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  • Breathless 60 minutes of India-England produce an entertaining 0-0 draw 

    The match ended the best way it started: a shot, a save and the attacker holding his head in disbelief, puzzled at how his goal-bound try was saved out. But Nicholas Bandurak wasn’t the one one left questioning. After the top of a breathless 60 minutes, gamers on either side of the pitch, the 2 dugouts and the 4 overflowing stands had been all equally astonished.

    The match that had all the pieces – breezy runs in the direction of the opponent’s circle, a dozen penalty corners, a glut of playing cards, a defender left with a bloody face, an attacker hobbling out clutching his hamstring, a disallowed aim and a goal-line clearance proper on the closing hooter – ended with nothing.

    After serving aim fests of their earlier 4 encounters, the legislation of averages lastly caught up with India and England as they performed out a dramatic goalless draw; a match that received’t be forgotten so simply for its rigidity in addition to the ebb and movement.

    It was like two heavyweight boxers going toe-to-toe with one another, throwing a flurry of punches proper till the ultimate bell rang and falling on their knees in sheer exhaustion. There was no winner and in some way, it appears like the fitting factor to have occurred.

    Here’s a glimpse on the neck-to-neck match between England and India.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2023 #StarsBecomeLegends #ENGvsIND @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports activities @Media_SAI @EnglandHockey pic.twitter.com/aFzH1MfMYU

    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 15, 2023

    The draw means each India and England are formally by way of to the subsequent spherical. However, the combat for the highest spot – and a direct quarterfinal berth – will go right down to the ultimate matchday on Thursday, when India tackle Wales and England, who at the moment prime Pool D, face Spain.

    Hardik’s damage scare

    India will now be compelled to go all-out in opposition to World Cup debutant Wales, who misplaced 5-1 to Spain earlier within the day, to face an opportunity to surpass England’s superior aim distinction. For India, topping the group can have a twin benefit – not solely will it guarantee them a spot within the final 8 however the further relaxation days that include it’ll additionally give Hardik Singh, the workforce’s greatest outfield participant within the opening two video games, an opportunity to realize full health.

    Hardik left the sector within the fifty fifth minute after selecting up a hamstring damage and didn’t play any additional position within the match. It sparked considerations over the seriousness of the damage though coach Graham Reid performed it down, saying the knock didn’t look as unhealthy as initially thought.

    For India, a fully-fit Hardik is important, particularly on turnovers when he has wreaked havoc in opposition defences together with his ingenious play. Hardik has a knack for successful possession in the course of the park and recognizing house in entrance of him to glide ahead. On Friday, he was a continuing thorn within the English defence together with his marauding runs. But India’s profligacy in entrance of the aim meant the alternatives he created went begging.

    It felt as if their primary expertise like trapping and passing had deserted the Indian forwards, who lacked composure within the closing third. The forwards had been fed with scintillating defence-splitting passes, with defender Harmanpreet Singh offering such balls greater than as soon as, and introduced with easy tap-in alternatives by the midfielders however in some way, the facet that’s not had an issue find the again of the online in current months couldn’t discover its scoring contact.

    Strong Indian defence

    India, however, excelled in a division that’s failed them because the Tokyo Games – defence. Reid, regardless of being left with combined emotions concerning the draw, seemed greater than content material that his workforce conjured up its second consecutive clear sheet, which wasn’t a straightforward process in opposition to a facet that’s introduced cricket’s ‘Bazball’ strategy to hockey.

    You didn’t actually need to see the match to know that England had been on the ascendency within the first two quarters. Their dominance may be heard – the sound of the ball being thwacked from one English stick to a different, a determined PR Sreejesh barking directions to his teammates and the deafening silence that emanated from the stands which have produced earsplitting noise when India are on the offensive.

    England goalkeeper Oliver Payne, who pulled off a few respectable saves, stated after the sport he was smiling underneath his helmet, embracing the environment. His teammates, nonetheless, had been left grimacing by a strong Indian defence.

    In the primary two quarters, India, in Reid’s phrases, had been ‘off the pace’, unable to maintain up with the short play on transition by the England forwards who received seven penalty corners within the first half itself.

    But India’s defence was as soon as once more as much as the duty, particularly the workforce’s first rushers, be it Manpreet Singh whose courageous runs stopped Sam Ward’s fierce drag-flicks or Amit Rohidas, who didn’t hesitate to place his physique on the road in entrance of his residence crowd to maintain England’s photographs at bay. The incontrovertible fact that each Indian goalkeepers – Sreejesh within the first quarter and Krishan Pathak within the second – didn’t need to make a single save from penalty corners factors on the effectivity of India’s first wave of rushers, who blocked all angles.

    The missed penalty nook probabilities pissed off England as India steadily wrested the initiative and commenced to impose themselves. After the change of ends, Reid demanded two issues from his gamers – to match England’s tempo on transitions and never concede penalty corners.

