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Tag: Asian Champions Trophy

  • India Cruise Into Asian Champions Trophy Final As Harmanpreet Singh Strikes Twice In 4-1 Victory Over South Korea | Other

    Skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s sublime form resulted in twin strikes as defending champions India entered the final of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy with a clinical 4-1 win against South Korea in the semi-final on Monday. India scored through Uttam Singh (13th minute), skipper Harmanpreet Singh (19th, 45th) and Jarmanpreet Singh (32nd), while Korea’s lone goal came from through Yang Jihun (33rd)’s penalty corner conversion.

    India will take on hosts China in Tuesday’s final. Earlier in the day, China defeated Pakistan 2–0 via shoot-out in the first semifinal after the two teams finished 1–1 at the end of regulation 60 minutes. In the previous league stage encounter between the two finalists, India prevailed 3–0.

    Pakistan and Korea will face off in the third place classification match which will also be played on Tuesday. Meanwhile in the fifth-sixth place classification match, Japan beat Malaysia 4-2 in shoot-out following a 4-4 stalemate in normal time.

    In the second semifinal as expected, the Indians started on the offensive and tested the Korean defense with persistent attacks from the word go. The Koreans, on the other hand, were contending to sit back and defend and rely on sporadic counter attacks.

    Abhishek came tantalizingly close to handing India the lead in the fourth minute but his reverse hit was brilliantly saved by Korean goalkeeper Kim Jaehan. The Indian made promising build ups and penetrated the Korean circle on consistent basis in the first quarter.

    India’s attacking intent finally paid off in the 13th minute when Uttam positioned himself at the right place at the right time to tap in Araijeet Singh Hundal’s supply from the right. A minute from the first break, Korea secured back-to-back penalty corners but failed to utilize the chances.

    Four minutes into the second quarter, India secured their first penalty corner and Harmanpreet scored his sixth goal of the tournament to hand his side a 2-0 lead. At the stroke of half-time, custodian Suraj Karkera came out of his line to save an effort from the opposition player.

    India continued in the same vein after the change of ends and extended their lead two minutes into the third quarter. A brilliant scoop from Sumit from the right finds Jarmanpreet just outside the circle on the left flank and the latter neatly collected the ball and took a step or two to get inside the circle and slap the ball into the Korean goal to extend India’s lead.

    But Korea pulled one back a minute later from a penalty corner through the tournament’s top-scorer Yang Jihun. The goal hardly bothered the Indians as they continued their attacking game and dominated the share of exchanges.

    With a second left for the third quarter, India secured another penalty corner when Korean goalkeeper Jaehan was shown the yellow card for handling the ball out side the circle, and Harmanpreet made no mistake to extend the lead.

    Eight minutes from the final hooter, India’s second goalkeeper Karkera made a fine double save to deny Park Cheoleon, but the Koreans secured a penalty corner which went in vain. Thereafter, it was controlled show from the Indians as they defended their lead with consummate ease to march into their fifth final appearance in the tournament.

  • Asian Champions Trophy 2023: Harmanpreet Singh stars as India dominate arch rivals Pakistan

    India has a fortunate quantity 13.

    He lifts iron weighing as much as 165kg within the health club. And covers as a lot as 8km on the pitch. He scores targets and intercepts passes. Launches booming aerial balls and performs defence-splitting crosses. A free man who, with impeccable imaginative and prescient, units his teammates free.

    There’s not lots Harmanpreet Singh doesn’t do. Yet, on most days, it’s his misses that get talked about extra. Invariably earlier than each match and after it, the India captain will get requested about his ‘poor’ conversion fee from penalty corners. Each time, he smiles again: “Bilkul, koshish karte rahenge (Of course, I’ll keep trying).”

    The Men in Blue march into the Semi Finals of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 undefeated.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HACT2023 pic.twitter.com/30JNbIohdb

    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 9, 2023

    It’s a travesty that Harmanpreet’s contribution is lowered merely to his drag-flicks. The ultimate group stage match of the Asian Champions Trophy in opposition to Pakistan, a 4-0 victory, was one other reminder of all that he brings to the desk.

    On an evening when Pakistan seemed threatening in phases with their breezy counter-attacks and speedy turnovers, Harmanpreet’s vice-like grip ensured the story adopted the script in entrance of a packed Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium.

    It very almost went awry as Pakistan’s younger bunch performed with freedom and fearlessness that caught India off guard. Had they been slightly extra scientific within the attacking third – and never been on the receiving finish of what their coach Muhammad Saqlain referred to as ‘very poor’ umpiring calls – issues may have been totally different.

    Harmanpreet Singh’s mighty pair of targets elevate him because the Hero of the match, whereas Vivek Sagar Prasad shines as the sport’s excellent younger expertise.

