The Indian men's hockey team's biggest gain this year was the emergence of some talented fresh faces.
While India's money-spinning cricket league lavishes million-dollar deals on players for just a few weeks of competition, the national ice hockey team has had to go begging on social media to fund their trip to Kuwait for an international tournament.
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
Terming the players' revolt as an 'unfortunate' incident, former hockey federation chief KPS Gill on Friday advised the authorities to talk to the national team members and bring them back to the camp.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday
Harendra Singh complained to Hockey India about the sub-standard quality of food and hygiene level at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru, where the national team is currently training ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Mittal, in a letter to the FIH, has alleged that "a major cover up" was done to allow Batra to contest the election for the top sports job of the country. Batra offered a rebuttal in a communication to Bach.
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.
India and Pakistan need to improve to survive in world hockey, thinks PHF secretary Akhtar Ul Islam.
The FIH also stated that the draw of the Men's Hockey World Cup, to be hosted jointly by Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13 to 29 next year, will take place as per schedule on September 8.
Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Rana Mujahid is "frustrated" that the national sport is struggling to lure sponsors due to lack of international success in recent years and felt the scene was much better in India.
Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha feels the axing of medal-yielding sports such as wrestling, hockey and badminton from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games programme is "disappointing" for the country but the approach to reduce cost would ensure that the event continues to find hosts in future.
Mohammad Saqlain will lead the Pakistan side in the hockey World Cup in Germany next month.
The International Hockey Federation is planning to introduce two wild card entries in the Champions Trophy from next year which will increase the number of competing teams in the prestigious event from six to eight, Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Asif Bajwa said on Tuesday.
The Asian Games normally serves as the Olympic qualifiers but there was some confusion after the Hangzhou Asian Games were postponed from last year to this year due to the COVID-19 situation in China.
Rani Rampal led the team to historic victories in the Women's Asia Cup in 2017, silver at the 2018 Asian Games and played a critical role in the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in 2019 by scoring the deciding goal that helped India qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
Pakistan's sports minister Riaz Pirzada has said that consultations would be held with the relevant government ministries to consider imposing a complete ban on sports team from the country taking part in any event on Indian soil. "We are considering taking such a step after the treatment meted out to the Pakistan junior hockey team by the Indian High Commission and the International Hockey Federation which is headed by an Indian," he told the media.
The former captain, however, rejected Norman's claim of factionalism in HI, saying all is well within the federation.
Rising political tension has adversely affected the bilateral sporting ties between India and Pakistan but newly-elected FIH chief Narinder Batra on Saturday said the two nations will have to honour their international commitments. The tension at the border has cast a shadow over Pakistan's participation in the next month's FIH Junior World Cup in Lucknow but Batra's comments make it clear that the two neighbours are set to clash against each other on Indian soil.
Hockey India president Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad resigned from his position citing personal commitments, a development that was expected after the Sports Ministry asked him to quit, declaring his election violative of the national sports code's tenure guidelines. HI Executive Board named Manipur's Gyanendro Nigombam, who was senior vice-president in the federation, as the officiating president in Ahmad's place.
Suspended secretary of the disbanded Indian Hockey Federation K Jothikumaran on Friday filed a suit against the television channel, that did a sting operation on him, claiming damages of Rs 25 lakh.
'The feeling that we were Olympic champions only dawned on us when we reached India.'
The Malaysian Hockey Federation lodged a police complaint on Friday after tabloid Malay Mail published a report claiming that several Malaysian players were involved in fixing the May 17 match, by allegedly placing online bets on Malaysia losing the last round-robin game.
The Council looks into the game at grassroot level and is responsible for its subsequent global development.
Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi on Tuesday denounced former Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill's move to convene an executive committee meeting of the disbanded body, calling it illegal. Reacting to the news that Gill has convened a meeting on Friday, Kalmadi said the move defied logic.
Will ask England to probe India's fixing attempt charge: FIH The complaint was lodged with the FIH after Indian team manager Jugraj Singh asked HI to take up the matter seriously with the FIH in his post-tournament report.
Spaniard Leandro Negre replaced Els van Breda Vriesman as the new President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), beating her in the elections held during the governing body's Congress in Los Angeles. Negre, who was the president of the European Hockey Federation, will hold the office for a term of four years.
The IOA president said Pillay's experience could improve the medal chances of the eight-time Olympic hockey champions.
The IHF has asked the FIH and IOC to recommend some of the world's best physiotherapists.
It is shameful and I have no words to condemn such an act. We will seriously consider taking action against him.
Germany might be the twice Olympic champions defending their title in men's field hockey but top-ranked Australia will be the team to beat at next month's Rio Games.
The government is working with the Indian Olympic Association, Indian Hockey Federation and Hockey India to facilitate a settlement that is acceptable to both the warring factions -- IHF and Hockey India, Sports Minister Ajay Maken informed the Lok Sabha.
The National Associations of Australia, England, India, Malaysia, and New Zealand have all put up extremely strong cases in an attempt to lure the sport's top properties to their territory, the FIH said.
Jaspal Rana questions Sports Ministry, NRAI for ignoring Manu's credentials for Khel Ratna
Still reeling under the shock of the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy being revoked, Indian hockey faces the ignominy of also losing next year's Olympic qualifiers if a single national federation is not in place, the International Hockey Federation warned on Tuesday.
Veteran Olympian, Ashok Diwan has sought government help to return home after 'developing some health problems in the USA'.
Soon after the new dates were announced, IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said, "Indian Olympic Association along with the National Sports Federations welcome and support the new dates for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which will be held from 23 July to 8 August, 2021."
Australia retained the men's hockey World Cup crown after outplaying Olympic silver medallists The Netherlands 6-1 in the final at the Kyocera Stadium in The Hague on Sunday. Chris Cirielo's three penalty-corner conversions was the feature of the contest that saw Australia retain the trophy they won in New Delhi in 2010.
'The PCB will share the report with the ICC and BCCI if the delegation has any concerns.'
