After creating a flutter by claiming that India were not 'mentally prepared' for the pre-World Cup warm-up matches, cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday said his comments were misconstrued and he did not imply that the team was battling fatigue.
The video referral system at the hockey World Cup may have disappointed many but New Zealand coach Shane McLeod and his German counterpart Markus Weise feel the newly-introduced system is a valuable addition to the game and only needs some fine-tuning.
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.
Australia's captain also praised Brad Williams for his five-wicket haul in the tri-series match against New Zealand.
Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh could feature in his first competitive event in eight months after being named in India's 20-member squad for a four-nation tournament in New Zealand. India will compete with Belgium, Japan and hosts New Zealand at Tauranga and Hamilton in the tournament, beginning January 17.
The Indian men's hockey team has started their training session in Auckland for the upcoming series, which commences on October 2. The series is in preparation for the Hero Hockey World League Final 2015.
Deputy Chef de Mission Balbir Singh Kushwaha said that facilities at the Games Village were good.
'If there were ever a PR exercise to fix the seemingly irreparable image of Australian cricket in the aftermath of the most notorious on-field scandal in recent memory, then this is it,' observes Dhruv Munjal.
Medal table from the World Athletics Championships 2013.
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.
India men's hockey team chief coach Roelant Oltmans feels the one week break starting before the Champions Trophy will help the players rejuvenate themselves ahead of the Rio Olympics, the countdown for which has already begun. The 29-member men's hockey squad will be on a week's break before they rejoin on May 29 and Oltmans said the idea, behind the move was to ensure the players are feeling fresh and hungry ahead of next month's FIH Champions Trophy in London. "Starting June 5, the team will be away for almost a month playing two different tournaments in two different countries. Everything we do in this period will be demanding not just physically but also mentally," Oltmans said.
After having maximum possession till the 2nd quarter, India finally took the lead in the 19th minute as Akashdeep Singh scored on rebound of a penalty corner.
India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Ranchi Rhinos' have retained most of the players.
On-field achievements often jostled for space with off-field drama as Indian hockey endured a rollercoaster year during which the players scripted historical feats but coach Paul van Ass' acrimonious ouster and Gurbaj Singh's suspension created its share of storm.
Belgium are on red hot form and have stunned strong gold medal contenders and world champions Australia.
'The level we played in Champions Trophy will not be enough for the Olympics if we are vying for a medal'
'It is unfair to look at one decision, one ball out of 600-plus on the day and say that was the reason one team won and one team lost.'
'The future of finger-spinners lies in the perception of people'
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday.
A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Thursday
From the classic to the contemporary, Juie Merchant takes a pick!
In an online chat with readers, overseas consultant NNS Chandra offers career advice.
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