    🇮🇳 India 4-0 Pakistan 🇵🇰#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HACT2023 #INDvPAK @CMO_Odisha @CMOTamilnadu @asia_hockey @FIH_Hockey… pic.twitter.com/ZNFjgoolCw

    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 9, 2023

    But Harmanpreet’s two targets – highly effective drag-flicks both aspect of the goalkeeper – put India heading in the right direction to the facile win over Pakistan to arrange a semifinal conflict with Japan on Friday (the second semifinal shall be between Malaysia and Korea).

    But as is the case with Harmanpreet, it wasn’t simply in regards to the targets.

    In a crew of energetic, extroverted characters, Harmanpreet is the quiet one. And whereas the crew is break up between Messi and Ronaldo followers, he brings each teams collectively and in addition throws Xavi within the combine. For, movies of those three gamers are stated to be populating his laborious drive.

    On most days on the nationwide camp in Bengaluru, he’ll be watching outdated movies, not of himself, however of those footballers and, at occasions, even basketball gamers.

    If not sports activities, biopics are on his watchlist. “I try to learn a lot from the lives of other players,” he had instructed this paper in an earlier interview. Back then, he’d simply completed watching The Redeem Team. “It was so good; you get to learn about their mentality, the way they think. It’s inspiring.”

    Now that is a superb save from @KrishanBPathak

    Are you watching #INDvPAKonFanCode ❓ pic.twitter.com/KDNpAkFjyF

    — FanCode (@FanCode) August 9, 2023

    He’s, most of the time, the final to go away the coaching floor too. After everybody’s gone, Harmanpreet shall be alone on the pitch with the ball, determining new angles and imagining passes.

    “I visualise alone. I take 3-4 balls and then create match situations. If I have to play a ball on the run, then what can I do? Or if I simply have to split the defence… That practice comes in handy sometimes during a match because I don’t waste an extra second thinking.”

    Complete participant

    It’s a glimpse into the thoughts of a participant who is generally recognized for his brawn. Harmanpreet’s drag-flicks, which fly at speeds of as much as 150kmph, are the stuff of legend – he’s at present the top-scorer of the match – however his different delicate contributions with utmost nonchalance are equally breathtaking.

    Like the second within the second half in opposition to Pakistan on Wednesday. Harmanpreet received a free hit in a seemingly innocent place close to the half-line. Even because the Pakistani gamers have been moving into their positions, Harmanpreet noticed a spot of their defence and with lazy magnificence, slapped the ball from the half-line into their ‘D’. Akashdeep Singh received a contact to it however not sufficient to deflect the ball into the objective.

    It’s in defence, although, the place Harmanpreet’s interventions are decisive.

    One of the perfect drag sparkles on this planet for a purpose!@13harmanpreet#INDvPAKonFanCode #HACT2023 pic.twitter.com/voryv6qSF5

    — FanCode (@FanCode) August 9, 2023

    When Pakistan started sharply, coming into India’s ‘D’ inside the primary minute and scoring a objective, his determination to problem the decision led to the strike being overturned. When their attackers tried to get behind the defence, he remained a step forward, learn the strikes and calmly intercepted their passes.

    This was the pattern even on the World Cup earlier this yr, the place he was panned for not changing the dozen or so penalty corners that got here India’s approach.

    Harmanpreet performs as a free man, who is actually a defensive problem-solver; a participant who operates within the area between defence and midfield, stopping the ball from coming into the circle.

    “My responsibility is to block the hotline (the direct line between the attacker and the goal),” Harmanpreet stated. “I have to communicate with the midfielders and forwards. If their man is in a particular position, I have to tell them to mind their man.”

    One for the historical past books📘
    Reliving the unforgettable India vs. Pakistan epic showdown by means of compelling visuals 💯

    🇮🇳 India 3-0 Pakistan 🇵🇰#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HACT2023 #IndvsPak@CMO_Odisha @CMOTamilnadu @asia_hockey @FIH_Hockey @IndiaSports activities @Media_SAI @sports_odisha pic.twitter.com/KOVx59Vo3h

    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 9, 2023

    Communicating with teammates, blocking passing channels, launching assaults, difficult the umpires’ calls and taking drag-flicks. If he’s overburdened, Harmanpreet isn’t displaying it.

    “If you are casual on the field, then you get lazy; that spark is missing. Your mind is sharp, responsibility hai, communication hai; you are constantly analysing the game even when on the field,” he stated. “I enjoy all these responsibilities.”

    The duty will solely enhance as India mount a problem to reclaim the Asian Games gold. And they’ll depend on their fortunate quantity 13.

  • Asian Champions Trophy: India’s defence-oriented technique faces check in opposition to aggressive Malaysia

    Since the Four Nations Tournament in Barcelona late July and until their recreation in opposition to Japan on Friday evening within the Asian Champions Trophy, India have scored 13 objectives in six matches and conceded eight. Having come on board as head coach solely in April, these are nonetheless early days for Craig Fulton, who’s trying to change India’s fashion of play with extra emphasis on defending than they’re used to. To learn an excessive amount of into these numbers within the honeymoon interval can be stretching it too far, however these video games are additionally shelling some mild into the gradual progress that the crew is making.