    Pool D has begun to take form. This is the place the groups stand on the finish of Day 3.#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame #HWC2023 #StarsBecomeLegends #ENGvsIND @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports activities @Media_SAI @EnglandHockey @rfe_hockey @HockeyWales pic.twitter.com/TV8aotx5J0

    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 15, 2023

    It seemed like they’d carried out simply what the coach stated till the workforce conceded a nook with simply 19 seconds remaining. Bandurak, who has a penchant for scoring match-winning objectives, stood on prime of the ‘D’ and unleashed a fierce flick which beat Pathak to his left. But behind him, Surender Kumar was there on the road to deflect the ball away from the Indian aim and guarantee India didn’t throw the sport away on the demise like they’ve so many occasions previously.

    Other outcome

    Spain 5 Wales 1

    Pool D desk

    Team      P     W     D       L       GD       Pts

    England  2     1     1      0        5          4

    India        2     1     1      0       2           4

    Spain       2     1     0     1        2          3

    Wales      2     0     0      2       -9          0

  • Manpreet Singh to steer full-strength crew as Hockey India proclaims squad for Commonwealth Games 2022

    Hockey India on Monday named a full-strength males’s crew for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Manpreet Singh is again to steer the crew, and drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh has been named as his deputy.

    While PR Sreejesh is a part of the full-strength 18-member squad, goalkeeper Suraj Karkera and forwards Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh, who had been a part of the FIH Pro League, are lacking from the squad.

    Notably, Hockey India had initially determined to ship a second-string crew to the Commonwealth Games as the main target was on the Asian Games, which is a qualifier for the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, with the Asian Games getting postponed as a consequence of Covid-19 issues in host nation China, the emphasis is on doing effectively on the Commonwealth Games, beginning July 28.

    The Indian crew has been grouped in Pool B together with England, Canada, Wales and Ghana. The two-time former silver medallists will start their marketing campaign on July 31 in opposition to Ghana. India had completed fourth on the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

    Manpreet led the Indian crew to a historic bronze medal on the Olympic Games in Tokyo final 12 months and he’ll take over the reins from Amit Rohidas, who was the captain for the FIH Pro League tour of Belgium and the Netherlands.

    CAMP IN BENGALURU BEFORE CWG

    “We have gone with a tried-and-tested team for the Commonwealth Games. These players have the experience of playing top teams in high-pressure games in the FIH Pro League which was good exposure for us ahead of the prestigious quadrennial event,” chief coach Graham Reid stated.

    “After a brief break when we return home from the Netherlands, we will resume camp in SAI, Bengaluru where we will analyze our performance against Belgium and Netherlands.

    “While there are various takeaways from this outing in FIH Pro League, there absolutely are a number of areas that we will enhance upon forward of the Commonwealth Games.”

    INDIA MEN’S HOCKEY SQUAD FOR CWG 2022

    GOALKEEPERS: PR Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak

    DEFENDERS: Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh (VC), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh.

    MIDFIELDERS: Manpreet Singh (C), Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Nilakanta Sharma

    FORWARDS: Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek.

  • FIH Pro League: Hendrickx strikes twice as Belgium beat India 3-2

    Alexander Hendrickx struck a brace as Belgium notched up an exciting 3-2 victory over India within the second match of the two-leg FIH Pro Hockey League match right here on Sunday.

    Hendrickx (forty ninth, 59th) produced two targets within the fourth quarter to go together with a thirty third minute objective from Nicolas de Kerpel because the Olympic champions fought again from a 0-1 deficit to get the higher of India, a day after being shocked by the guests 4-5 in a shootout. For India, Abhishek (twenty fifth) had put India forward, whereas Mandeep Singh (60) scored one other objective simply moments earlier than the hooter. With this win, world champions moved as much as 2nd spot on the factors desk, whereas India had been on the third.

    India will now tackle Netherlands subsequent week.

    Belgium managed the sport early on with higher ball possession and likewise earned the primary penalty nook when Sreejesh saved one together with his foot however within the course of ended up pushing the ball into one of many Indian defender’s foot. However, Belgium squandered the chance.

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    India had an opportunity on the fifth minute when Jarmanpreet despatched a cross from the proper however Sukhjeet ended up sending it over the bar.

    India loved higher possession through the ultimate phases of the primary quarter and Jugraj had created a chance with an extended ball by way of the middle however the guests faltered with the end as Belgium defence was as much as the job.

    Jarmanpreet earned a penalty nook 5 minutes into the second quarter however Harmanpreet’s shot was saved by goalie V Vanasch beautifully.

    In the twenty fifth minute, India produced the breakthrough with an outstanding discipline objective with Abhishek guiding the ball into the online after arrange by Gurjant Singh, who beautifully mixed with Vivek Sagar Prasad contained in the circle.

