News for 13 March 2024
All the news for Wednesday 13 March 2024
Movements in World Rankings following busy start to Olympic Year 2024
With international hockey action coming thick and fast since the turn of year, with the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers and multiple FIH Hockey Pro League mini-tournaments across Argentina and India, there has been a shake-up in the FIH Hockey World Rankings. 
FIH World Rankings: Indian men slip to 4th, women’s team ranked 9th
Netherlands (3060) continue to sit at the top of the rankings, coming away from the India leg of the FIH Pro League relatively unscathed.
FILE PHOTO: Harmanpreet Singh of India celebrates with teamates after scoring a goal against Pakistan during the Hero Asian Champions Trophy. | Photo Credit: VEDHAN M/THE HINDU
India on Tuesday slipped a spot to the fourth position in the latest FIH men’s world rankings with Germany taking the third place following its impressive run at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers.
Lima Will Host the 2027 Pan American Games
Content courtesy of Pan Am Sports
In a close vote at the Extraordinary General Assembly, the Peruvian capital was chosen with 28 votes by the member countries of Panam Sports as the Host City of the continental event.
Preview: 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2024
All the games will be live-streamed on FanCode
Pune: The 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship is all set to kick off on the 13th March at the Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium Pimpri in Pune, Maharashtra with the Final scheduled to take place on the 23rd of March. A total of 27 teams that have been divided into eight pools will be vying for top honours. With FanCode live-streaming the entire tournament, the excitement around the championship is like never before.
Senior Women's National C'ship: 29 Indian internationals to represent their states
The upcoming tournament holds significance as it will serve as the platform for choosing the next core probables for the Indian women's team. 
The Indian women's hockey team players will represent their respective states at the Senior Women's National Championship in Pune.
The 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship is all set to kick off on March 13 at the Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium Pimpri in Pune, Maharashtra with Madhya Pradesh taking on Chhattisgarh in the opening clash. The final is scheduled to take place on March 23.
Former India captain MM Somaya advocates strong league for Indian women’s hockey
s2h team
New Delhi: Former India captain M.M. Somaya termed recent failure of Indian women’s hockey team for the Paris Olympics a temporary setback but expressed the hope that with strategic enhancements and effective coaching, they are poised for a swift rebound. He advocates a strong women’s league for that to happen. The Moscow Olympic gold medallist was discussing the general aspects of women’s hockey in ‘Hockey Te Charcha’, a podcast series of Hockey India.
Perabu glad to be given another chance by Sarjit
By Aftar Singh
Defender T. Perabu, who withdrew from the national junior team last year due to a personal reason, has been given another chance to play for the country. FILE PIC
KUALA LUMPUR: Defender T. Perabu, who withdrew from the national junior team last year due to a personal reason, has been given another chance to play for the country.
MHC still looking for the right coach
By Aftar Singh
The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is still looking for the right coach to handle the national junior team. - NSTP file pic
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is still looking for the right coach to handle the national junior team.
Kampong snatch late win as Pinoké draw
Duco Telgenkamp’s last minute penalty corner rebound saw SV Kampong begin their 2024 phase of the men’s Hoofdklasse with a 2-1 victory over Schaerweijde.
Polo increase lead at head of Spanish league
Real Club de Polo increased their advantage at the top of Spain’s MGS League standings after beating CD Terrassa at the Eduardo Dualde.
England Hockey League 2023/24 Premier Division Weekend 15 Review
The England Hockey League 2023/24 Premier Division showcased itself once again with enthralling action across the country as the final games were played before the playoffs.
Van Sickle Inducted into Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame
Portions of Content Courtesy of Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame
WILMINGTON, Del. - Caitlin Van Sickle is one of nine prominent individuals whose outstanding accomplishments in the world of athletics have brought distinction to the state of Delaware over the last half-century and has been selected for induction into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.
SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge: Pietermaritzburg Central Regional Sunday 10 March
St John's D.S.G. reclaimed the honours in the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge hosted by Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School at the UKZN Astro on Sunday 10 March.
Blazing their way to victory, St John’s D.S.G. raised the trophy at the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Sunday 10 March at the UKZN Astro.
This is the third time in the 14 years in the challenge’s history that St John’s D.S.G. have been victorious in this regional, their first in 2017 and then in 2022. From the onset, St John’s D.S.G. looked on fire, taking on Epworth in their first game where they netted one goal.
In their second round robin game, they met hosts and defending champions, Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High, and in a tightly contested game, they went up 2 nil. They continued their terrific winning ways right through the remaining round-robin games. Earning wins in all of their games and netting 19 goals in total, they topped the log comfortably, until they met Epworth for the second time in the regional final.
Epworth had to work a bit harder on their way to the regional final. Equal on points after five rounds, they met the defending champs in their last round-robin game. With Maritzburg Girls’ High having better stats in the goals scored column, they would have been content with a draw, but Epworth needed a win to proceed. With time running out, they managed just that, a magical goal that kept their hopes alive and knocked out the young team from Maritzburg Girls’ High.
Both teams had to dig deep as their energy reserves were nearly diminished after the sweltering hot day. From the whistle, the game whizzed around the turf, with fast decisive passes taking play up and down, and a few long, searching passes being let to run out, giving players a reprieve to reset and compose themselves for a 16. Only one short corner was awarded in the last 30 seconds of the 18 minutes of play, with St John’s D.S.G. having their one and only set piece in the Epworth circle. Epworth keeper, Lauren Rosaveare came into play with a game-saver of a deflection as the shot fired high was calmly smacked away with her right glove.
With the game level at full time, the decider moved to an 8-second penalty shootout. Rebecca Macquet got the ball rolling for St John’s, knocking in her team's first point. Amy Fletcher went first for Epworth but was unable to find the back of the net. In the second round, Isobel Cobbald scooped up the ball and skilfully bouncing it on her stick as she advanced towards the Epworth goal. Dashing off her line, Rosaveare tried her utmost to prevent the cheeky attempt, but Cobbald cooly looped the ball over the jumping Rosaveare as it arced into the back of the net, giving St John’s a 2 nil cushion.
Anna Schulze was next to go in Epworth’s second run, she glided right as St John’s Deanne Norman hung back waiting to see what Schulze would do. Following her, Norman cut her angle down, not giving her room to fire off a shot, Schulze was running out of time, and rattled off a desperate attempt that rebound off Norman’s pads out of reach as the 8 second timer sounded.
Recognised for his skills with the whistle, Curt Rogers representing Martizburg Christian School was acknowledged as the Most Promising Umpire at the tournament. This was the first big tournament he has officiated in and showed great composure during all of his games.
St John’s D.S.G. is the third team to qualify for the Grand Finals that will be held in July at St Mary’s D.S.G. in Kloof. They join Durban Girls’ College representing the Durban Central Regional and The Wykeham Collegiate who were crowned in the Pietermaritzburg North Regional the day before the Pietermaritzburg Central Regional.
This weekend, the challenge moves to Curro Salt Rock for the Durban North Regional on Saturday 16 March, followed by the Highway Regional hosted by Westville Girls’ High School on Sunday 17 March.
All games will be live-streamed on SuperSport Schools. For more info like the tournaments’ Facebook page or follow on Instagram.
Results
Regional Final
St John’s D.S.G. 0 (2) vs Epworth School 0 (0)
Round Robin Results
1 St John’s D.S.G. 24 points, 2 Epworth School 20 points, 3 Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School 16 points, 4 Maritzburg Christian School 6 points, 5 Carter High School 3 points, 6 Alexandra High School 3 points, 7 Russel High School 2 points
Versveld & Associates media release for SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge