Former Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal announced her retirement on Thursday, ending a glittering 16-year career.
The Indian hockey team that won a second successive Olympic bronze for the country here on Thursday featured 11 players, who will come back as two-time medallists from the quadrennial showpiece.
The inexperienced Indian team meet Pakistan in the last match of the four-Test series on Friday.
The 36-year-old goalkeeper, a veteran of 328 international matches, took to social media to announce his decision.
Indian eves on Wednesday registered a 3-0 victory over a hapless Azerbaijan in the third match to keep their slate clean in the four-Test hockey series at the Major Dhyan Chand National stadium, in New Delhi, on Wednesday.
Diane Keaton's wit and honesty taught us that ageing and uncertainty aren't weaknesses, they are part of what makes us human and graceful, observes Sreehari Nair.
'I am grateful that they have given me a chance to play now so I have to give my 100 per cent.'
A 24-strong team for the men's hockey series against Japan was announced on Thursday, following a week-long preparatory camp held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, that commenced on April 22.
A summary of sports events that made news on Wednesday.
A veterans' cricket match involving India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends in London on Sunday has been cancelled after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, refused to be a part of it citing the Pahalgam terror attack in April.
Play fearlessly and without pre-conceived notion: Ashok Dhyanchand to hockey players
Women's cricket team gets rousing welcome at India House in London
Skipper Harmanpreet Singh's brace went in vain as India lost 4-5 to Australia in the final game and handed the five-Test hockey series 1-4 to the world No. 1 side, in Adelaide, on Sunday.
Harmanpreet Singh will lead a 24-member Indian squad in the Europe leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League starting on May 22.
The prolific drag-flicker said the series would be an opportunity to test the team further after its title-winning run in the Asian Champions Trophy in China earlier this month.
Dennis Meredith, a former Competitions and Events Manager and currently member of the FIH's panel of Tournament Directors, has been appointed Technical Director for the upcoming US $2 million prize-money World Series Hockey.
Soorma Hockey Club clinch penalty shootout win over Delhi SG Pipers
The star goalkeeper said Indian women's hockey has grown by leaps and bounds, offering financial independence to its players.
Even as the ongoing World Series Hockey struggles to make its presence felt in the absence of star Indian players, the Government of India today fully backed the lucrative league, with Sports Minister Ajay Maken even taking a dig at Hockey India for trying to scuttle the event.
PHF President Qasim Zia is hoping that the upcoming bilateral hockey series between India and Pakistan would not be affected despite fresh tension between the two countries.
Despite winning the third hockey test against Australia, the Indian team suffered a huge disappointment as they lost the three-match series in the penalty shootout at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Hockey Stadium, in Raipur, on Monday.
Sukanya Verma captures everything Reema Kagti has created so far and where you can watch it.
Former India captain Dhanraj Pillay is set to scorch the hockey turf with his lightning speed and magical moves during World Series Hockey (WSH). The mercurial striker has been signed to play in the league that is scheduled to begin on December 17.
The second edition of World Series Hockey (WSH), earlier proposed to start next month, has been rescheduled, the organisers said on Friday.
The PHF is considering inviting the team for a nine-nation tournament in December.
Former hockey captain P R Sreejesh was chosen for the Padma Bhushan, while Ravichandran Ashwin was among the Padma Shri winners.
India eye Paris revenge against Germany in Test series as international hockey returns to Delhi
India women claim hockey CWG medal after 16 years
'We have stopped eating sweets, chocolates, spicy and oily food. We are are taking low carbs and balanced diet and feeling better'
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Pune Strykers, to be owned by Sai Grace Sports and Events Private Limited (SGSEPL), became the third team to be unveiled for the controversial multi-million dollar World Series Hockey starting from next month.
150 Indian players, including top stars from the current national team have signed on and received advanced payments to play in World Series Hockey (WSH).
Harmanpreet Singh had also captained the side in the recent series against Australia, where the side fought hard before losing the five-match rubber 1-4.
Injury will also keep Vikram Pillay out of the two Tests against the Spaniards.
Harmanpreet, Sreejesh shortlisted for FIH Hockey Stars Awards
The second season of World Series Hockey, a tournament not recognised by the sport's world governing body FIH, is scheduled to be played from December 15, 2012 to January 20, 2013, it was announced on Thursday.
Former India player Gagan Ajit Singh will return to competitive hockey after being picked in the second players' draft for the US $2 million World Series Hockey, which commences on February 29. The former India forward was picked by the Sher-e-Punjab franchise during the second round of the player draft in which 27 Indian players, from a pool of 42, were chosen by various franchises.
India made a smart recovery from an early goal deficit to hold New Zealand to a 1-1 draw in their first Test of the four-match hockey series at the National Stadium in Wellington on Saturday. The visitors were jolted by a third minute goal through New Zealand captain Phil Burrows but their smart change of tactics in the second session yielded the equaliser in the 55th minute through SV Sunil.
