Sports Bulletin

Pakistan display top quality game, the match ends 1-1 after four quartersSports Bulletin ReportSalalah (Oman):-As the high-rank Indians were dreaming to defeat Pakistan, the Green Shirts fought valiantly and played a 1-1 draw against traditional foes in the junior’s Asia Hockey Cup 2023 at Salalah, Oman on Saturday night.It was a sensational encounter between Pakistan and India that ended with 1-1 goal at the final whistle. Basharat Ali scored the only goal for Pakistan in the 44th minute, while Shraddha Nand scored the goal for his team in the 24th minute from India. Abdul Hanan Shahid was declared player of the match.Pakistan will play its fourth match against Japan on May 29.

Sports Bulletin ReportSalalah (Oman):-Pakistan junior hockey team thrashed Thailand 9-0 in their second match on Wednesday in Salalah, Oman.The first goal was scored by Abdul Hanan Shahid in the last minute of the first quarter, and the second goal was made in the 19th minute. Abdul Rahman scored the third goal in the 30th minute. Abdul Wahab, Abdul Rahman scored the fourth goal in the 41st minute through a penalty corner, Abdul Rahman scored the fifth goal in the 46th minute, and the sixth goal in the 48th minute. The 8th goal was scored by Arbaaz Ahmed in the 53rd minute. The 9th goal was scored by Murtaza Yaqub in the 54th minute. The player of the match was declared Abdul Rahman scoring 5 goals.Pakistan will play their third match against traditional rivals India on May 27 and against Japan on May 29.

Mohammad Sufyan Khan and Abdul Hanan Shahid score hat tricks for PakistanSports Bulletin ReportSalalah (Oman):-Pakistan outclassed Chinese Taipei 15-1 in their first match of the ongoing Juniors Asia Hockey Cup 2023 in Salalah, Oman on Tuesday. Mohammad Sufyan Khan and Abdul Hanan Shahid scored hat tricks.The first goal from Pakistan was scored by Mohammad Sufyan Khan through a penalty corner in the second minute, the second goal by Arbaz Ahmed also through a penalty corner in the 7th minute, the third goal was scored in the 18th minute by Mohammad Sufyan Khan scored again through a penalty corner.Bilal Akram made the scoreboard 4-0 by pushing the ball in the goalpost in the 26th minute, Abdul Qayyum scored the fifth field goal in the last 30th minute of the first half while Abdul Rehman scored the sixth field goal in the 35th minute, and Abdul Rehman scored the 7th goal in the 39th minute.Arbaaz Ahmed through penalty corner, 8th goal in 40th minute by Basharat Ali through penalty corner, 9th goal in 42nd minute by penalty corner by Mohammad Sufyan Khan, 10th field goal by Abdul Hanan Shahid in 44th minute, 11th field Zakaria Hayat scored the goal in the 45th minute, Abdul Hanan Shahid scored the 12th field goal in the 46th minute, Arshad Liaquat scored the 13th field goal in the 48th minute, Murtaza Yaqoob scored the 14th goal through a penalty stroke, Abdul Hanan Shahid scored the 15th field goal in the 59th minute while making a hat trick.Te Julien scored the solitary goal for Chinese Thai Pay in the 49th minute. Pakistan's Mohammad Sufian Khan was declared the man of the match. Pakistan will play their second match against Thailand on May 24, their third match against traditional rivals India on May 27, and Japan on May 29.