    Belgium got here again robust searching for an equalizer however the defence held on with PR Sreejesh effecting an outstanding save because the second quarter ended with India main 1-0.

    In the thirty third minute, Nicolas de Kerpel introduced the hosts again into the sport with a decent end after being fed by Arthur de Sloover. A decent battle of supremacy ensued however India’s defence stood agency, particularly Sreejesh producing some very good saves to disclaim Belgium.

    In the third quarter, India had been diminished to 10-man after Akashdeep acquired a inexperienced card.

    Things modified within the fourth quarter when within the forty eighth minute, Surender Kumar conceded a PC and Alexander Hendrickx rapidly put Belgium forward with a lightening quick shot that went by way of the legs of Sreejesh.

    Four minutes left for the tip of fourth quarter, India earned a penalty nook however goalie Vanasch Vincent put his proper hand on the best way to disclaim the guests.

    On minute shy of the hour’s mark, Belgium earned one other penalty stroke, a lot to the dismay of Indian camp and Hendrickx transformed it, getting the ball previous Sreejesh excessive on the web to make it 3-1 of their favour.

    However, a preventing India virtually pulled off a heist when Mandeep Singh slept previous the Belgium goalkeeper to scale back the margin.

    With simply seconds left on the clock, Vivek then produced a sensational hit on the goalpost however it went off course as one other thrilling contest got here to an finish.

  • Sreejesh saves penalty stroke, Indian males shock Olympic champions Belgium 5-4 in FIH Pro League

    Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh saved a penalty stroke in an exhilarating shoot out after making some breathtaking saves in regulation time because the Indian males’s workforce shocked Olympic champions Belgium 5-4 within the first match of the two-legged FIH Pro Hockey League right here on Saturday.

    The Indian workforce was down 1-3 with simply eight minutes left within the match however made it 3-3 to power a penalty shoot out. Sreejesh foiled an try from Alexander Hendrickx, who was taking his third PS, when the shoot out was locked 4-4 and Akashdeep Singh discovered the online to make it 5-4 for the Tokyo Games bronze medallists.

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    Sreejesh, as ordinary, was good beneath the bar, foiling plenty of makes an attempt from the hosts all through the match however his two saves within the last quarter proved to be essential.

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    The eventful first quarter led to a goalless stalemate with Sreehesh doing a improbable job beneath the bar, making two saves.

    It was India who had the primary alternative to open the scoring however each the brief corners went abegging as the house goalie foiled these makes an attempt together with his rock strong defence.

    Akashdeep too fluffed a shot close to the goalpost which on every other day he would have flicked contained in the put up.

    However, early within the second quarter, India discovered the online when Abhishek’s shot rebounded off the custodian’s leg and Shamsher Singh (18′) tapped the excessive ball into the online after it got here off the put up.

    Belgium discovered the equaliser via Cedric Charlier (21′), who deflected a move from Nicolas de Kerpel in lightening fast time. It was Arthur van Doren, who pushed it in direction of Kerpel from the left flank.

    Both the groups bought a penalty nook every however didn’t utilise.

    The hosts broke the impasse within the third quarter with Simon Gougnard (36′) slotting a fierce hit house after being fed by Florent van Aubel, who managed the excessive ball properly to push it in direction of his teammate.

    Sreejesh saved India from extra ignominy when he made two heroic saves, parrying the ball away together with his stick, stretched absolutely on his proper.

    De Kerpel, although, lastly breached the defence with a livid hit off a penalty nook to make it 3-1.
    India got a lifeline within the match when Manpreet Singh received a penalty which Harmanpreet transformed and two minutes from the hooter, Jarmanpreet Singh discovered the equaliser via a brief nook.

    India opted for a variation as Jugraj let it slip in direction of Jarmanpreet from behind his again after faking a stroke, and the latter blasted that into the online.

  • Asia Cup: Japan crush India 5-2, Sardar Singh-coached crew taking a look at exit door

    A brand new-look Indian crew paid for its inexperience and profligacy with Asian champions Japan soundly thrashing them 5-2 in a bunch A league match of the lads’s Asia Cup hockey championship right here on Tuesday.

    Having drawn in opposition to Pakistan within the opening sport, India’s probabilities after this defeat will likely be badly dented as even an enormous win in opposition to Indonesia within the final sport won’t be sufficient for qualification to the knock-out levels.

    Ken Nagayoshi, Kosei Kawabe (twice), Ryomi Ooka and Koji Yamasaki scored for Japan whereas Pawan Rajbhar and Uttam Singh discovered the goal for the Indians.

    However, the youthful crop of gamers didn’t measure up in opposition to the Japanese, who seemed extra organised and hit India repeatedly on the counters.