    For a crew that’s historically used to taking part in attacking recreation, Fulton’s techniques are the precise reverse. In soccer phrases, it may solely be in comparison with Ajax Amsterdam, the pioneers of Total Football bringing in Jose Mourinho. Having caught to their attacking recreation underneath Graham Reid, who made the crew press loads tougher than they often do, which resulted in them typically getting caught within the counter assaults, Fulton has been constructing the aspect from the again.

    On Sunday, India are lined as much as face Malaysia, a crew that has introduced their attacking recreation to the fore and is inflicting all types of issues to opponents. The fixture will undoubtedly be probably the most difficult for India because the Malaysian aspect look so slick on the sector with their actions, which is certain to check the Indian defence.

    Players of the Indian (white) and Japanese males’s hockey crew in motion throughout an Asian Champions Trophy 2023 match at Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, in Chennai, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. (PTI Photo)

    Irrespective of how far the ahead line has penetrated into the opposition’s half, it’s laborious to see the backline step out of their field, preferring to be in proper positions always. Yet, six weeks from the Hangzhou Asian Games India are displaying the kind of complications that they wish to deal with on the earliest quite than go away it too late.

    Out of the 13 objectives they’ve scored, just one aim has come by way of subject aim. The relaxation have been by means of penalty corners, the place their conversion fee was abysmal to say the least in opposition to Japan on Friday. Out of 14 penalty corners, they transformed just one as India’s drag-flickers – Jugraj Singh, Varun Kumar and captain Harmanpreet Singh – have been fended off by Japan’s tight defence. Although that they had scored six of their seven in opposition to China by way of penalty corners on Thursday, it was laborious to overlook how India lacked the ending touches within the circle.

    Although the midfielders overcame tight gaps and launched a wave of assaults that penetrated Japan midfielders, the ahead line struggled to transform them. “We started the game really well, we just couldn’t find the connections in front of the goal in the first 15-20 minutes… It’s every coach’s concern if you are not converting your chances, whether PCs or field goals (but) nothing changes, it’s a tournament, one game at a time,” Fulton stated.

    With the rating tied 1-1, and Japan’s defence displaying no indicators of cracking, India did all they might to win a penalty nook, which resulted in some collective sighs going throughout the bottom. “It depends on the player what he decides to do and we back them in doing that. They have the license to shoot whenever they want to but if a player is winning a penalty corner, it is their choice,” Fulton stated.

    Players of the Indian (white) and Japanese males’s hockey crew in motion throughout an Asian Champions Trophy 2023 hockey match at Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, in Chennai, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. (PTI Photo)

    Mid-fielder Nilakanta Sharma revealed that the crew used the Four Nations match in Barcelona to get used to Fulton’s techniques, which they’re but to totally adapt to. “We had a good tournament in Spain. The European teams had prepared well and so did we. The upcoming Asian Games is a very important tournament for us. But our focus now is to approach this tournament game by game. Under Reid it was all about playing attacking hockey. But under Fulton, he believes in defending to win. Under Reid we used to play full press hockey but Fulton feels that if we press full then countering may be a problem for us,” Nilakanta stated.

    Nilakanta admitted that the change of techniques did trigger a couple of points, however with each passing recreation they’re getting higher. “So in Spain we were a bit confused. But as we played, we learnt and now every player has understood the style of play. So every player now has a dual role. I play as an attacking midfielder and I also switch to a defensive midfielder as and when needed and I can replace an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder as per the situation,” he stated.

    Coach Fulton says that the crew is ‘one phase away from doing what we want to do’. “We want our players to shoot, that’s our number one objective and the players have the licence to do so. They then make the next best decision based on instinct and we back that.”

  • ‘We are one phase away from finishing the way we want’: Craig Fulton on missed penalty nook possibilities vs Japan

    Head coach Craig Fulton admitted that the Indian males’s hockey crew’s penalty nook conversion fee within the drawn match in opposition to Japan is regarding however assured that his facet shouldn’t be far-off from ending issues completely.

    India managed to attain just one aim off 15 penalty corners within the 1-1 draw in opposition to reigning Asian Games champions Japan on the Asian Champions Trophy on Friday.

    It was a contrasting show in comparison with the hosts’ convincing 7-2 conquer China within the opener, the place six of the objectives got here by way of the corners.

    “It’s every coach’s concern if you are not converting your chances, whether corners or field goals. So, you always try to work out ‘why?’ and try to find a solution for that and combinations of players together,” Fulton mentioned on the post-match press convention.

    “It’s not that we are not playing in our system. We are playing the way we want to play, and even tonight (Friday), we had two-three really good counters. We are one phase away from finishing the way we want to.”