SA Choudary May God save the national game of hockey from the running management of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), which is ruining the game in the country owing to its adverse policies. At present, Khalid Sajjad Khokhar is the president of PHF while Syed Haider Hussain is performing the duties of secretary of PHF.All decisions are made by only two persons Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and Syed Haider Hussain, as both have occupied the seats in the federation illegally. When Haider took charge of secretary PHF as a caretaker, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) declared this act unlawful, which was not according to the constitution of the PHF.The election process was highlighted on social media in the form of videos and pictures all over Pakistan to show the credibility of the so-called election. It is pertinent to mention here that PSB not only stopped the Pakistan Hockey Federation from this unconstitutional step, but PSB also de-notified it. Later, PSB refused to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Pakistan Hockey Federation for touring abroad for international competitions.Later, to probe the facts, the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan formed a committee under the supervision of the Standing Committee on Sports of the National Assembly to resolve the issues of national game hockey, which has also sent its recommendations to the Prime Minister, which has become inevitable.The current top officials of PHF are crying about the non-availability of funds to run the affairs of the federation smoothly. But on the other hand, he is also giving joyride trips to his favorite people along with the Pakistan hockey team that is Salala, Oman for the Junior Asia Cup 2023, as the training camp took place at Manzoor-ul-Hasan Hockey Stadium Defense Housing Authority (DHA) Lahore.DHA Lahore fulfilled its all commitments and not only provided its stadium for training camp (day & night) but also incurred boarding & lodging expenses along with traveling and daily allowances including players/officials of the camp and air tickets of team squad and team officials as well as sponsored their complete uniform.Pakistan Hockey Federation used the funds mercilessly and sent their favorite people on a joyride trip with the team.Col (R) Asif Naz Khokhar, Honorary Secretary of Punjab Hockey Association and brother of Khalid Sajjad Khokhar (President PHF), Abdul Azlan Khan, son of Abdul Hanif Khan (Manager), and Zia-ud-Din Burki are accompanied by the team for just a joyride trip. It is important to mention here that in 2016, when Hanif Khan was manager of the Pakistan squad for Azlan Shah, which was held in IPOH, Malaysia, his son also accompanied him. On the other hand, the coaches who trained the players in the camp for more than a month, including Adnan Zakir, Mazhar Abbas, and Rana Zubair were ignored.Adnan Zakir, who lives abroad, came specially to coach the Pakistan hockey team and on the occasion of the team’s selection, he showed his dissatisfaction over the decisions of the national selection committee and the Pakistan Hockey Federation. Later, he left for abroad. The current selection committee and the federation also made serious allegations regarding the team selection.The hockey lovers request Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif, who is also the Chief Patron of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, to take action against the federation for its wrongdoing. The Pakistan Hockey Federation should be banned as soon as possible and replaced with new faces so that they can conduct free and fair elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, which must be monitored by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).Editor Note: (The writer is a hockey lover here are his personal views and if any other person or any official of the federation wants to respond to this article we will appreciate and welcome it). 

All semifinalists to secure their berths in Men’s Junior World CupSports Bulletin ReportSalalah (Oman):-The Men's Junior Asia Cup 2023 will roll into action from May 23, as the best young Asian men’s hockey teams will compete in Salalah, Oman. The top three will qualify for the forthcoming FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023, to be played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.As many as, the participating nations have been divided into two pools, as Pool A will be comprising Chinese Taipei, India, Japan, Pakistan, and Thailand. Pool B includes hosts Oman, who will be joined by Bangladesh, Korea, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan.The top two teams in both pools will qualify for the semi-finals, while the teams in third and fourth positions will compete for the 5-8 place classification. The teams finishing in fifth place in both pools will go head-to-head to avoid finishing in tenth place.The losing semi-finalists will play in the bronze medal match, with the two finalists and the bronze medalists qualifying for the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2023. Malaysia, as hosts, have already qualified for the World Cup, so if Malaysia enter the semifinals of the Junior Asia Cup, all the other three teams making it to the semi-finals will gain entry into the World Cup as well. The FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 will be played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 5-16 December 2023. Malaysia have qualified as the hosts of the competition. Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and Spain have qualified from Europe as the teams that were classified in the top-5 at the Euro-Hockey Junior Championship 2022. Australia and New Zealand have also qualified through the Oceania Junior World Cup Qualifiers 2022. South Africa and Egypt are the qualifiers from Africa finishing as the top two teams at the Junior Africa Cup 2023. Argentina, Canada and Chile are the three qualifiers from Pan America. The three top teams from Asia will complete the full set of sixteen teams that will compete for the title at the FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023. 

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland):-A new Test series between the Australian and Indian women's teams will get underway on 18 May in Adelaide, Australia.The series will see the current FIH Hockey Pro League leaders Australia, take on the winners of the inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup India, in a three-match series. The two teams have developed a rivalry over the recent years, with their most recent match-up coming in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games 2022, which required a shoot-out to separate the two sides.With both young teams stringing together an impressive run of form over the past year, the series promises to be a tightly contested affair, with each side providing a litmus test for the progress made by the other. 

