Skipper Harmanpreet Singh slammed a brace as the Indian men's hockey team outplayed Spain 4-1 in a FIH Pro League match in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Sloppy defending cost India dearly as Sam Ward scored a brace for England to hand the home team a heart-breaking 2-3 defeat in a hard-fought Pool B match of the Hockey World League (HWL) Final, in Bhubaneswar, on Saturday.
Miles away from family amid a global health crisis, the Indian women's hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne is keeping anxiety at bay by focussing on writing a book on his India experience during the lockdown period due to the coronavirus outbreak. The 45-year-old Dutchman, who is based in 's-Hertogenbosch, admitted that it is tough to be away from his wife and children -- three daughters and a son -- during the difficult time.
Hockey icon Balbir Singh Senior, who died at 96 after battling multiple health issues, was on Monday cremated in Chandigarh with full state honours, with Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi declaring that the Mohali stadium will be named after the legendary player. The mortal remains of the three-time Olympic gold medallist was consigned to flames at an electric crematorium here, with his maternal grandson Kabir performing the last rites in the presence of Sikh priests.
India's men's hockey team was handed a tough group for the Rio Olympic Games as it has been pooled with defending champions Germany, European Champions Netherlands and Pan-American Games champions Argentina in the six-team Pool B.
Indian defence let in a goal just three minutes from the final hooter when Marta Segu scored from a rebound
'I look at the difference at how men's coaches are treated. Between me and the men's coach, or the girls and the men's team.'
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Indian former field hockey player Sardar Singh and Rani Rampal as the chief coach
Balbir Sr was taken to the private hospital from his residence in Sector 36 in Chandigarh, where he lives with his daughter Sushbir and maternal grandson Kabir.
Ritu Rani has been named captain of the 8-member Indian women's hockey team that will play the semifinals of the World League Round 3 at Rotterdam, The Netherlands from June 13.
India's star hockey player Sardar Singh and drag-flicker Sandeep Singh are set to play in the prestigious Euro Hockey League (EHL) for Dutch side Laren this year, subject to permission from Hockey India and their employer Haryana Police.
India finished third in the 100th anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation international tournament in Terrassa. The team beat reigning FIH Pro League champions Netherlands 2-1 in the third-fourth play-off match on Sunday.
The Netherlands scripted a remarkable come-from-behind victory to win the hockey World Cup bronze medal by defeating England 4-3 in a thrilling match in New Delhi on Saturday.
India have been grouped with Argentina, Australia, The Netherlands, New Zealand and South Africa.
Foreign teams that will land in India for next month's FIH Men's Junior Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar have been exempted from quarantine and will only be required to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms during the stay.
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.
Olympic champions Australia took top spot replacing Germany who slipped to second in the latest World Hockey Team Rankings.
India's chances of going through depends on the result of the last Pool A match between Ireland and Great Britain, later in the day.
Indian women's team did not find a place in the top 10.
India's tryst with fourth-place Olympic heartbreaks
India's chief coach Harendra Singh blamed poor umpiring for his team's early ouster from the ongoing men's hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
Defending champions Germany and the Netherlands swamped opponents after Argentina were held to a draw by United States and former champions Australia scraped past South Korea in the first round of Olympic women's hockey on Sunday. Germany thrashed Britain, ranked 10th and whose last appearance was eight years ago, 5-1 in pool B, while top-ranked Netherlands hammered South Africa 6-0 in pool A.
'We have stopped eating sweets, chocolates, spicy and oily food. We are are taking low carbs and balanced diet and feeling better'
An inspired India registered their first win over the Netherlands in 18 years when they stunned the World Cup and Olympic silver medallists 3-2 in a high-voltage encounter to finish third in Pool B at the Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.
Indian men's hockey team slipped one place to occupy sixth in the FIH rankings after their lackluster show in Rio Olympics while their female counterparts surprisingly gained one position to be at 12th in the latest charts released on Tuesday. The Indian men's side crashed out of the Olympics in the quarterfinals by losing to eventual runners-up team Belgium 1-3 while the women's team failed to get past the group stage.
Belgium set up an intriguing men's Olympic hockey final against Argentina after they dumped out the world's second-ranked team the Netherlands with a resounding 3-1 semi-final victory on Tuesday.
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.
Argentina and the Netherlands will meet in Sunday's final of the women's hockey World Cup after narrow wins in Friday's semi-finals.
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.
Defending champions Germany face a stern test when they take on rampaging the Netherlands in a mouthwatering Pool A clash in the Hero Honda hockey World Cup in New Delhi on Sunday.
If Dhyan Chand's wizardry was a source of joy in a colonised India, Balbir Singh Sr's artistry was an inspiration for an India trying to find its bearings post-independence.
Australia retained the men's hockey World Cup crown after outplaying Olympic silver medallists The Netherlands 6-1 in the final at the Kyocera Stadium in The Hague on Sunday. Chris Cirielo's three penalty-corner conversions was the feature of the contest that saw Australia retain the trophy they won in New Delhi in 2010.
The eight-time Olympic champions, who will play in the last four stage at the Games after 49 years, will take on Belgium, who beat Spain 3-1 in another quarter-final earlier.
Coach Harendra defends junior players' selection for World Cup
Olympic bronze medallist Germany defeated Malaysia 5-3 in a keenly-contested match
Thousands of athletes and staff roamed the Olympic village freely, mingling at cafes and swapping souvenir pins.
India's lone goal came from the sticks of Dilpreet Singh in the 34th minute.
It was touted as the year which could herald a change in the fortunes Indian hockey, but 2018 turned out to be yet another saga of missed opportunities for the sport.
India has been named as one of five confirmed teams for the men's Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Melbourne later this year, thereby ending the nation's six-year wait for a comeback to the prestigious event.
