South Korea, while Pakistan needs a result in Wednesday’s contest to have a chance of making the last four.
Aashin Prasad
Pakistan men’s hockey team captain Umar Bhutta (L) with the team’s coach Muhammad Saqlain ahead of an Asian Champions Trophy 2023 match against India. | Photo Credit: PTI
Ahead of the marquee clash against India, Pakistan assistant coach Muhammad Saqlain noted that India does not play ‘structural hockey’ under Craig Fulton and still remains a ‘counter-attacking’ team.
Pakistan face India with semi-final spot on the line
The Asian Hockey Champions Trophy is being held in Chennai, India
Pakistan hockey team - Hockey India
Pakistan will face India during the ongoing Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in Chennai on Wednesday.
Pakistan to go up against India with eyes on semi-finals
The visiting team needs to avoid defeat in the match to qualify for the semi-finals
Pakistani players during a match against China, on August 7, 2023. — Twitter/@TheHockeyIndia
Pakistan will face India today (Wednesday) in the ongoing Asian Hockey Champions Trophy in Chennai.
Japan, South Korea to make final push for semifinal spots
Japan will take on China in the early clash, while South Korea will face Malaysia here at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on Wednesday.
Aashin Prasad
Malaysia’s goalkeeper Mat Deris Zaimi saves a goal as Japan‘s Kawabe Kosei reacts during their Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey match at Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai. | Photo Credit: PTI
While the eyes of the hockey world will be glued on the India versus Pakistan clash, both Japan and South Korea will want to add to the intrigue in their bid to make the Asian Champions Trophy semifinals.
Speedy Tigers versus kimchi power
By Jugjet Singh 
Korean players celebrate after scoring during the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey tournament match between India and Korea at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai. - AFP pic
KUALA LUMPUR: A familiar foe that often fights toe to toe with Malaysia. That is South Korea who loom large in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Chennai, India, today.
Malaysia lose key defender Syafiq
By Aftar Singh
Influential defender Syafiq Hassan has been ruled out of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Chennai, by a knee injury suffered in the match against India on Sunday. - NSTP file pic
KUALA LUMPUR: Influential defender Syafiq Hassan has been ruled out of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Chennai, by a knee injury suffered in the match against India on Sunday.
After missing chance to play together, brothers Rehan and Imran unite to steer Pakistan hockey again
While Rehan Butt and his younger brother Imran could not play for Pakistan together, the duo united off the field to try and arrest the team’s slide into a bottomless pit that many fear.
Abhishek Saini
Imran and Rehan Butt at the national camp before the 2012 London Olympics. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Imran Butt, a silver medallist at the 2014 Asian Games and Champions Trophy, could not have cared less about hockey, for it had no room for him, a left-handed player. Cricket, on the other hand, made no such distinction.
Haiqin Weng, author-cum-coach, leads China’s Asian Champions Trophy ambitions
Haiqin Weng, China’s coach looks more academic than sporty, but there is no doubt about the seriousness of this tournament for his side.
Uthra Ganesan
Haiqin Weng, China’s hockey coach during the practice session in the Asian Champions Trophy 2023. | Photo Credit: Hockey India
The Chinese team here at the Asian Champions Trophy has been inexperienced but impressive, physically powerful and fighting hard. They have also been the most disciplined side in the tournament. Not surprising given their coach has also been an umpire and co-authored a research paper on the physical demands of the sport.
2023 Oceania Cup - 9 August
Whangerei
All times GMT +12
Men
10 Aug 2023 19:05 NZL v AUS (RR)
12 Aug 2023 14:05 NZL v AUS (RR)
13 Aug 2023 14:05 NZL v AUS (RR)
Women
10 Aug 2023 17:05 NZL v AUS (RR)
12 Aug 2023 16:05 NZL v AUS (RR)
13 Aug 2023 16:05 NZL v AUS (RR)
FIH Match Centre
Hockeyroos and Kookaburras primed for Olympic qualifiers
The Hockeyroos and Kookaburras will attempt to secure their spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games when the Oceania Cup begins in Whangarei, New Zealand tomorrow (Thursday 10 August).
Oceania Cup Hockey 2023: Preview
By Tariq Ali
The 12th edition of Men's and Women's Oceania Cup 2023 to be held in Whangarei, New Zealand from 10 - 13 August 2023. Australia and New Zealand will play three matches against each other in both genders.