    The two seniors — Birendra Lakra and SV Sunil — seemed effectively previous their prime and couldn’t make any tangible distinction with their performances.

    “First two quarters were very tough because we didn’t get into any rhythm. We got better in the last two quarters but didn’t create many chances,” mentioned Lakra, the India captain.

    Full Time! India put in a valiant effort however was defeated by Japan by three objectives in right now’s Hero Asia Cup in Jakarta, hoping for a greater sport within the upcoming matches.

    🇮🇳 2-5 🇯🇵#IndiaKaGame #HockeyIndia #HeroAsiaCup #MatchDay @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports activities @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/sMkdGjBaan

    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) May 24, 2022

    “In the final quarter, we lost our defensive structure and conceded a couple of goals. Also we lost two men and that had an effect,” Lakra added.

    India may have gone forward within the fifth minute of the primary half itself when 20-year-old Karthi Selvam saved an inch good cross from broad left for veteran SV Sunil, who was inches wanting laying his stick for a tap-in.

    The first quarter was all about attempting to get management of the midfield with rookie Indian gamers shedding lots of possession throughout the part of play.

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    But, to their delight, the Japanese additionally didn’t make too many inroads save one penalty nook, which was well-saved by a diving Indian custodian Suraj Karkera.

    However, within the second quarter central midfielder Raj Kumar took a crack at purpose from the sting of the putting circle, which was saved by Japan goalie Koji Yamasaki and, to India’s horror, the ball discovered Sunil’s boots as he was lurking contained in the ‘D’.

    But India all of the sudden fizzled out within the second quarter after that preliminary spark, even because the Japanese upped their ante and earned two extra penalty corners — the primary of which discovered drag-flicker Yoshiki Kirishita off the mark as his highly effective drag-flick sailed effectively over the cross-piece.

    Some 📸 from our conflict in opposition to Japan within the Hero Asia Cup 2022, which came about on the GBK Hockey area in Jakarta, Indonesia.#IndiaKaGame #HockeyIndia #HeroAsiaCup #INDvsJPN #matchday @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports activities @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/3NvPFZmxr4

    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) May 24, 2022

    However, within the twenty fourth minute, Ken Nagayoshi transformed the penalty nook with a robust angular drive that beat a diving Suraj all finally ends up.

    There got here an opportunity of an equaliser when Nilam Sanjeep Xess’ help discovered Raj Kumar, whose reverse hit was saved by the keeper.

    The downside with the inexperienced outfit was its propensity to assault primarily down the middle-third as an alternative of spreading the sport onto the broad flanks.

    The ageing Sunil’s poor outing additionally didn’t assist the Indians a lot because the crew appeared to lack the artwork of taking part in the urgent sport to earn the penalty corners in contrast to the Japanese, who had been sensible on the counter over the past two quarters of the sport.

    It was within the fortieth minute Japan made it 2-0 in a counter-attack with Kosei Kawabi snatching the ball from the Indian midfield and sprinting down the proper wing operating left-back Dipsan Tirkey ragged along with his pace.

    It was a spectacular purpose with Kawabi having his again in direction of the Indian purpose along with his markers Dipsan and Nilam closing in on him. With a physique feint, Kawabi wrong-footed goalkeeper Suraj after which smashed it dwelling from an acute angle.

    India discovered one thing going their approach within the dying moments of the third quarter when veteran Birendra Lakra saved a robust help contained in the putting circle melee and the big-bodied centre ahead Pawan Rajbhar was in the proper place to put his stick for an ideal deflection that discovered the highest nook of the online.

    The closing quarter as soon as once more noticed the Indians going all out and conceding a purpose in opposition to the run of play within the forty ninth minute.

    With all however one gamers on the overlap, Ryosei Kato received a cross-field cross on the broad proper and he reduce inside with goalkeeper Suraj at his mercy, and Ryomo Ooka ready for an open purpose. Kato handed it to Ooka, who put it gleefully to make it 3-1.

    However, India equalised with the very subsequent transfer when Rajbhar despatched a cross from proper and ahead Uttam Singh tapped it in from shut vary to make it 2-3.

    But there was extra unhealthy luck for India as they all of the sudden misplaced the numerical benefit with non permanent suspensions of Rajbhar and Karthi.

    The 9 versus eleven grew to become a lopsided contest as Japan repeatedly used the proper flank to launch their assault. Koji Yamasaki received his purpose within the 54th minute with a touch-in after not one of the Indian defenders cared to intercept a cross from the broad proper.

    The Indian resistance had ended and the fifth purpose was the ultimate nail within the coffin — Kawabe slotting dwelling within the 56th minute after his first shot rebounded off the goalkeeper.

  • FIH Pro League: Indian ladies beat Germany 3-0 in shoot-out, avenge first leg defeat

    The Indian ladies’s hockey group beat Germany 3-0 in a dramatic shoot-out to avenge their first leg defeat to share the honours within the two-legged tie of the FIH Pro League on Sunday.