    However, Fulton gave due credit score to the Japanese for defending effectively and making India toil to realize success by way of corners and even area objectives.

    “Japan defended and attacked well. They were moving well. At half-time, we regrouped. We showed in the following quarters how we got back into the game. They also defended their penalty corners well.” “We didn’t convert (our corners), but not for the lack of trying. It’s a good lesson, and we will go again,” he added.

    It was additionally famous in opposition to Japan that the Indians primarily targeted on gaining the penalty corners contained in the field and kept away from taking common photographs on the aim.

    However, Fulton backed his gamers to resolve at that given cut-off date and was delighted that his facet gained a number of corners and creating sufficient goal-scoring possibilities.

    “It’s situational. We want our players to shoot. They have the license to shoot. They make the next best decision on instinct about what’s in front of them, and we back that.” “The proven fact that we’re successful a whole lot of corners is sweet. We have had a number of photographs. But we’re nonetheless within the match. We obtained a draw out of this sport.

    “Of course, we wanted to win it and had enough chances. It’s not a nice feeling, but we have got to get better and be ready for the next game,” he concluded.

    We are beneath no strain, says Harmanpreet Singh

    India’s ahead line was responsible of losing loads of possibilities as ace drag flicker and skipper Harmanpreet Singh emerged as the house crew’s lone goal-scorer of the match.

    Asked if there was any strain on him or his crew to transform penalty corners into objectives, Harmanpreet mentioned “We have no pressure.”

    “We preserve making an attempt to place and do our greatest. (Japan’s) defence was good. We had been following the directions that we acquired. So, we all know what we have to do within the subsequent tie (in opposition to Malaysia).

    “We will try to attack the areas that gave us goals in the opening game (vs China). We would also try something new,” he signed off.

  • Beyond the boundaries: Meeting mates, exchanging items and dusting up reminiscences

    When the Pakistan staff crossed the Wagah Border on Tuesday morning, two acquainted faces awaited coach Muhammad Saqlain and his assistant Rehan Butt. Those of their previous rivals however shut mates, Kamalpreet Singh and Jugraj Singh, now an SP in Amritsar. “They could have chosen to surprise us, but when we told them we were coming via Wagah border, they couldn’t hide the excitement and told us that they would be waiting,” says Saqlain.

    Hugs and handshakes adopted, images have been clicked and lunch was taken collectively. “When I got to know they are travelling via Wagah Border, I decided to go and meet them,” says Jugraj.

    “We have been close friends since our playing days and hadn’t met in a long time. We had lunch together while reminiscing about our playing days, catching up on everything that’s happening now and asking about the well-being of the families,” he provides.

    The photograph of assembly Jugraj, the ace drag-flicker, adorns the highest of Saqlain’s Facebook timeline. Jugraj and Kamalpreet had introduced items for his or her mates throughout the border. Those have been moments when the strain between the 2 nations, off the sector, melted in a present of heat and affection.

    Memories rolled forwards and backwards. Saqlain remembers an incident that he retains near the center. “In 2005, I was the captain of the team that was here, and Kamal was blessed with a daughter. His parents told me to name the child, saying it was the guest’s honour to do that. I named her Rehmat, since it was by the grace of God,” Saqlain remembers.

    Time to catch up

    Though placing on a robust present within the Asian Champions Trophy is their major goal, they wish to meet up with previous mates too. Butt, among the finest forwards of his time, is hoping to satisfy Gagan Ajit Singh and Deepak Thakur. “They were busy when we arrived, but hopefully on the way back we will meet. Every time I come to Amritsar, I usually tend to watch their games, which are popular back home. If I don’t get the time, I will take CDs with me. I’ve told them (Gagan and Deepak) to keep it ready,” Butt mentioned.

    For Saqlain, assembly Gagan can be a chance to tease him, one thing each did usually throughout their taking part in days, earlier than Jugraj brokered peace. “Gagan was a very close friend and we used to spend our time together off the field. But on it, we used to rile each other up, tease, score goals and make each other angry. Eventually we decided – Jugraj was the mediator – not to fight on the field, especially since people were watching. But aggression is part of the game. Without that, the game loses charm,” Saqlain mentioned.

    While there’s loads of catching as much as do, Saqlain is eagerly ready for Dhanraj Pillay to show up. Although it’s unclear when the Indian nice would come to Chennai, Saqlain is planning to hunt his time. “We also want to see our guru, Dhanraj Pillay. I want my players to meet him. If he comes, I will request him to give them a lecture. I used to like Dhanraj a lot when I was a player,” he says.

    He recollects a fanboy incident. “This is a little embarrassing, but while we were playing in Australia, I was sitting around Dhanraj and he was drinking coke. I asked him if he can give me some as by drinking whatever is left, I will also get the same skills as him,” Saqlain mentioned.

