'It is all about money (that BCCI wants to play Pakistan) but in times like these you have to rise above monetary gains'
While Pakistan clinched the bilateral hockey series 3-1 as two matches ended in a draw.
India's star drag-flicker V Raghunath netted two goals to help the hosts settle for a 2-2 draw against world champions Australia in the first hockey Test of the three-match series, in Rajnandgaon, on Thursday.
Two-time Olympian Deepak Thakur feels the Indian hockey players are under the thumb of the game's authorities since there is lack of unity among them.
A sold-out crowd descended on Eisenhower Park on Sunday for a clash of cricketing arch-rivals India and Pakistan.
Pakistan's national hockey federation (PHF) has expressed confidence that it's players will stay away from the unsanctioned World Hockey Series in India in the wake of the organiser's claim that all those who have signed for the multi-million event will certainly play.
The Indian Women's Hockey Team midfielder Salima Tete was honoured with the AHF Emerging Player of the Year Award.
'I play in the present without thinking about the buzz in the background,' says Vivek Sagar Prasad, who has just won the FIH Rising Star of the Year award.
With a bilateral test series planned for March-April, the Pakistan Hockey Federation wants to enter into an agreement with Hockey India under which the party found to be defaulting will be liable to pay the other federation a compensation of $200,000 dollars.
The development came to light after HI advertised for the position on its official website Wednesday
The Hockey India is all set to the start the once popular Indo-Pak hockey test series from next year.
After missing its November 20 deadline, Hockey India on Friday have been given one last chance to clear its mess before next year's World Cup with the FIH granting an extension upto first week of February to complete the national hockey body's election process.
Traditional rivals India and Pakistan are best-suited for hockey's new nine-a-side format, Hockey 9's which will make its debut with the LANCO International Super Series in Perth from October 20-23, said it's mastermind Ric Charlesworth.
India outplayed reigning Asian Games champions Japan 7-2 to storm into the final of the FIH Series Finals hockey tournament, in Bhubaneswar, on Friday, assuring themselves a place in the year end's Olympic qualifying event.
India will host Pakistan in a four-Test series after the Olympics.
In a move which could derail the ambitious plan of the Indian Hockey Federation to organise a World Series of Hockey in the country, the FIH has threatened to bar players and national associations from participating in the Olympic Games if they associate with the league.
From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eminent sports personalities, the country was wholesome in its praise for the Indian hockey team's gutsy effort.
It's a distraction, it's challenging: Coach Fulton on rape allegations against defender Varun Kumar
India secured its place in the final round of Tokyo Olympic qualifiers by beating Chile 4-2 in the semi-finals of the women's FIH Series Finals hockey tournament.
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 5-2 in an inconsequential round robin match to register their first win in the Lanco International Super Series hockey tournament in Perth on Saturday.
The national federations had planned to hold the eight-match Test series on a home-and-away basis during March and April.
Dragflicker Sandeep Singh made a return, while injured striker Shivendra Singh and midfielder Arjun Halappa have been rested from a 22-member Indian hockey squad for a tour of Europe, starting next month.
Over 20 former international players, including several Olympians, have appealed to Sports Minister Ajay Maken to intervene and sort out the dispute between Indian Hockey Federation and Hockey India for the smooth conduct of World Series Hockey starting from December 17.
The upcoming World Series Hockey might be touted as the next big thing in Indian sport, but Hockey India on Wednesday termed the cash-rich league as a veterans' tournament and said Indian players participating in it will have to sacrifice their national jersey.
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.
Terry Walsh quit as coach of India's men's hockey team on Tuesday after his demands were not met by Hockey India and the Sports Authority of India. The 60-year-old Australian, who guided India to the men's hockey gold at the Incheon Asian Games, however, said he could return if his demands are met.
He will lead the Indian team for the six-match home-and-away Indo-Pak hockey series which begins today evening.
Experienced drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh returned to India's men's hockey team, which also features debutant Jaskaran Singh, for the tour of Australia, starting May 10.
Former Indian hockey team captain Dhanraj Pillay feels that resuming of India-Pakistan hockey test series should help both countries in regaining their foothold at the international level.
Former national coach Joaquim Carvalho has called for Hockey India secretary-general Narinder Batra's head for misleading the nation and vindictively keeping players who took part in the rebel World Series Hockey out of the country's London Olympics team.
Just two days are left for its start but the World Series Hockey continues to remain in a limbo as the FIH on Monday said it cannot give sanction to the lucrative league until the two warring factions -- Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation -- reach an agreement.
The big names who will be bidding for a podium finish before bidding farewell...
'We need to play attacking hockey, our strength. When we try to play defensive, we tend to be too much defensive which provides more chances to opponents. We need to put pressure on them (from the start)'
Waseem Ahmed replaces Mohammad Nadeem as the capatin of the Pakistan hockey team in the forthcoming Test series against India.
With an eye on the future, Hockey India's selectors made as many as seven changes from the squad that finished a disappointing 12th and last at the London Olympics.
Ten former captains of India's Olympic hockey teams were felicitated with a citation and a purse of Rs 100,000 each.
A series of felicitations, including an invitation from President Pratibha Patil, awaits the Asia Cup winning team.
Hockey India lambasted the Indian Hockey Federation for trying to lure players for its unsanctioned World Series Hockey league, saying such efforts by IHF are a 'blatant anti-national campaign' which will lead to 'slow poisoning' of the national game.