    The house aspect had misplaced 1-2 within the shoot-out within the first match on the similar Kalinga Stadium on Saturday.

    Just like on Saturday, each the groups had been locked at 1-1 on the finish of the regulation time, resulting in the shoot-out.

    Kumari Sangita, Tete Salima and Sonika scored from their makes an attempt within the shoot-out whereas not one of the Germans from amongst Lilly Stoffelsma, Lena Frerichs and Sara Strauss may rating from their three tries with the house aspect skipper and goal-keeper Savita doing a superb job to disclaim the guests.

    The low sticks and excessive spirits paid off! An thrilling present put up by Hockey India Women’s group within the shootouts on the conflict towards Germany counterparts at present, 13 March 2022 at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. pic.twitter.com/jyLQAqBtfb

    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 13, 2022

    Earlier, Felicia Wiedermann gave world quantity 5 Germany the lead within the twenty ninth minute by a penalty nook conversion however Nisha equalised within the fortieth minute by a subject objective.

    World quantity 9 India secured two factors from the match, together with a bonus level whereas Germany collected one level.

    India climbed one place to take a seat at second spot within the FIH Pro League standings with 12 factors from six video games, beneath Argentina (12 factors from 4 matches).

    India received three penalty corners within the match however couldn’t utilise any one in every of them whereas Germany transformed one from the 5 PCs they earned within the match.

    The first quarter was dominated by India with 89 per cent ball possession and 5 circle entries however a objective eluded them.

    The Germans got here again stronger within the second quarter which they’d slight domination. They had extra possession and extra circle penetration on this session. They took the lead from one of many two penalty corners they received on this quarter with Felicia Wiedermann discovering the goal one minute earlier than the half time.

    India’s debutant goalkepeer Kharibam Bichu Devi additionally saved an important penalty stroke within the second quarter.

    The house aspect got here out with renewed vigour within the third quarter and equalised within the fortieth minute by a subject objective from the stick of Nisha, following a pleasant group buil-up.

    India’s subsequent matches are towards England on April 2 and three on the similar venue.

    Playing their debut season within the Pro League, the Indian ladies made a effective begin to their marketing campaign, beating China 7-1 and 2-1 of their opening two video games in Muscat.

    The Indians then defeated world No. 6 Spain 2-1 at house earlier than slumping to a 3-4 defeat within the return-leg final month.

  • CWG hockey: Indian males, girls to open marketing campaign in opposition to minnows Ghana

    Indian males’s hockey crew will open its marketing campaign on the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in opposition to minnows Ghana on July 31 whereas the ladies crew will even square-off in opposition to the identical rivals on July 29.

    Two-time silver medallist Indian males are positioned in a comparatively simple Pool B alongside aspect England, Canada, Wales and Ghana whereas the Pool A consists of six-time champions Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Scotland.

    The Indian girls are in Pool A, which additionally has England, Canada, Wales and Ghana.

    After Ghana, the Indian males will play hosts and final version’s bronze winner England on August 1, adopted by matches in opposition to Canada (August 3) and Wales (August 4).

    After Ghana, the ladies will play Wales on July 30, England (August 2) and Canada (August 3).

    The prime two groups from every pool in each women and men’s competitors qualify for the semifinals.

    The males’s semifinals might be performed on August 6 and the ultimate on August 8.

    The girls’s semifinals and ultimate might be performed on August 5 and seven respectively.

    Attention Hockey followers: The full #B2022 match schedule is obtainable NOW!

    Check it out now and e-book your seat on the matches that matter to you.

    Buy tickets: https://t.co/JGqSE1Sp44 pic.twitter.com/XGxuoqnrhL

    — Birmingham 2022 (@birminghamcg22) March 9, 2022

    India might be sending its ‘A’ groups for each women and men on the Birmingham Games due quick turnaround between CWG and the Hangzhou Asian Games, which is a qualifying match for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    The two occasions might be held simply 32 days aside and the nationwide federation desires to maintain its first-choice gamers recent for the Asian Games.

    The Birmingham CWG is scheduled to be held from July 28 until August 8.

    Among different matches, gold and silver medallists from Gold Coast 2018, Australia and New Zealand, will face one another within the group levels of each the boys’s and ladies’s tournaments.

    According to the competitors schedule for hockey, introduced on Wednesday, each the ladies’s and males’s competitions will start on July 29, with the opening session of the ladies’s match that includes reigning champions New Zealand in opposition to Kenya and South Africa taking part in Scotland.

    Hosts England will face Ghana within the first match of the boys’s competitors with New Zealand dealing with Scotland in the identical session.

    There might be 54 hockey matches in whole, with 40 group video games, six classification matches, 4 semi-finals, 4 medal matches.