    Familiar metropolis

    Chennai too is a well-known metropolis for them. The final time after they got here right here, for the Asia Cup, they explored the town with minimal fuss about their safety. That was a unique period, however one they fondly reminisce about. “We have fond memories of not just playing here but how we were welcomed. This time too, it is no different,” Saqlain says.

    With an hour to go for his or her recreation in opposition to Malaysia, Saqlain and Butt met V Baskaran, the previous India captain and coach. When they took the sector for his or her opening fixture in opposition to Malaysia, they might hear the Maghrib from the mosque behind the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium. They would have travelled again in time, as they used to supply prayers on the mosque of their previous visits. A few hours later after their facet, comprising largely junior gamers, misplaced to Malaysia 3-1, Butt deviated from his path to the staff bus to satisfy a pal, whom he final met in 2007.

    Having performed in an period the place India and Pakistan have been inseparable in main tournaments and crossed the border continuously for Test collection, a number of gamers are shut mates. But over the previous decade, political tensions have restricted their conferences to social media. “Our relationship is very close. I have gone to their place, they’ve visited mine,” says Saqlain.

    He needs the 2 nations to resume their sporting ties. “So I feel the series should resume, be it cricket or hockey. Both nations need to show large-heartedness. That’s my request, even to India – you’ve progressed so much as a country, a lot superior, please open your heart a little more so that you can accommodate a few more people,” Saqlain says.

    He urges the 2 nations to take a leaf out of the previous. “In 1999, PM (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji played a very positive role and even started Samjhauta Express. So it’s important to have continuity of the process,” he says.

    “The amount of talent our two nations have, I haven’t seen anywhere else in the world. We have to let bygones be bygones and look at the future together. Everyone will benefit if we do that,” he provides, trying ahead to reviving previous reminiscences and making new ones.

  • Bronze comes with actuality verify for Indian hockey

    The Asian Champions Trophy would possibly lack an total context however for India, the final one week has proven that their path to an Asian Games gold, and thru that to the Paris Olympics, gained’t be as simple as many would have imagined.
    On virtually all counts – be it depth of expertise or the quantity of funding, the variety of matches they play or the size of current achievements – the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallists are head and shoulders above the remainder of Asia. Curiously although, the crew has struggled to translate that dominance on the sphere, as evidenced by their efficiency in Dhaka over the previous week.
    South Korea scripted a shocking comeback, equalising with 0.01 seconds remaining, to beat Japan 4-2 through a tie-breaker to win the gold medal. India, in the meantime, huffed their well past a resilient Pakistan, who haven’t certified for the final two Olympics, beating them 4-3 to complete third within the five-team match. It was a basic India-Pakistan match: free-flowing assaults, porous defences, missing construction and self-discipline however offering loads of targets.
    But wanting on the greater image, nevertheless, the bronze medal on the Asian Champions Trophy holds little significance. If something, it has solely prolonged India’s look forward to a continental title.
    The final time India outrightly gained an Asian competitors was 4 years in the past, when the Sjoerd Marijne-coached crew clinched the Asia Cup. Since then, they’ve misplaced within the semifinals twice – within the Asian Champions Trophy this week and on the 2018 Asian Games – and the one ultimate they reached throughout this era, on the ACT in 2018, received washed out resulting from heavy rain.

    India solely have themselves accountable for being unable to stamp their authority on Asian hockey, regardless of routinely pulling off podium finishes at international occasions. On most events, complacency and indiscipline have contributed to the slip-ups. And India almost tripped as soon as once more on Wednesday towards Pakistan.
    Nothing illustrated this higher than India’s plight within the closing phases of the match. After overcoming a 2-1 half-time deficit, India secured a two-goal cushion within the ultimate quarter. But quickly after going 4-2 up, they relaxed, allowed Pakistan to cut back the margin, then made clumsy tackles in desperation, resulting in the crew getting decreased to 9 males, which almost value them the match.
    Tough act to comply with
    The motive India completed on the rostrum on the Olympics was that they caught to the sport plan, have been all the time robust on the ball, made sharp runs off possession, performed aggressively with out sacrificing their construction, and maintained a excessive degree of self-discipline.
    Half of the gamers from the medal-winning facet have been rested for this match as coach Graham Reid used this occasion to provide alternatives to some gamers who hadn’t performed internationally for greater than two years. The lack of publicity confirmed all through the competitors by way of decision- making with the ball, off-the-ball operating and the final lack of ability to deal with the stress and depth of the video games.

