Barely five months into the job, uncertainty looms large over Paul van Ass continuing as chief coach of India's men's hockey team.
All round the year the sportspersons have enthralled their fans with their sheer determination to excel, their athleticism and other gravity-defying moves. Rediff.com presents the best photographs of year from the world of sports.
'We have to convert our penalty corners successfully and aim at having at least two or three goals through the corner, besides creating the same amount of chances in every quarter.'
India's teen wizard Rani Rampal and defender Sardar Singh have made it to the FIH All Stars team, International Hockey Federation announced on Saturday.
India struck four times after a goalless first quarter to tame hosts Malaysia 4-2 and rise to second in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, in Ipoh, Malaysia, on Tuesday.
India endured a medal-less outing at the Youth Olympics after the gold rush of the previous three days as the women's hockey team lost to Argentina and rising table tennis player Archana Kamath went down in the bronze medal match in Buenos Aires.
India produced an inspired performance to thrash Malaysia 6-1 in their last Pool A match and qualify for the semi-finals of the women's hockey competition at the 17th Asian Games, in Incheon, on Friday.
Chairman of Hockey India League (HIL) Narendra Batra speaks about the promising start of the league and if this is a new dawn for Indian hockey.
A large contingent of officials and media were present at the airport to receive the team, which finished fifth in the just-concluded Hockey World League Semi-finals in Antwerp.
The eight-time Olympic winners have been clubbed along with reigning champions Germany, Korea, New Zealand, Belgium and Netherlands in Pool B at 2012 Olympic Games in London.
India has been awarded the 2018 men's hockey World Cup, the second time in a span of eight years the country will be hosting the mega event.
Indian hockey captain Sardara Singh missed out on the FIH player of the year award which was won by Germany's Moritz Fuerste.
The team won a four-nation tournament in Singapore, outclassing South Korea in the final.
Reader Virender Pal Singh sent us this picture from Dallas.
India has been named as one of five confirmed teams for the men's Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Melbourne later this year, thereby ending the nation's six-year wait for a comeback to the prestigious event.
While Belgium dominated the first half, India did well to roar back in the second session. Belgium went into the half-time break with a 1-0 lead, but India fought back well to keep pressure on the opponents in the 2nd half.
Pakistan, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and defending champions Argentina will battle for top honours from July 22-30.
India won the gold medal in the Junior Hockey World Cup after defeating Belgium 2-1 at the Major Dyan Chand stadium in Lucknow on Sunday.
The Indian men's hockey team returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Spain in the fourth match of their ongoing tour of Europe, in Sant Cugat del Valles (Spain), on Wednesday.
The Indian women's hockey team went down fighting 2-3 to slump to their second consecutive defeat against Germany in the tour to South Africa.
India made a bright start to their campaign at the Champions Trophy hockey tournament with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over England in Pool A at the State Hockey Centre in Melbourne on Saturday.
A summary of sports events that made news on Wednesday.
Ireland crashed out of the men's hockey World Cup after losing 2-3 to England
India's chief coach Harendra Singh blamed poor umpiring for his team's early ouster from the ongoing men's hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
India's dream to win a gold medal in men's hockey event of the Asian Games came crashing down after they suffered a shocking 3-4 defeat at the hands of lower-ranked Malaysia in the second semi-final at the Aoti Hockey Field, in Guangzhou on Tuesday.
Australia's quest for a record hat-trick of titles started with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ireland in the opening Pool D match of the men's hockey World Cup, in Bhubaneswar, on Friday.
World No.1 Australia scored all their goals from penalty corners through Jeremy Hayward (4th minute), Blake Govers (19th) and skipper Aran Zalewski (37th) at the Kalinga Stadium.
Reigning silver medalists India were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Scotland in their opening Pool A match of the women's hockey event at the Commonwealth Games, at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Monday. The Indians fought back from a 0-1 deficit and scored through Jasjeet Kaur Handa (45th minute) after Scotland took the lead in the third minute from a Holly Gram field goal.
The Indian women's hockey team lifted its maiden Asian Champions Trophy title with a thrilling 2-1 win over China in the final, in Singapore on Saturday.
Uttar Pradesh Wizards produced a fine performance to stun Delhi Waveriders 6-4 in a high-scoring round-robin match of the fourth Hockey India League (HIL) at the Shivaji Stadium in New Delhi.
The legendary spinner said the team must be backed to the hilt if India is wo win a medal at the Athens Olympics.
India hockey captain P R Sreejesh on Tuesday dedicated the Asian Championship Trophy triumph to the Indian soldiers martyred in the Uri attack and their families, saying it's a Diwali gift to those who lost their lives while safeguarding the country.
Kalinga Lancers on Sunday edged out Delhi Waveriders.
The Indians will have to be at their best in all departments to get the better of the ever-improving Red Lions, who will be out to prove a point after a not-so-impressive opener.
'All the venues are high-scoring venues. So what you need is pace.' 'You really want someone to come there and control the flow of runs in the death overs, whether you are setting a target or setting a target.' 'It is going to be the fast bowlers because at how many venues have you seen spinners bowling the death overs?'
Argentina rallied from two goals down to beat Belgium in the final of the qualifying tournament in Quilmes.
Ace midfielder Sardar Singh will lead a full strength Indian men's hockey team in the 24th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia from April 5 to 12.
A record number of 634 sportspersons were on Friday cleared by the Sports Ministry to compete at the Hangzhou Asian Games, surpassing the 572 athletes in the last edition of continental showpiece in Jakarta in 2018.
Indian hockey had something to cheer about. Poonam Rani struck twice as India scored an upset victory over higher-ranked China 4-2 in their opening match of the third Asian Women Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Kakamigahara, Japan on Saturday.
In a photos posted on his Twitter handle, Rupinder and Sreejesh were snapped cleaning up a patch of field.
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