    All these matches might be performed at a University.

    “It’s going to be a fantastic tournament with an impressive line-up of teams, featuring all of the medallists from the last edition of the Commonwealth Games,” Matt Kidson, Director of Sport for Birmingham 2022, stated.

    International Hockey Federation (FIH) CEO Thierry Weil added: “After the reveal of the participating teams last week, the publication of the match schedule is another really important milestone on the road to the upcoming Commonwealth Games.”

  • India outclass France to open Pro League marketing campaign

    After the excessive of the Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo, the Indian males’s hockey staff began 2022 in fashion, thrashing France 5-0 of their opening match of the FIH Pro League at Potchefstroom, South Africa, on Tuesday.
    Harmanpreet Singh and Varun Kumar received the primary two objectives from penalty corners earlier than Shamsher Singh, Mandeep Singh and Akashdeep Singh discovered the goal to safe a completely one-sided verdict.
    India face hosts South Africa of their subsequent FIH Pro League encounter on Wednesday.
    The Indians, below head coach Graham Reid, took time to get into groove because the French exerted some stress within the opening quarter, which ended goalless. The few alternatives that India received – together with two successive penalty corners – had been repelled by resolute defending or wasted by errant taking pictures. It was within the second interval that the floodgates opened with Harmanpreet (twenty first minute) and Varun (twenty fourth) getting on the scoresheet by way of set-pieces, each discovering the goal with low photographs to the goalkeeper Arthur Thieffry’s proper. and Shamsher capping a fast counterattack with India’s third purpose, the ultimate cross coming from Abhishek.

    📸 | A glimpse at how 🇮🇳 routed 🇫🇷 by 5️⃣ objectives!#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/uAczlcwELE
    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) February 8, 2022
    The second half began with Mandeep Singh making it 4-0 from an help by skipper Manpreet Singh within the thirty second minute. Akashdeep, enjoying his 2 hundredth match for India, then discovered the goal with a reverse hit within the forty first.
    France tried to make some type of comeback within the last quarter and earned back-to-back penalty corners within the forty eighth minute, however couldn’t cut back the margin. The Indians too couldn’t add to their tally within the final quarter-hour however the last scoreline can be a passable one towards a staff ranked thirteenth on the planet which entered the FIH Pro League after Canada pulled out as a consequence of Covid-19 issues.

    An ideal begin for #CrewIndia within the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/22 (Men)! 🔥
    Showcasing a spectacular efficiency by successful large towards France!
    🇫🇷 0:5 🇮🇳#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/Tc177emgfo
    — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) February 8, 2022
    Once the Indian staff received into rhythm, they stored the French defence below relentless stress. When the primary half ended, India had had 14 photographs at purpose, with their opponents managing simply 5. Australian Reid’s wards transformed two of their 4 penalty corners whereas the European staff did not make use of the three they received.
    By the time the sport ended, the Indians had taken 22 makes an attempt at purpose, in comparison with solely 9 by the French. Though possession was evenly distributed, the Olympic medallists made a lot better use of the ball, making as many as 34 circle penetrations as towards 26 by the opponents.

  • Yearender 2021: From the frenzy round Neeraj’s historic gold to Sreejesh’s deserving smile at Tokyo Olympics

    In sport, as in life, there are occasions inside occasions. Moments that form the second of glory. Moments which can be extra immortal and imperishable than numbers. As a breathless yr of sport ends, and one other stressed sporting yr able to unfold, The Indian Express brings the moments of the yr captured for the sporting gallery soaking quite a lot of feelings. Moments that made us cry and cringe, some that made us leap in pleasure and a few that made us plunge in agony, some that introduced child-like laughter, and a few that made us assume like a thinker.
    Neeraj Chopra trolling everybody together with his advert after the Olympics
    In August, Neeraj Chopra grew to become an in a single day sensation together with his landmark Olympic gold in athletics – India’s first in monitor and discipline. It would go down as essentially the most historic of medals in India’s Olympic historical past. The most vital within the nation’s sporting historical past, matched maybe solely by the one different gold-medal profitable effort by an Indian, Abhinav Bindra at Beijing 2008.
    Not that the excitement round him had subsided, however Chopra delivered one other sensational efficiency subsequent month. This time together with his appearing. He captured the fan and media frenzy round his stardom and the nation’s new-found love for him and the javelin throw occasion in an out-of-the-box advert for Cred.
    “Give this guy an Oscar already,” a consumer had commented after seeing the advert showcasing Chopra in numerous avatars aiming to money in on the frenzy round him. He is a model supervisor in a boardroom assembly discussing Web optimization-friendly taglines. A reporter with a goatee asking private questions. A moustachioed cashier apprising him of the day’s gold price. A filmmaker planning biopics titled ‘Neeraj Hua Maddham’ and ‘Medal Le Chuke Saman.’ And a wannabe javelin thrower.

