India suffered a jolt even before kicking off their campaign in the eight-nation Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament with ace midfielder Ignace Tirkey "opting out" of the squad citing "personal reasons".
Malaysian national hockey coach Sarjit Singh claimed that the match-fixing accusations on his players in an Azlan Shah match against India last month were "wild allegations" aimed at tarnishing the image of Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) and his charges.
Sandeep Singh and Diwarkar Ram scored from penalty-corners as India beat their arch-rivals 2-1 to stay in contention in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament.
High on form and confidence after last month's Azlan Shah triumph, defending champion India will start as overwhelming favourites in the seven-nation Asia Cup hockey tournament that gets underway in Kuantan, Malaysia on Saturday. However, India's road to the title won't be a cakewalk as the event will provide Asia's top hockey nations an opportunity to book their place in the 2010 World Cup to be held in New Delhi.
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh will lead an 18-member squad as India sets out to defend its crown in the eighth Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuantan, Malaysia from May 9 to 16.
Hockey Australia announced a strong 18-member team for the World Cup, in Monchengladbach, Germany, from September 6 to 17.
The Indian hockey team started its Azlan Shah campaign on a disappointing note, conceding a last-gasp goal to settle for a 2-2 draw against tournament debutantes Egypt in Ipoh, Malaysia, on Sunday. The Indians, who were runners-up last year, scored through Sandeep Singh (14th minute) and Shivender Singh (50th), while Mohamed Hasan (8th) and Amr El Saied (70th) sounded the board for the Egyptians. Saied's goal came just 40 seconds before the hooter went off.
Newly appointed Pakistan hockey coach Khwaja Junaid said that Pakistan are seeking revenge for the humiliating loss to India in the World Cup, when the arch-rivals clash in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament on May 7.
Dropped from India's scheme of things for Azlan Shah Cup, senior forwards Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur today claimed they have been made scapegoats for the team's poor show in the recent World Cup.
The ace striker has recovered from a knee injury and is likely to be named in the squad for next month's Olympic qualifier.
The midfielder will lead India at the Azlan Shah tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia, from May 5 to 15.
Defending champions India, with several experienced players in their ranks, have the upper hand in their opening encounter against Japan in the sixth men's Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament, starting in Hyderabad on Friday. India had beaten arch-rivals Pakistan to clinch the title in the last edition of the event at Karachi four years ago.
IHF President KPS Gill also said that he was not in favour of having a foreign coach for the team.
Coach of the silver medal-winning Indian team at the Azlan Shah hockey tournament A K Bansal says the fact that he had three drag-flickers -- Sandeep Singh, Diwakar Ram and V R Raghunath at his disposal provided him a luxury few Indian coaches afforded.
India must beat Malaysia in their league match on Saturday to enter the final of the Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia. Defeat or a draw will earn Pakistan a meeting with Argentina in the title round.
India scored their second successive victory after two defeats to stay in the reckoning in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament.
Argentina handed India their second defeat with a 5-1 thrashing at Azlan Shah hockey on Friday.
Defending champions India started their Asia Cup campaign on a disastrous note, going down 2-3 to arch-rivals Pakistan in a nerve-wrecking rain-marred Pool B match at the Wisma Belia Kuantan Hockey Stadium in Kuantan, Malaysia on Sunday.
Indian hockey team ran out of water and food as their match against Korea was stopped due to rain.
Coach Vasudevan Bhaskaran attributed India 5-2 victory over Malaysia in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament to the improved performance of his forwards.
The team for the Azlan Shah hockey tournament includes unfit skipper Muhammed Saqlain and midfielder Ghazanfar Ali.
Drag-flicker V Raghunath and experienced mid-fielders Ignace Tirkey and Vikram Pillay have been included in a list of 36 probables for a camp in the run-up to the men's Asia Cup hockey tournament and the Olympic qualifiers.
The drag flick ace scored four times from penalty-corners as Pakistan won 5-3 in the Olympic hockey qualifer in Madrid.
The drag flick ace scored a hat-trick as Pakistan beat India 3-2 in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament.
Despite the defeat to Germany, he expressed satisfaction with the performance of his young side.
The inability of the Indian forwards to convert goal scoring chances was the reason for the defeat, coach Carvalho said.
Korea beat Pakistan 4-2 to join hosts Malaysia in the semi-finals of the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
Olympic champions Australia won the opening match of the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament by a solitary goal.
Riding on two goals by Diwakar Ram, India made a fine rally from one goal deficit to outclass lowly Canada 3-1 and keep themselves in contention in the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh on Sunday.
The Indians will be without ace midfielders Viren Rasquinha and Vikram Pillay at the Azlan Shah tournament, which begins on Thursday.
The Netherlands beat Olympic and defending champions Australia 6-2 in the final to win their maiden Azlan Shah hockey title.
Roderick Weusthos scored for the Dutch in the 64th minute to take them into the final, against Australia.
India lost 1-4 to Olympic champions Australia in their opening game of Azlan Shah hockey tournament.
India beat New Zealand 3-2 in a practice match prior to Sultan Azlan Shah hockey.