The winners of the men's and women's events will automatically qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024. And the runners up will have a second chance to appear in the Olympic Games Qualifiers to be held in Pakistan, Spain and China in January 2024.
Final Standing of the past Oceania Cup
Events
1st Oceania Cup, Brisbane, Australia, 1999
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
At Sydney, Australia and Dunidin, New Zealand 1999
Women's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
2nd Oceania Cup, Melbourne, Australia, 2001
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
At Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington, New Zealand
Women's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
3rd Oceania Cup, Christchurch and Wellington, New Zealand, 2003
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
At Melbourne, Australia and Auckland and Whangarei, New Zealand
Women's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
4th Oceania Cup, Suva, Fiji, 2005
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Fiji
At Sydney, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand
Women's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
5th Oceania Cup, Buderim, Australia, 2007
Men's: Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Papua New Guinea
Women's: 1 New Zealand 2 Australia 3 Fiji 4 Papua New Guinea
6th Oceania Cup, Invercargill, New Zealand, 2009
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Samoa
Women's: 1 New Zealand 2 Australia 3 Samoa
7th Oceania Cup, Hobart, Australia, 2011
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
Women's: 1 New Zealand 2 Australia
8th Oceania Cup, Stratford, New Zealand, 2013
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Papua New Guinea 4 Samoa
Women's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Samoa 4 Papua New Guinea
9th Oceania Cup, Stratford, New Zealand, 2015
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Fiji 4 Samoa
Women's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Samoa
10th Oceania Cup, Sydney, Australia, 2017
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Papua New Guinea
Women's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand 3 Papua New Guinea
11th Oceania Cup, Rockhampton, Australia, 2019
Men's: 1 Australia 2 New Zealand
Women's: 1 New Zealand 2 Australia
Kookaburras gain SportsLink Travel support for Oceania Cup
Respected sports travel agency SportsLink Travel has teamed up with the Kookaburras for the Oceania Cup that starts tomorrow in New Zealand.
Speedy Tigers hope to get Olympic ticket by winning gold at Asian Games
By Jugjet Singh
Malaysia's Fitri Saari (L) and Japan's Genki Mitani (R) fight for the ball during the Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey tournament match between Malaysia and Japan at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai on August 7, 2023.- AFP PIC
KUALA LUMPUR: Qualifying for the Olympic Games has been the Speedy Tigers' dream since their last appearance at Sydney 2000.
Indian Men's Hockey Team to open Hangzhou Asian Games campaign against Uzbekistan; Indian Women's Hockey Team to face Singapore in opener
Indian Men's Hockey Team is placed in Pool A along with Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Uzbekistan. Indian Women's Hockey Team is placed in Pool A along with Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong China, and Singapore 
New Delhi: With a chance to earn a direct Paris Olympics 2024 qualification, the Indian Men's Hockey Team will open their Hangzhou Asian Games campaign against Uzbekistan on September 24th, while the Indian Women's Hockey Team will take on Singapore in their opening game of the prestigious competition on September 27th.
Speedy Tigers face Korean hurdle in Hangzhou
By Jugjet Singh
The national men's hockey team have received a favourable draw for the Hangzhou Asian Games. -BERNAMA File
KUALA LUMPUR: The national men's hockey team have received a favourable draw for the Hangzhou Asian Games next month. They need only to worry about South Korea in Group B.
England U21 Teams gear up for 4 Nations Tournament in Germany
England Junior Women's Squad for U21 4 Nations Tournament in Germany
Both England Men and Women's Junior teams will travel to Dusseldorf, Germany to compete in the U21 4 Nations Tournament starting from 18 August. They will compete against the hosts Germany, as well as Spain and India.
Rule Changes, Changing the Game.
Ashley Morrison
Be it a favourite sweater or any number of things in our lives, you can only patch them up for so long, before you realise that whether you like it or not you have to get a new one.
Fresh PHF elections on the cards
The approval was given by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
By Abdul Mohi Shah
Pakistan Sports Board has been asked to conduct fresh scrutiny of clubs throughout the country - PHF
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved all recommendations of the high-profile committee formed for hockey affairs, directing fresh elections and replacing the current management.
https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/26744-fresh-phf-elections-on-the-cards
International hockey coach launches book in Namibia
By Helge Schutz
Gavin Featherstone (seated) with national hockey goalkeeper DJ Strauss and former hockey coach Randy Slabbert. Photo: Helge Schütz
World-renowned hockey coach Gavin Featherstone recently paid a visit to Namibia to promote a new hockey book.