    Bajrang eradicating knee strap, going all out within the bronze medal playoff
    Feeling the necessity to practice extra earlier than the massive occasion, Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia skipped the Poland Open and headed to Russia, the place he ended up injuring his proper knee by selecting to compete in a neighborhood occasion — Ali Aliev event. This meant no coaching in any respect earlier than Tokyo.
    “I could not do mat training for nearly 25 days. I was not able to run as well after the injury. Before a tournament like the Olympics, even missing one day’s training is not good,” he had stated.
    Bajrang was off-colour in his first three bouts in Tokyo however performed his standard tactical and aggressive sport within the do-or-die bronze medal bout and comfortably beat Daulet Niyazbekov from Kazakhstan to earn a podium end on Olympic debut.
    “My coaches and physio wanted me to continue to play with taped knee in the bronze bout. But I don’t feel comfortable. It feels like someone has tied my leg, so I told them even if an injury happens I can rest later but if I don’t win medal now, all the work will be lost, so I went all out,” he had stated.

    #Rewind2021
    Who claimed the bronze medal within the Men’s Freestyle 65KG Wrestling? 🤼‍♂️Bajrang Punia did….for India! ‍🇮🇳
    Here’s a glimpse of his triumphant bout from #Tokyo2020 ‍📹#StrongerTogether | @BajrangPunia pic.twitter.com/kC0K74H7J1
    — Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) December 23, 2021
    The dancing Mirabai Chanu after profitable silver
    The 26-year-old Mirabai Chanu lifted a complete of 202 kgs (87 kgs in snatch + 115 kgs in clear and jerk) to win silver within the opening day of the Games. She completed behind Hou Zhihui of China, who set an Olympic document with a carry of 210 kgs (94 + 116).
    Moments after the end result was made formal, Chanu was on a video name along with her teammates from Patiala. They sang and danced till she needed to be dragged out for the medal ceremony.
    Once the medal ceremony was over, Chanu resumed the dancing within the combined zone, an space subsequent to the sphere of play the place athletes and media work together, breaking into an impromptu jig.

     

    Bite at your personal danger: Silver-medallist Ravi Kumar responds to opponent’s chew with double leg takedown and a chest wrap
    Wrestler Ravi Dahiya scripted one of many best comebacks on the mat within the semifinals. Down 9-2 with lower than two minutes to be performed within the semifinal of the 57kg weight class, the Indian caught maintain of the Kazakh grappler Nurislam Sanayev’s left leg and rolled him over the mat earlier than ultimately pinning him in probably the most gorgeous takedowns these Games had up to now seen.
    Ravi gained the match by fall however later, footage and movies revealed a deep chew mark on Ravi’s proper bicep. The chew by Sanayev reminded of the incident when Sushil Kumar was accused of biting the ear of his Kazakhstan opponent Akhzurek Tanatrov in the course of the 2012 London Olympics semifinal.

    Nurislam Sanayev of Kazakhistan tried to chew of Ravi’s Skin. Good factor that the bustard misplaced. He needs to be banned. pic.twitter.com/FqgKGv46N4
    — Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) (@Indumakalktchi) August 4, 2021

    Aditi Ashok’s putt sport and considered one of India’s most memorable fourth-place finishes
    “Can’t believe India woke up at 4 am to cheer me!”
    This is what Aditi Ashok stated after she produced the very best ever efficiency by an Indian on the showpiece.
    Golf returned to Olympics in 2016 after over a 100-year hole and Aditi had competed at that version, ending tied forty first. Five years later, the World No. 200 went toe-to-toe with World No. 1 Nelly Korda of USA and former World No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand.
    Overnight sole 2nd, she completed fourth with a three-under 68 within the remaining spherical that left her 15-under 269 general whereas Korda took gold with a four-round whole of 17-under 267.

     
    Sreejesh’s 21 years of hardwork fetches India historic bronze
    “It’s a rebirth, that’s it,” had been the phrases of PR Sreejesh after he made essentially the most very important save of his profession, repelling Germany’s penalty nook to make sure India’s podium end on the Olympics after 41 years. Sreejesh was the impenetrable drive for India. It was a crew effort however Sreejesh’s heroics stood out as the lads in blue went on to complete on the rostrum on the Olympics after an excruciating wait.
    He made 40 saves in the course of the event, and stopped an uncountable variety of photographs all through his profession. But considered one of them has a particular place in his coronary heart.
    Seven seconds to go for the ultimate hooter and India conceded a penalty nook in opposition to Germany within the bronze medal playoff match. The drag-flick from Lukas Windfeder zipped by means of the defence however Sreejesh made certain that the white ball didn’t go previous him.
    He later climbed up the objective publish to have fun whilst his teammates cried and hugged one another in elation. For the previous captain, it was a second to savour – an Olympic medal on the finish of 21 years of onerous work whereas donning the nationwide colors.