    In the final two years, owing to the pandemic, India had targeted single-mindedly on getting ready for the Olympics. But the Junior World Cup and the Asian Champions Trophy have proven the quantity of labor that must be achieved to deliver these outdoors the Olympic core group as much as normal.
    The incontrovertible fact that India fielded a largely second-string facet on this competitors can’t be an excuse both as different groups have had it worse. Pakistan, as an illustration, couldn’t even prepare correctly for a few years resulting from paucity of funds whereas South Korea hadn’t had significant worldwide video games for this period. Japan, like India, had rested a few of their Olympic stars. Still, India couldn’t beat South Korea, misplaced to Japan and struggled to beat Pakistan. Malaysia, who didn’t journey to Dhaka resulting from Covid-related journey restrictions however will most actually compete on the Hangzhou Asian Games the place the stakes will likely be greater, will solely make it trickier for India.

    Since the aim of this competitors was to provide the gamers some match time, India gained’t panic but. But because the crew heads right into a busy 2022, the Asian Champions Trophy will function a well timed wake-up name.

  • Asian Champions Trophy: India beat Pakistan to win comfort bronze

    The Asian Champions Trophy may lack an total context however for India, the final one week has proven that their path to an Asian Games gold, thus to the Paris Olympics, gained’t be as simple as many would have imagined.
    On virtually all counts – be it the depth of expertise or the quantity of funding, the variety of matches they play or the size of current achievements – the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalists are head and shoulders above the remainder of Asia. Curiously, although, the workforce has struggled to translate that dominance on the sector, as evidenced by their efficiency in Dhaka over the previous week.
    South Korea scripted a surprising comeback, equalising with 0.01 seconds remaining, to beat Japan 4-2 through tie-breakers to win the gold medal. India, in the meantime, huffed their well past a resilient Pakistan, who haven’t certified for the final two Games, beating them 4-3 to complete third within the five-team event. It was a traditional India-Pakistan match: free-flowing assaults, porous defence, missing construction and self-discipline and loads of targets.

    From an even bigger image standpoint, nevertheless, the bronze medal on the Asian Champions Trophy holds little significance. If something, it has solely prolonged India’s look ahead to a continental title.
    The final time India outrightly gained an Asian competitors was 4 years in the past, when the Sjoerd Marijne-coached workforce clinched the Asia Cup. Since then, they’ve misplaced within the semifinal twice – within the Asian Champions Trophy this week and on the 2018 Asian Games – and the one closing they reached throughout this era, on the ACT in 2018, obtained washed out attributable to heavy rains.
    India solely have themselves in charge for being unable to stamp their authority on Asian hockey, regardless of routinely pulling off podium finishes in world occasions. On most events, complacency and indiscipline have contributed to the slip-ups. And India almost tripped as soon as once more due to that on Wednesday towards Pakistan.
    Nothing illustrated this higher than India’s plight within the closing phases of the match. After overcoming a 2-1 half-time deficit, India secured a two-goal cushion within the closing quarter. But quickly after going 4-2 up, they relaxed, allowed Pakistan to scale back the margin, then made clumsy tackles in desperation, resulting in the workforce getting lowered to 9 males, which almost price them the win.
    The purpose India completed on the rostrum on the Olympics was they caught to the sport plan, have been at all times robust on the ball, made sharp runs off possession, performed aggressively with out sacrificing their construction and maintained a excessive stage of self-discipline.
    Half of the gamers from the medal-winning facet have been rested as coach Graham Reid used this event to provide alternatives to some gamers who hadn’t performed internationally for greater than two years. The lack of publicity confirmed all through the competitors by way of resolution making with the ball, off-the-ball operating and the overall lack of ability to manage up with the stress and depth of the video games.
    In the final two years, owing to the pandemic, India had focussed single-mindedly on making ready the gamers for the Olympics. But the Junior World Cup and the Asian Champions Trophy have proven the quantity of labor that must be completed to deliver these exterior the Olympic core group as much as scratch.

    The incontrovertible fact that India fielded a second-string facet on this competitors can’t be an excuse both as different groups have had it worse. Pakistan, as an illustration, couldn’t even practice correctly for a few years attributable to a paucity of funds whereas South Korea hadn’t had significant worldwide video games for this period. Japan, like India, had rested a few of their Olympic stars.Still, India couldn’t beat South Korea, misplaced to Japan and struggled to beat Pakistan. Malaysia, who didn’t journey to Dhaka attributable to Covid-related journey restrictions however will most actually compete on the Hangzhou Asian Games the place the stakes might be excessive, will solely make it trickier for India.
    Since the aim of this competitors was to provide the gamers some match time, India gained’t panic but. But because the workforce heads right into a busy 2022, the Asian Champions Trophy will function a well timed wake-up name.

  • Korea maintain India to 2-2 attract males’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey

    Defending champions and Olympic bronze-medallists India have been held to a 2-2 draw by a preventing Korea of their opening match of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy males’s hockey match right here on Tuesday.
    Playing their first match after the historic Tokyo Olympics marketing campaign, India began brightly and scored within the fourth minute by way of Lalit Upadhyay earlier than vice-captain Harmanpreet Singh transformed a penalty nook within the 18th minute to double their lead.
    Trailing 0-2, Korea fought again after the change of ends and scored by way of Jonghyun Jang within the forty first minute and Sunghyun Kim within the forty sixth minute to stun the favourites and draw stage.

