The rising stars of Indian hockey will be under immense pressure but they would aim to rise above it and make a positive start in the Junior Men's World Cup when they take on a formidable Netherlands in their opening tie, in New Delhi on Friday.
Ace drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat struck a second-half hat-trick as Germany made a sensational comeback after being two goals down to beat Australia 4-3 and enter the men's hockey World Cup final for the fifth time, in Bhubaneswar, on Friday.
The national federations had planned to hold the eight-match Test series on a home-and-away basis during March and April.
World No.1 Australia scored all their goals from penalty corners through Jeremy Hayward (4th minute), Blake Govers (19th) and skipper Aran Zalewski (37th) at the Kalinga Stadium.
Pakistan registered their worst performance in the hockey World Cup as a resilient Canada pushed the Asian giants to last place in the mega event with a golden goal victory in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has threatened to pull out of next year's World Cup in India unless assured of "easy procurement" of visas and "top security" for its players at the event.
Hosts India drew curtains to their disastrous campaign at the Hero Junior Men's Hockey World Cup by finishing a disappointing 10th after losing to arch-rivals Pakistan in a classification match at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in New Delhi on Sunday.
Indian eves suffered their heaviest defeat in the history of women's hockey World Cup when they were mauled 1-7 by defending champions The Netherlands in their opening match in Rosario, Argentina.
In a startling revelation, Pakistan hockey team's sacked manager Asif Bajwa has claimed that the team deliberately lost its World Cup qualifying league match against Poland to avoid hosts France in the final last year.
Under pressure Indian women's hockey team produced a spirited performance to come back from a goal down and hold higher-ranked USA to a 1-1 draw in their last Pool B match and progress to the knock-out stages of the World Cup, in London, on Sunday.
He has led Argentina to the bronze medal in last year's Champions Trophy, but skipper Matias Vila is realistic enough to admit that his team does not stand with a good chance of a podium finish in the forthcoming hockey World Cup to be held New Delhi from February 28 to March 13.
India's dream of breaking their 44-year-old last four jinx lay shattered as Ireland registered a 3-1 win via shoot-off in the quarterfinal of the women's hockey World Cup in London on Thursday.
Rani Devi shone with a hat-trick as India blanked Belarus 6-0 to top their pool and qualify for the medal league second round in the Junior Women's World Cup hockey tournament in Boston.
Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra on Wednesday took moral 'responsibility' for the country's early ouster from the Hero FIH Junior Men's World Cup and apologised to the fans for letting them down.
India gave away a goal in the eighth minute before bouncing back strongly after half time to lead 2-1. But Belgium struck four minutes from the hooter to snatch a 2-2 draw in an evenly-contested match.
England scored through Will Calnan's (25th minute) field strike and penalty corner conversion by Luke Taylor (44th) to register the comfortable win.
The striking Indian hockey players expressed willingness to play the upcoming World Cup with their own money if need be after their demands for settlement of long-pending dues were rejected by Hockey India officials on Tuesday. 'We are willing to play the World Cup with our money. Since they [Hockey India] are saying they don't have the money we are ready to chip in from our own pockets,' declared captain Rajpal Singh on Tuesday.
Out of contention for a top-five finish after three consecutive defeats, India would be desperate to end their losing streak when they take on lowly but spirited South Africa in their last pool B match of the hockey World Cup at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Monday.
"The start has been good. In the tournament, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Argentina and Australia are some of the best teams. We have started off well and need to keep the momentum going and continue with same energy," Sardar said on Thursday.
'The PCB will share the report with the ICC and BCCI if the delegation has any concerns.'
Leaving behind off-field controversies, the Indian women's hockey team on Saturday left for Rosario, Argentina to participate in the August 28 to September 11 World Cup.
Olympic and world champions Netherlands will meet hosts Argentina in the women's hockey World Cup final on Saturday.
Olympic and World champions Netherlands will meet hosts Argentina in the women's hockey World Cup final Saturday. It will be a repeat of the Champions Trophy final in Nottingham in July when Argentina beat the Dutch 4-2 for their third successive title.
The Pakistani hockey team booked a place at next year's World Cup in India by winning a qualifying tournament in France at the weekend.
The Indian women's hockey team ended a three-match losing streak by upstaging Japan 2-0 in its penultimate pool match at the FIH World Cup at the Jockey Club in Rosario, Argentina, on Sunday. The team -- which was convincingly beaten in their first three matches by the Netherlands, Australia and Germany -- led 1-0 at half-time, with Rani Rampal scoring in the 14th minute.
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has barred Sports Minister Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani from attending the opening ceremony of the hockey World Cup in Delhi, according to a media report in Islamabad, on Saturday. Jakhrani was scheduled to visit India to attend the opening ceremony of the World Cup and also watch the match between India and Pakistan at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Sunday.
Alleging breach of contract and intended violation of the Foreign Exchange Act, the Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC) has requested the Reserve Bank of India to stop payment of US $500,000 by the 2010 World Hockey Cup organisers to the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
New Zealand and Australia will reassess the security measures put in place for the forthcoming hockey World Cup in India in the wake of the reported terror threats issued to foreign teams during the 12-team quadrennial event.
Shivendra Singh saved the day for India with a timely equaliser as the home team played out a 3-3 draw against South Africa in a controversial match to finish fourth in Pool B of the hockey World Cup on Monday.
Australia and France made the quarter-finals of the Hero FIH Junior Men's World Cup after registering contrasting victories in their respective Pool B matches today at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.
Germany outclassed last edition silver medallist Netherlands
Mumbai boy Keegan Pereira, who studied in a school in the northern suburb of Bandra before migrating to Canada with his parents, will represent his adopted country in the Hero Honda FIH World Cup Hockey tournament, commencing in Delhi later this month.
Indian girls kept their quarter-final hopes alive in the junior hockey World Cup with a 2-0 win over New Zealand, in Monchengladbach, Germany, on Sunday.
Vandana Kataria slammed a hat-trick as India thrashed minnows Russia 10-1 to enter the quarter-finals in the Junior women's hockey World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany, on Tuesday.
Olympic bronze medallist Germany defeated Malaysia 5-3 in a keenly-contested match
Tale of two sports shops and unfulfilled dreams of a former hockey player
Captain Harmanpret said it's a good opportunity for the Indian players to win the World Cup at home.
New Zealand rallied from a goal down to defeat Malaysia 2-1 in the BDO World Cup Qualifier final in Invercargill, New Zealand and find a place the 2010 hockey World Cup.