    India ended an extended, excruciating wait of 41 years as they bagged the #bronzemedal in #menshockey after defeating Germany 5-4 within the play-off on the #TokyoOlympics. Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was hailed as ‘The Wall’ for his last-second penalty save that helped safe a podium end. pic.twitter.com/Q1lktdgQwI
    — The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 5, 2021
    Rivals on courtroom, supporters off it
    “PV Sindhu hugged me and told me I know you are sick but you did very well, but today was not your day. She held me in her arms and said she knew it all. That sincere encouragement made me cry,” wrote Tai Tzu-Ying in an Instagram publish. It was an emotional second for the World No. 1 participant, who was competing in her third Olympics however misplaced the ultimate to Chen Yu Fei of China.
    Five years earlier on the Rio Olympics, Sindhu had emerged second finest as she went right down to Carolina Marin of Spain in a hard-fought three-game loss and the Indian knew precisely how the participant from Chinese Taipei was feeling.

    Reel-inspires-real second: ‘Ex coach Kabir Khan’ to ‘Real Coach’ Sjoerd Marijne
    Like within the movie ‘Chak de India,’ the Indian ladies hockey crew defeated Australia – in actual life to enter the semifinals of the Olympics. Elated after the win, India’s coach Sjoerd Marijne posted on Twitter an image of himself with the crew members from inside a bus.
    “Sorry family, I coming again later,” the coach wrote within the caption. Hours later, Shah Rukh Khan replied that the coach can take his time to come back again residence however return with a gold for a “billion family members.”
    “Thank you for all the support and love. We will give everything again. From: The Real Coach,” Marijne replied. The medal proved elusive however the Indian ladies’s hockey crew earned loads of respect with a momentous fourth-place end.

    Haan haan no drawback. Just carry some Gold in your approach again….for a billion members of the family. This time Dhanteras can also be on 2nd Nov. From: Ex-coach Kabir Khan. https://t.co/QcnqbtLVGX
    — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) August 2, 2021
    One of essentially the most thrilling Paralympics excessive leap finals
    Amidst the heavy downpour in Tokyo, India’s T Mariyappan, Sharad Kumar engaged in an intense battle for a podium end together with American Sam Grewe.
    The Indian duo simply jumped their approach by means of to the 1.83m-mark with none failed makes an attempt. With the medal confirmed, the Indian pair noticed their first purple flag of the day on the 1.86m-mark. Mariyappan and Sam Grewe, after clearing 1.86m, twice struggled to clear 1.88m. An intense battle for a podium end adopted however the American lastly bagged gold medal by hovering over the mark within the remaining try whereas the Indian couldn’t. Meanwhile, Sharad Kumar grabbed bronze after scaling his season finest peak of 1.83m.

    #IND have gained extra @ParaAthletics medals at #Tokyo2020 than at any earlier Paralympic Games 👏
    Two arrived within the males’s excessive leap – T63 alone…#Silver – Mariyappan Thangavelu #Bronze – Sharad Kumar
    Congratulations to @TeamUSA‘s Sam Grewe, who took the #gold #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/AsixouBG1W
    — Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) August 31, 2021

    It’s all about competitors but additionally sportsmanship
    It appeared like the extreme battle would find yourself in tears for considered one of them. Round after spherical, excessive jumpers Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi competed in opposition to one another for the excessive leap gold medal however didn’t outdo each other — prompting an official to inform them the following step was a ‘jump-off,’ to see who may merely outlast the opposite.
    In probably the most emotional and heart-warming moments in Olympic historical past – the 2 determined to share the excessive leap gold relatively than proceed with the jump-off at Tokyo 2020. The uncommon joint Olympic championship grew to become the speak of the event.

    الصور الأكثر تداولاً في العالممنذ أمس 🇮🇹🇶🇦:#OlympicGames #الألعاب_الأولمبية #qatar #Italy❤️💚 pic.twitter.com/RQOyUhDk73
    — عادل علي بن علي (@AdelAliBinAli) August 2, 2021
    Putting psychological well being first: Simone Biles
    Simone Biles arrived in Tokyo because the star of the US Olympic motion and maybe the Games themselves. She satisfied herself she was ready for the strain – that she was prepared to hold the burden of outsized expectations.
    Only, as the ladies’s gymnastics crew remaining approached, the American star withdrew from the competitors from 5 of her six occasions to guard her psychological well being. This opened the door for the crew of Russian athletes to win gold for the primary time in almost three many years.
    “We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” Biles stated. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”

    the outpouring love & help I’ve obtained has made me understand I’m greater than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I by no means actually believed earlier than. 🤍
    — Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 29, 2021

  • 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.