 Selection Committee names 18-man squad, Mohammad Abdullah to lead Green ShirtsAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan Under-18 hockey team will take on archrival India on May 27 in the Junior Asia Hockey Cup 2023, which will be played from May 23 to June 1 in Salalah, Oman, as the Selection Committee named the Pakistan squad led by Mohammad Abdullah.Besides Pakistan, India, Japan, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan will participate in the regional hockey fixture, as Pakistan will meet traditional opponents India on May 27, 2023.The training camp of 28 players was going on at DHA Hockey Arena under the control of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), after the two-day trials, which were monitored by Chairman Selection Committee Olympian Kaleemullah Khan, Members Olympian Nasir Ali, Olympian Shakeel Abbasi, Laeeq Lashari. Also, International Adnan Zakar, Olympian Zeeshan Ashraf, Assistant Coach Asif Ahmed Khan, Team Video Analyst Syed Ali Abbas and Physiotherapist Waqas Mahmood were present in the coaching panel, Junior Team Manager and Chief Coach Olympian Hanif Khan were present on this occasion.Names of selected players:Mohammad Abdullah (captain), Abdul Hanan Shahid (vice-captain), Ali Raza, Mohammad Faizan Janjua, Aqeel Ahmed, Arbaaz Ahmed, Ehtsham Aslam, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Arbaz Ayaz, Mohammad Murtaza Yaqub, Arshad Liaquat, Ali Murtaza, Zakaria Hayat, Abdul Rehman, Abdul Qayyum. Dogar, Abdul Wahab, Basharat Ali, Bilal AkramReserves:Bilal Khan (goalkeeper), Mohammad Bilal Aslam, Mohammad Baqir, Mohammad Nadeem Khan, Mohammad Adnan, Waqar AliPool A:Pakistan, India, Japan, Chinese Taipei, ThailandPool B:Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan. Schedule of Pakistan Fixtures:May 23, 2023: Pakistan vs Chinese TaipeiMay 24, 2023: Pakistan vs ThailandMay 27, 2023: Pakistan vs IndiaMay 29, 2023: Pakistan vs Japan

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): The penultimate day of FIH Hockey Pro League action from Christchurch saw Great Britain women and men face off against New Zealand and Australia respectively. It was the women’s teams going head-to-head first with Great Britain dominating the hosts, winning 6-1. The men’s match was an end-to-end affair, with the teams tied at 3-3 at full time. Australia won the ensuing shoot-out and took the bonus point from the encounter. (Women’s) Great Britain beat New Zealand 6-1 Great Britain scored 63 seconds into the game with Petter getting on the end of a cross from Crackles from the left. 3 minutes later it was 2-0, as this time it was a powerful shot from the right by Tessa Howard that was smartly deflected in by Darcy Bourne on the far post. The second quarter was much of the same with New Zealand struggling to get out of their own defence against the high press by Great Britain. GB added a third with Grace Balsdon sending her drag flick from a penalty corner perfectly into the top right corner. The home team pulled one goal back from their first penalty corner of the game as Cotter found the bottom right corner of the goal with a low driven shot. Second half produced a more even battle as New Zealand gained confidence from their late first half goal and started to string passes together, playing out of the back against the high press by GB. Great Britain however survived the phase of play and regained control of the game in the final quarter. Tessa Howard scored early in the final quarter, getting on the end of a cross by Owsley, restoring the visitors’ 3-goal lead. Hannah Martin added a fifth goal, deflecting a flick by Balsdon from Great Britain’s sixth penalty corner of the game. The visitors hit a sixth goal in the final minute with Giselle Ansley scoring her second of the mini-tournament from a penalty corner. (Men’s) Great Britain vs Australia 3-3 (SO: 2-4) Australia were all over Great Britain in the first quarter, employing a high and intense press inside their 25. They turned the ball over multiple times and dominated possession. They made all their pressure count, opening the scoring through a Joel Rintala drag flick off the first penalty corner of the game. Great Britain managed to get on level terms in the second quarter as Sam Ward was left completely open in the circle on a free hit and his deflection lifted the ball over Charter and into the goal. Midway through the third quarter James Mazarelo made one of the saves of the season, lunging to his right to stop a shot by Sharp that looked destined to ruffle the net. Great Britain went into attack on the other end and won a penalty corner that Zach Wallace converted to complete a remarkable turnaround. Australia were back on level terms early in the final quarter with Rintala’s cross from the left deflected into the goal inadvertently by David Ames. Australia won a penalty stroke midway through the fourth but Payne went the right way to stop Ephraums shot and keep the scores level. Once again a great save brought a goal for Great Britain, as Rupert Shipperly scored from a penalty corner. Australia turned on pressure in the final minutes and found a goal as Zalewski was allowed to run into the circle and his shot towards the goal was deflected in by Joel Rintala for a second consecutive hat-trick. 

