Australia successfully retained their title beating hosts India 5-3 via the tie-breaker in the final.
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.
Rain spoiled India's party as they struggled in heavy pitch conditions to lose 0-1 to Olympic champions Argentina and crash out of title race in the Hockey World League (HWL) Final, in Bhubaneswar, on Friday.
Olympic champions Australia won the opening match of the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament by a solitary goal.
PR Sreejesh says his dual role as India hockey captain and goalkeeper is to allow his team mates the freedom to express themselves in Rio but knows he must keep them focused on the medal hunt in the "magic world" of the Olympics. The 30-year-old was second choice at London 2012 behind then captain Bharat Chetri but has since established himself as the clear number one. He was named captain for the recent Champions Trophy in London where India rested some seniors, including regular captain Sardar Singh, ahead of the Rio Games.
With their eyes firmly focused on 2016 Olympics, Indian men hockey team's chief coach Roelant Oltmans feels the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup will be an ideal preparation for his boys ahead of the Rio Games. The team, currently training at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru, will face New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Japan, Canada and hosts Malaysia in the 25th edition of the Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia starting April 6. With a good mix of youth and experience players up his ranks, the Dutchman feels the squad has what it takes to go all the way. Oltmans has been laying emphasis on having specialists in the team and the implementation of the same has paid rich dividends in the previous season. "We have specialists in each department now and that is helping the boys understand their role better. Hockey India League has definitely helped us tap some good talent but now it's all about showcasing their mettle in the international stage," Oltmans told reporters here.
The 2-2 draw enabled Pakistan finish unbeaten in the league while Australia stayed in the hunt for a berth in the Azlan Shah Cup final.
The draw gave the two teams their first points from two outings at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament.
Defending champions Australia routed Netherlands 7-2 to top the standings in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Melbourne on Sunday.
A look at India's schedule on Monday, August 2, 2021.
The victory gave the Aussies their fourth entry into the Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament final.
India failed to make it to the elite six-nation hockey tournament after finishing at the bottom in the last edition in Chennai.
Jaime Dwyer scored a brace as the Olympic champions and holders won the Azlan Shah Cup hockey match 8-3.
Comeback kid S V Sunil and new sensation Yuvraj Walmiki combined well to help the Indian men's hockey team overcome a fighting New Zealand 5-4 in the second international friendly in Rockingham, Australia, on Tuesday.
As part of a rotation policy, goalkeeper Bharat Chetri was on Thursday named captain while the controversial duo of Sandeep Singh and Sardara Singh were recalled to the Indian hockey team for next month's tour of Australia. Veteran midfielder Ignace Tirkey will be Chetri's deputy.
Sjoerd Marijne said he found it hard to recognise the team he has been coaching while watching it squander lead and settle for a frustrating 2-2 draw against a lackadaisacal Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games on Saturday.
The HI president also said that a committee has been formed to decide on the fate of the coach and it will take a decision on Friday. He said he has no ego problem and if the committee feels the coach should continue, he would himself go to The Netherlands to bring him back.
India captain Sardar Singh asserted that they have a lot to play for in the ongoing Hockey World League Semifinals.
India's star drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh was on Tuesday named among the five nominees for the men's Player of the Year honour.
A summary of the country's athletes' showing at the Tokyo Games on Monday, August 2.
The hosts will face Australia in the semi-final on Friday.
India put up a fighting performance but could not avert a defeat, going down 0-1 to Australia in the last round-robin league match of the first phase of a four-nation women's hockey tournament in Auckland on Sunday.
Maartje Paumen scored her second hat-trick of the women's hockey World Cup as favourites Netherlands beat Australia 4-1 in Pool A on Friday.
Ramandeep Singh scored two fine goals as the showpiece subcontinental hockey encounter between arch-rivals India and Pakistan ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw in the World League semi-finals at the KHC Dragons Stadium in Antwerp.
India frittered a two-goal lead and went down 2-4 in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament.
Carla Rebecchi scored twice as Argentina were crowned women's hockey world champions for the second time on Saturday after beating holders Netherlands 3-1 in the World Cup final.
India's under 18-World Cup potential players fell a minute short and went down 1-2 to a strong Australia team in the final of the Singapore International Hockey Challenge on Monday.
The Indian men's hockey team bounced back in style against Australia, beating the World Champions 2-1 to level the four-match test series at 1-1 in Perth.
Australian Terry Walsh is set to be appointed as head coach of the Indian men's hockey team after the Sports Authority of India recommended his name to the Sports Ministry.
India's women's hockey team skipper Rani Ramphal says the team is now looking forward to the semi-finals.
Minnows Austria continued to impress in the ongoing men's Junior Hockey World Cup as they spanked declining Asian powerhouse Korea 5-2 in Lucknow on Saturday to remain in contention for a surprise quarter-final berth from Pool A in the 16-team tournament.
Jean-Laurent Kierffer scored a brace as France stunned European champions Belgium 5-4 in a nail-biting encounter to enter the semi-finals of the ongoing Hero Junior Men's Hockey World Cup in Delhi on Thursday.
The Indian women's team played out a sluggish 1-1 draw against Malaysia in Perth but it was enough to fetch the side a place in the Lanco International Super Series Hockey 9s final.
India had their first brush with the SG pink ball after they wrapped up the opening Test inside three days in Indore.
Australia chalked up an easy 3-1 win over Japan while Korea were held to a 2-2 draw by South Africa.
Defending champions Australia and New Zealand continued their unbeaten run in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup by thrashing Korea 5-2 and lowly Canada 5-0 respectively in their league matches on the third day of the hockey tournament in Ipoh.
The Aussies battled for a 3-2 victory.
Sloppy defending cost India dearly as they conceded a late goal and went down 1-2 to higher-ranked New Zealand in their second league match on Day 2 of the 24th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh.
