Minnows Austria continued to impress in the ongoing men's Junior Hockey World Cup as they spanked declining Asian powerhouse Korea 5-2 in Lucknow on Saturday to remain in contention for a surprise quarter-final berth from Pool A in the 16-team tournament.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Wednesday
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.
India's revolting hockey players were served a 24-hour deadline to resume practice or face disciplinary action as the entire squad began an indefinite boycott of the World Cup preparatory camp over a payment dispute.
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.
'If we want to ensure this isn't a once-in-four-decade phenomenon, then we have to produce 1,800 players all the time, create infrastructure, so that we are constantly challenging at the top of the ladder.'
WC star Azad beats state BJP heavyweight Ghosh from Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency
Talismanic midfielder Sardar Singh will lead an experimental 18-member India hockey team, which will be without as many as seven players including senior goalkeeper and vice-captain P R Sreejesh, in the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia next month.
The national federations had planned to hold the eight-match Test series on a home-and-away basis during March and April.
Dragflicker Dhananjay Mahadik feels short corners will be India's strong point in the forthcoming hockey World Cup starting Sunday and Sandeep Singh will be their trump card.
Renowned South African mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, who played a role in India winning the 2011 Cricket World Cup, will be a part of the support staff of the country's men's hockey team in Paris.
India frittered away numerous chances and had to settle for a disappointing 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their second opening round group match of the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup at the Seng Kang Sports Complex in Singapore on Tuesday.
India's men's hockey team chief coach Graham Reid has told his players to keep their emotions in check and avoid cards against a strong opponent like Belgium in the Tokyo Olympics semi-finals on Tuesday.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had also wished the legend a speedy recovery.
Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr on Tuesday suffered a cardiac arrest and his condition remains critical, his grandson Kabir said in a medical update. The 96-year-old, a triple Olympic gold medallist, was hospitalised in Mohali on May 8.
After a virtuoso performance in an emotionally charged campaign-opener against arch-rivals Pakistan, India will have to maintain the attacking form when they take on Australia in their second Pool B match of the hockey World Cup in New Delhi on Tuesday.
A hat-trick by Tushar Khandekar was the highlight of a 5-2 victory in the final of the tournament.
"We are very disappointed at the way the Azlan Shah Cup organisers have dropped us from the tournament and included England in our place," PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmad said on Thursday.
'Coaching centres across the world will make everyone watch this game, the quality of the match was top-notch'
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday
Harendra Singh has a penchant for delivering results whenever entrusted with an assignment and has now set his sights at bigger goals after guiding the Indian women's team to Asia Cup triumph
Emotions will run high when India, after a tumultuous build-up, will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in a potential humdinger of the hockey World Cup, which gets underway amid watertight security at the Dyan Chand National Stadium on Sunday.
India were beaten 2-3 in the opening match of the women's field hockey World Cup.
'We are exchanging in quarters. He is getting exposure while I have got enough experience. It is a good thing for the future.'
Women's national hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne was on Friday named chief coach of the Indian men's team -- a stunning decision given that the Dutchman has no prior experience of handling a senior men's side.
'The way we are playing now, if we continue to play the same hockey, no one can stop us from standing on the podium in Tokyo.'
The Indian hockey team scored a morale-boosting 7-1 win ahead of the World Cup in Germany.
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.
India are the defending junior world champions but haven't won the Asian title.
British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday showed his dexterity with the cricket bat as he played out a few deliveries bowled to him by the legendary Kapil Dev. Kapil, India's only World Cup-wining captain, sent down a few balls to the British premier when he visited the National stadium on his tour of the Commonwealth Games venues.
The Indian colts won the four-nation hockey tournament in Spain after drawing their last match against Chile 2-2.
Hosts India defeated Netherlands 2-1 in their second practice match ahead of the forthcoming hockey World Cup at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.
Going by current form, India is not in contention for a semi-final berth in the ongoing hockey World Cup and they would have to take their game altogether to a different level to reach the last four stage, according to Germany captain Maximillian Muller.
Derick Knos from Western Australia will work closely with the Indian team till the World Cup, to be held at Monchengladbach from September 6 to 17.
Striker Mandeep Singh scored a brilliant hat-trick as India outclassed Canada 7-3 to put one foot in the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, in Ipoh, Malaysia, on Wednesday.
India's went down 0-1 to minnows China in their last league match to finish at the bottom of Pool A.
In the ongoing FIH Pro Hockey League, India climbed to the top of the table with a win over world champions Germany in Rourkela on Monday.
Balbir Sr's three Olympic gold medals came in London (1948), Helsinki (1952) as vice-captain, and Melbourne (1956) as captain.