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): FIH Hockey Pro League rolled into action in Christchurch, New Zealand with Great Britain women taking on Australia, followed by men’s action between hosts New Zealand and Great Britain. It was two wins in two for the European team with the women earning their first points of the season with a narrow, but comfortable one-goal win over Hockeyroos, while the men’s team fired on all cylinders in attack to register an impressive 5-2 win over hosts New Zealand.(Women’s) Great Britain beat Australia (1-0):Great Britain were dominant in the first quarter, pressing Australia high up the field. They made the pressure count in the 13th minute with Giselle Ansley opening the scoring through her team’s third penalty corner, shooting low to the left of the keeper, piercing the gap between Aleisha Power and the post defender. Australia were dominant in the second quarter as Great Britain retreated in defence. However, the Hockeyroos couldn’t capitalise on all their possession, failing to properly test Miriam Pritchard in the goal as Great Britain held on to their slender lead going into the break. The third quarter was better balanced as Great Britain course corrected and started playing higher up the field. They created the better chances in the quarter but Bartram, in the goal for the second half, made a couple of routine saves. Australia won possession well in the midfield, but failed to create clear scoring opportunities from them. The final quarter followed a similar pattern as Great Britain dictated the pace of the game and created the better chances, but were denied by Bartram on a couple of occasions. Australia continued to struggle stringing passes together in the attacking half and failed to pose a real threat on the Great Britain goal and as the time ran out, Great Britain secured their first win of the season by the narrowest of margins. (Men’s) Great Britain beat New Zealand (5-2):Zach Wallace opened the scoring in the game with a phenomenal first time reverse volley on a high ball that had looped off a New Zealand stick in the 13th minute. The lead was well deserved for the visitors as they had dominated the proceedings in the opening quarter, but were denied on multiple occasions by George Enersen in the New Zealand goal. New Zealand looked for a quick comeback in the second quarter, but were denied by an incredible save by Mazarelo from a point blank range. James Oates and Will Calnan scored within seconds of each other, midway through the second quarter, to give the visitors a big 3-goal lead. New Zealand pulled one back in the 28th minute through a Dane Lett penalty corner goal, but Great Britain regained their 3-goal cushion through a Nick Bandurak volley goal from a quick counter attack that started with another terrific Mazarelo save. Great Britain increased their lead early in the third quarter with Jack Waller finding Shipperley unmarked at the right post and the Welsh forward made the easiest deflection to put the ball into the goal. New Zealand pressed for a route back into the game and with 10 minutes left in the game they scored their second through George Baker, whose shot from the top of the circle went through the legs of a couple of players and settled into the bottom left corner of the goal. The visitors managed the rest of the quarter, bossing possession and limiting counter-attacking opportunities for New Zealand to come away with all 3 points.

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): The best young Pan American hockey teams, in both men’s and women’s category, competed in the Junior Pan American Championships at Bridgetown, Barbados with three spots, in each gender, up for grabs in the upcoming FIH Junior World Cups 2023. In the women’s competition, USA were crowned champions winning the finals against Argentina, with Chile winning bronze. In the men’s competition reigning junior World Champions Argentina were dominant throughout, scoring 31 goals in 4 games and winning the finals 6-1 against Canada, with Chile finishing in third.In the group stage of the women’s tournament Argentina and Chile were table toppers in Pool A and B respectively. Chile made the biggest splash winning their three games by a cumulative margin of 31 goals. USA finished second in Pool A with their only loss coming in a closely contested game against Argentina, while Canada finished second in Pool B with 2 wins and a solitary loss to Chile. Argentina edged past Canada through a 1-0 win in the semi-finals, while USA needed shoot-outs to stop the Chilean juggernaut and proceed to the finals. The finals were once again a close affair but USA showed their supremacy in the shoot-outs, getting the better of Argentina by a 4-1 margin, after the teams had ended the regulation period tied at 1-1. USA, Argentina and Canada have joined hosts Chile in qualifying for the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup 2023, which is to be held in Santiago, Chile later this year.Tracy Paul, head coach of the victorious USA team, speaking on her team’s success said: "We are really happy to qualified to the Junior World Cup 2023, this is another opportunity for our team to perform at a major tournament, international tournament as they work themselves through the high performance pathway."In the group stage of the men’s tournament Argentina topped Pool A while Canada topped Pool B with both teams winning all their matches with ease. Chile in Pool A and USA in Pool B finished in second place with their sole losses coming to Argentina and Canada respectively. Argentina dispatched USA in the semi-finals with a 7-0 win, while the second semi-final between Canada and Chile was a tense affair requiring shoot-outs where Canada prevailed. Argentina showed their dominance in the tournament once again by registering a massive 6-1 win in the finals to win gold. Chile defeated USA in the bronze medal match to book their spot in the FIH Junior Hockey Men’s World Cup, which is to be played later this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Juan Gilardi, coach of the Argentina team, speaking after his team’s title victory, said: "We came here with 2 objectives, and we got them. We are really proud of the team. We are exited to be part of the World Cup, we have a long way to go, we are really looking forward to it."