    An intense recreation of Hockey, however it ends all sq. at Dhaka.
    🇰🇷 2:2 🇮🇳#IndiaKaGame #HeroACT2021 pic.twitter.com/KoWf8lkkvc
    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) December 14, 2021
    Korea grew in confidence because the match progressed and pressed the Indian defence arduous.
    The Manpreet Singh-led facet additionally had quite a few probabilities, together with penalty corners, however did not utilise the alternatives because the match resulted in a stalemate.

    Jaehyeon Kim in entrance of the Korea aim was the distinction between the 2 sides as he produced quite a few good saves to assist his facet steal some extent from the sport.
    The final encounter between the 2 sides resulted in a 1-1 draw within the final version of the match.
    India will subsequent play hosts Bangladesh on Wednesday.

  • Indian hockey prepares for subsequent Olympic cycle, beginning with Asian Champions Trophy

    Manpreet Singh couldn’t cease smiling whereas reflecting how a lot life has modified for him since that historic August morning, when he led the Indian hockey group to its first Olympic medal in 41 years.
    He now has a college named after him in his hometown Mithapur. He is the recipient of the nation’s highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna. Last month, his spouse gave delivery to their daughter. “It’s tough to express in words how much everything has changed,” Manpreet says.
    Not only for him.
    His teammate, drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh obtained married weeks after coming back from Tokyo, the place he’d scored a purpose in India’s dramatic win over Germany within the bronze-medal match. Manpreet teased his deputy for being holed up at a college campus in Bhubaneswar for the nationwide camp, days after getting hitched.
    The smiles, the laughter and the banter captured the temper of the group that’s nonetheless basking within the afterglow of Olympic success. Even as they proceed to benefit from the honeymoon interval, the rebuilding part for the Paris Olympics cycle has begun.
    It will replicate on Tuesday when India play their first match because the Games. They will take the sector towards South Korea in Dhaka of their opening match of the Asian Champions Trophy, which obtained delayed by a number of months as a result of pandemic. The group will put on a vastly totally different look in comparison with the one which received the medal in Tokyo 4 months in the past.
    Almost half of the gamers from the squad – together with inspirational goalkeeper PR Sreejesh – which completed on the rostrum in Tokyo, have been rested as head coach Graham Reid seems to be to rebuild the aspect, in addition to add to its depth, forward of a busy 2022, the 2023 World Cup and, finally, the Paris Olympics.

    Apart from Sreejesh, forwards Simranjeet Singh – who scored two objectives within the bronze-medal match – Gurjant Singh and Mandeep Singh, midfielder Nilakanta Sharma and defenders Amit Rohidas and Surender Kumar haven’t been included within the squad that has travelled to Dhaka. Centre-half Vivek Sagar Prasad has been rested after he led the U-21 group on the latest Junior World Cup whereas two members from the Tokyo group, defenders Rupinderpal Singh and Birendra Lakra, have introduced their retirements.
    Eye on the long run
    Reid, who has barely had any break because the Olympics, had mentioned whereas saying his choices that the gamers had been chosen with an concept to construct a ‘deep and strong squad’. “While selecting this team, we now must have our eyes on the future. It takes a deep and strong squad to build sustained success so players have to be given opportunities to perform,” he mentioned.
    Indian males’s hockey group for the Asian Champions Trophy. (Hockey India)
    The sharp decline in continental hockey, which has coincided with India’s regular progress, means the Asian Champions Trophy is a perfect stage for Reid to experiment.
    The match, the place India are the co-winners of the earlier version with Pakistan after the ultimate was washed out, doesn’t maintain any big-picture significance – the Asian Games gold medallists get an Olympic berth, the Asia Cup winners qualify for the World Cup however the Asian Champions Trophy gives no such context.
    The competitors obtained diluted much more after Malaysia, a group that continually punches above its weight and has been a continuing irritant for India, pulled out attributable to Covid-related issues. Pakistan, whom India play on the December 17, left for Dhaka with out their two goalkeepers after they had been denied visas. Siegfried Aikman, Pakistan’s new coach, must make do with the junior group goalkeepers who already had Bangladesh visas.
    Aikman’s former group, Asian Games gold medallists Japan, will hope to construct on the momentum they’ve gained due to the Olympics whereas South Korea, India’s first opponents, are not any extra a power they as soon as had been.
    In a shortened Olympic cycle, this provides Reid sufficient house to check gamers to arrange the group first for the Asian Games, the place India can seal the Olympic delivery, after which deal with the World Cup at residence adopted by the Paris Games.
    Filling Sreejesh’s sneakers
    Reid’s rapid focus will likely be on figuring out a alternative for Sreejesh, a seemingly inconceivable activity given the heroic function he performed in serving to India step on the Olympic podium. The veteran goalkeeper, a constant performer for a significant a part of the final decade, is prone to stay the first-choice custodian within the quick time period. The group administration, nevertheless, has hinted at wanting past him for the Paris Olympics. By then, Sreejesh will likely be 36 years outdated.
    This provides Krishan Pathak (24), a reserve on the Olympics, the possibility to stake a declare for a everlasting spot after spending years because the group’s backup goalkeeper. Suraj Karkera, who has been within the core group for the final Olympic cycle however didn’t get sufficient probabilities, too will get a possibility to indicate why he’s rated extremely by friends.
    “Suraj has come in for Sreejesh. He has been playing well for a long time and in Dhaka, he can show how much he has improved since the last time he played for India,” Manpreet mentioned.
    Karkera, 26, is acutely aware of the problem that awaits him. “It is always going to be hard to fill his (Sreejesh’s) shoes. We have been learning from him for so long. He shares his knowledge with all of us during goalpost training and gives us a lot of tips. So, I have a big responsibility,” he mentioned.

