Acknowledging the supreme sacrifice made by Indian soldiers at the borders, national hockey captain P R Sreejesh, on Wednesday, vowed that his team will give its all to beat Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy in Malaysia next month.
Not only did the Indian High Commission issue visa to the players, the new sponsors have also released nine million Pakistani rupees to cover the team's expenses in the tournament to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 28 to December 16.
'No opponent takes us lightly anymore and they talk about us as a team that does well in knockouts' 'We not only focus on improving individually but also encourage each other and tell ourselves that we need to perform as a unit to leave a mark at the Olympics this time'
Going by the hockey parent body's new data collection, India and Pakistan have met in only 47 head-to-head internationals and many more fails. Read on to find out how the history of this famed rivalry is being binned
The Dutchman, who guided the Netherlands to the 1996 Olympic title, will be in charge of the team till December 2004.
The loss will hurt the Indians badly as a gold here would have guaranteed a direct qualification in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He has learnt a lot from the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni but Ruturaj Gaikwad said he will lean on his own leadership style during the Asian Games.
Congratulating the Indian men's hockey team for winning a 'historic' gold at the ongoing Incheon Asian Games, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the government will provide every possible help to the team in preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Victory against Malaysia in their opening match at the Commonwealth Games should provide the team a kick-start to the tournament.
Hockey greats Balbir Singh (Sr) and Ajit Pal Singh hailed India's Asian Games gold medal-winning effort but felt the players still have a mountain to climb to succeed at the World and Olympic level.
Following is the schedule of Indian contingent on the seventh day of the Asian Games on Saturday.
Experienced forward Vandana sounded in the 4th and 11th minutes to hand her side a formidable lead early on before Gurjit Kaur converted a penalty corner in the 51st minute to seal the victory.
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India's men's hockey team coach Terry Walsh, who quit on Tuesday after his contractual talks with Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India broke down, reiterated that there can be no progress without change in the current set-up.
'The way we are playing now, if we continue to play the same hockey, no one can stop us from standing on the podium in Tokyo.'
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
Sealing a berth in the 2012 London Olympics is what the Indian men's hockey team is targetting in the upcoming Asian Games in Guangzhou, national coach Harendra Singh said on Tuesday.
Images from day three of the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, on Monday.
India beat Korea 7-2 in the final of the Asia Cup to notch their seventh straight victory in the tournament.
India beat Korea 7-2 in the final of the Asia Cup to notch their seventh straight victory in the tournament.
'I play in the present without thinking about the buzz in the background,' says Vivek Sagar Prasad, who has just won the FIH Rising Star of the Year award.
Asian Games gold medallist Indian boxer Kaur Singh, who once fought the legendary Muhammad Ali in an exhibition bout, died on Thursday.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation on Wednesday recalled senior players Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt and Zeeshan Ashraf, who had announced their retirement after the team finished bottom of the heap in the World Cup in India. The PHF also recalled Waseem Ahmed and Salman Akbar for a national camp, from June 20, in Karachi, to prepare for a tour of Europe ahead of the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Flag-waving supporters blocked the exit gates at the airport and gave India hockey midfielder Yuvraj Walmiki and coach Clarence Lobo a rousing reception following the triumph in the Asian Champions Trophy.
Vinesh Phogat's gold medal was India's first since women's wrestling was introduced at the Asian Games in 2002.
Former captain Sardar Singh was brought back to bolster the Indian hockey team's mid-field while Birendra Lakra was included to shore up the defence line-up for the upcoming Champions Trophy, beginning on June 23 in Breda, The Netherlands.
With Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal agreeing in principle to Terry Walsh's demands, the ball is now in the Australian's court to take a call on whether to continue as India's chief hockey coach and the Sports Authority of India expects him to make up his mind in the next 4-5 days.
India's hopes of making it to the final of the women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey evaporated after a 0-5 defeat to Japan on Tuesday.
A resurgent Indian hockey team, with its penetrative attack and solid defence, can actually challenge for the top spot in the Champions Trophy.
India's chances after this defeat will be badly dented as even a big win against Indonesia in the last game might not be enough for qualification to
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday.
With eight gold medals, Indian men's hockey team has been the most successful side in Olympic history but since the 1980 Moscow Games, the country has not had a podium finish.
Vinesh, Dutee, Bhaker also among nominees for 'BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year'.
Each member of the Afro-Asian Games gold medal-winning squad was presented a cheque of Rs 150,000.
India coach Rajinder Singh believes the Asian style of attacking hockey will be the key to success.
Fired India hockey coach Paul van Ass says Hockey India president Narinder Batra was just finding ways to fire him.
An injury-struck India were beaten 1-2 by defending champions China in their last league match in the Asian Games women's hockey competitions on Monday and would now play Japan on November 24 in the bronze medal play-off at the Aoti Hockey Field in Guangzhou.
Indian women's team captain Ritu Rani and senior's men's team drag-flicker V R Raghunath were on Wednesday recommended by Hockey India for the Arjuna Award.
Pakistan's retired hockey international Rehan Butt, who was appointed coach of the national team taking part in the 12th South Asian Games, turned out as a player in the team's first two matches, including Monday's victory over hosts India.
Skipper Rani Rampal scored a hat-trick as title contenders India outplayed Thailand 5-0 to storm into the semi-finals of the women's hockey competition at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta on Monday.
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