Two FIH Pro League ties involving the senior men's team, junior men's Asia Cup and senior women's Asian Champions Trophy are among a host of international hockey events, where India was scheduled to take part, that have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Not only did the Indian High Commission issue visa to the players, the new sponsors have also released nine million Pakistani rupees to cover the team's expenses in the tournament to be held in Bhubaneswar from November 28 to December 16.
In a surprise move on Tuesday, India's women's hockey coach Harendra Singh was named chief coach of the men's team while incumbent men's in-charge Sjoerd Marijne was sent back to the women's camp -- a fallout of the poor show by Manpreet Singh and Co. in the Commonwealth Games.
The Indian men's hockey team's biggest gain this year was the emergence of some talented fresh faces.
Mohd Konain Dad (7th minute) opened India's account before Dilraj (17th, 50th), Sharda Nand (20th, 50th) struck.
Ritu Rani-led Indian junior women's hockey team today left for Bangkok to participate in the sixth Junior Women Asia Cup to be held from June 27 to July 7.
Sachin Tendulkar marvelled at India's rise in newer disciplines, while Abhinav Bindra paid tribute to all those who "silently carry the athletes forward" as the two icons offered their views on India's sporting growth on National Sports Day.
India captain Harmanpreet Singh is excited to resume the rivalry against Pakistan in the most-awaited round-robin match of the Asian Champions Trophy on Saturday.
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.
The Indian women's hockey team stunned formidable Germany 2-1 to register its second consecutive win in pool stages and assure its place in the quarter-finals of the FIH Junior World Cup in Potchefstroom on Sunday.
Three-time champions India defeated hosts Malaysia 4-2 to continue their unbeaten run at the Sultan of Johor Cup junior men's hockey tournament in Johor Bahru on Tuesday.
Indian hockey had something to cheer about. Poonam Rani struck twice as India scored an upset victory over higher-ranked China 4-2 in their opening match of the third Asian Women Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Kakamigahara, Japan on Saturday.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
Britain's world number three Andy Murray stressed the importance of gender equality in tennis, saying the work ethic required to succeed is the same for both men and women.
The Indian team will begin its campaign in Pool D against Wales on Saturday before taking on formidable Germany on Sunday following the final tie against Malaysia.
Belgium stunned six-time champions and title holders Germany 4-3 in the shoot out to progress to their maiden final of the men's Junior Hockey World Cup in Lucknow on Friday.
India's newly-appointed men's hockey chief coach Graham Reid took charge of the national camp in Bengaluru and asked his players to put the team first in his maiden address to them.
Former India coach Anil Kumble is in the running for the Coach of the Year award in the inaugural edition of the Indian Sports Honours, instituted by the RP-SG Group in association with the foundation of skipper Virat Kohli.
The final quarter witnessed an aggressive display from both sides, with Germany coming close to extending their lead.
Indian women's hockey team midfielder Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke hails from a small village named Asu in Satara, Maharashtra.
'I feel so fortunate to be part of this incredible group and yes, I do believe I have been lucky to have had such a great start to my international career.'
Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh said the honour is a recognition of his "fascinating" journey in which he still has plenty more to achieve.
The Prime Minister termed the athletes as "India's soldiers of 2036 Olympics".
Mid-fielder Ritu Rani was on Tuesday named captain of 18-member Indian hockey team for the sixth Junior Women's Asia Cup to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from June 27.
Besides Rampal, the others who have been infected are Savita Punia, Sharmila Devi, Rajani, Navjot Kaur, Navneet Kaur and Sushila.
Sreejesh, 36, stood rock solid in India's campaign at the Olympics and played a key role in their hard-fought 2-1 victory against Spain in the bronze-medal match.
The central government will have the power to "impose reasonable restrictions" on the international participation of Indian teams and individual athletes under "extraordinary circumstances", as per the National Sports Governance Bill that was tabled in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Thursday said it is neither sad nor relieved after the government instructed the Cricket Board to call off the Indian team's tour of Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks. The fate of the tour was already hanging in balance with a number of senior players reluctant to tour a strife-torn Pakistan owing to security apprehension.
India will host Malaysia in September in a five-Test series. The junior team will be fielded in two of the matches.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Friday said the training of its team for the Junior World Cup in the Indian city of Lucknow is in full swing, even as it awaited clearance from the government. Shahbaz Ahmed, Secretary of the PHF, said an unnecessary controversy had been created in the media whether Pakistan would participate in the Junior World Cup, to be played December 8-18 in India.
If the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decides to follow the recommendations on reforms suggested by the Justice RM Lodha committee, one could soon find stadiums in Pune, Nagpur, and Rajkot hosting Indian hockey team's 'Test' matches or tennis team's Davis Cup games.
Following his retirement, Hockey India appointed Sreejesh as the head coach of the junior men's team and he vowed to make India a 'powerhouse in hockey'.
They have snapped ties with cricket but the Sahara Group has renewed its association with Indian hockey signing a five-year sponsorship deal with Hockey India.
Former India men's hockey head coach Roelant Oltmans blamed the lack of tactical awareness and a non-existent club culture for India's early exit from the 2023 Hockey World Cup.
The Indian girls were on a roll in Monchengladbach, Germany. They played the best hockey of their lives to win the country's first ever bronze medal in the junior women hockey World Cup.
The Indian government has established two expert committees aimed at elevating the country's sports performance.
'Huge disappointment that we did not qualify for our third consecutive Olympics'
Yesterday, women's coach Harendra Singh was made in-charge of the men's side, while men's coach Sjoerd Marijne was re-designated the women's coach in a rejigging of roles by the Hockey India following the medalless show of the teams at last month's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper Krishan B Pathak spoke about his selection in the team for the Asian Games and his family's reaction when he broke the news to them.
Vinita Xess's goal gave India a 1-0 victory over Korea in their opening match, in the four-nation junior hockey tournament in Gifu, Japan.