    The subsequent one week in Dhaka will even be essential for ahead Akashdeep Singh, who will look to claw his means again into the group after being dropped for the Olympics, and half a dozen younger gamers who will look to current their circumstances.
    Reid’s experimentation is prone to proceed even throughout subsequent 12 months’s FIH Pro League. But because the Olympic medallists make a return to the sector, their sights are firmly set on the following goal, the Paris Games. Tuesday will mark the start of a brand new journey in that course.
    ***
    New-look India
    With an eye fixed on subsequent 12 months’s Asian Games, the 2023 World Cup and the Paris Olympics, coach Graham Reid has named a vastly totally different squad in comparison with the one which completed on the rostrum in Tokyo. Below are the gamers who had been unnoticed, and people who have been included:
    Goalkeepers:
    In: Suraj Karkera; Out: PR Sreejesh; Retained: Krishan Bahadur Pathak
    Defenders:
    In: Gurinder Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Dipsan Tirkey, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Mandeep Mor; Out: Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Rupinderpal Singh, Birendra Lakra (each retired); Retained: Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar
    Midfielders
    In: Jaskaran Singh, Rajkumar Pal, Akashdeep Singh; Out: Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad; Retained: Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sumit
    Forwards:
    In: Gursahibjit Singh, Shilanand Lakra; Out: Simranjeet Singh, Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh; Retained: Shamsher Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh
    India’s schedule:
    December 14: vs South Korea; December 15: vs Bangladesh; December 17: vs Pakistan; December 19: vs Japan; December 21: Semifinals; December 22: Final

  • New cycle begins as Indian males tackle Korea in Asian Champions Trophy

    Olympic bronze medallist Indian males’s hockey staff will begin its new cycle with a bunch of children aiming to show their mettle when it begins its Asian Champions Trophy marketing campaign towards Korea right here on Tuesday.
    India have gained this prestigious occasion thrice since its inception in 2011 and have gained the earlier two editions held in 2016 in Kuantan, Malaysia and 2018 in Muscat, Oman.
    India will play their opening match towards Korea on December 14, adopted by their match towards hosts Bangladesh on the following day (December 15).
    Their third match might be towards arch-rivals Pakistan on December 17 and on December 19, they tackle Asian Games Champions Japan. The semi-finals and remaining might be held on December 21 and 22 respectively.
    Skipper Manpreet Singh emphasised on getting off to begin.
    “Korea is a good team and are very capable of slowing down our attack. In this same venue during the Asia Cup in 2017, we had drawn (1-1) against them in the league stage. Hence, it’s important we don’t get complacent against them and ensure our basics are right when we play them tomorrow,” he mentioned.

    Speaking concerning the significance of the match, Manpreet mentioned, “The tournament is quite an important one for us as it is our first tournament after the Tokyo Olympics. The new cycle has started for us. If we start well, then our confidence levels will go high,” he mentioned.
    Several children have been given an opportunity within the India squad for the match, and Manpreet went on to clarify why doing properly for them right here might be essential.

    “Youngsters have been given a chance to be a part of the squad because some of them were unable to get a chance over the past two years as the focus was on the core team preparing for the Olympics. The youngsters have been working hard for quite a while, and hence, they have been given a chance to prove themselves,” he added.
    Speaking on the staff’s health ranges earlier than the beginning of the match, the Indian skipper mentioned: “We are in fairly fine condition. We targeted quite a bit on our health on the current camp in Bhubaneswar.
    “We are looking forward to see how the other Asian teams have shaped up over these past two years. The tournament will be a good test for our squad,” he signed off.
    In the earlier version of this occasion held in Muscat, India had collectively lifted the title together with Pakistan as the ultimate was known as off on account of incessant rains.