Hockey
Pakistan Hockey Federation invites 45 players for National Training Camp
Ali Ahmed
LAHORE (January 15, 2022):-Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has invited 45 players from different departments for the national training camp, which will commence from January 17 to February 14 at Johar Town Hockey Stadium Lahore. The aim of the camp is to train the boys for Asia Cup, which will be played in May this year. The overseas Pakistan hockey team coach has obtained the visa and would join the camp on January 17, 2022.
Names of players:
Goalkeepers: Mazhar Abbas (National Bank), Amjad Ali (Sui Southern Gas), Waqar (Wapda), Abdullah Ishtiaq (Mari Petroleum), Akmal Hussain (Wapda), Muneeb-ur-Rehman (Sui Southern Gas), Defenders: Mubashir Ali (WAPDA), Emad Shakeel Butt (National Bank), Abu Bakar Mahmood (National Bank), Mohammad Abdullah (Mari Petroleum), Hamad Anjum (WAPDA), Aqeel Ahmed (WAPDA), Tazeem Al Hassan (WAPDA), Arbaaz Ahmed (Mari Petroleum), Rizwan Ali (PAF),
Midfielders / Forwards: Mohammad Umar Bhatta (WAPDA), Moin Shakeel (WAPDA), Mohammad Azfar Yaqoob (Sui Southern Gas), Ali Shan (Sui Southern Gas), Rana Waheed (WAPDA), Junaid Manzoor (National Bank), Ahmed Nadeem (Mari Petroleum), Afraz (Mari Petroleum), Ghazanfar Ali (Mari Petroleum), Ejaz Ahmed (WAPDA), Salman Razzaq (WAPDA), Abdul Hanan Shahid (WAPDA), Abdul Rehman (WAPDA), Adeel Latif (Sui Southern Gas), Roman Khan (Wapda), Abuzar (National Bank), Naveed Alam (Sui Southern Gas), Hamza Waheed (PAF), Ghazanfar Ali (Wapda), Abdul Manan (Sui Southern Gas), Mohibullah (WAPDA), Obaidullah (Sindh, WAPDA), Aleem Usman (WAPDA), Shahzeb Khan (Sindh), Hassan Amin (Multan), Shahzeb (Azad Kashmir), Abdul Rehman (PAF), Noheez Zahid Malik (National Bank), Samin (Sargodha, WAPDA) and Zakaria Hayat (PAF).
Officials:
National Hockey Training Camp Management Manager Olympian Khawaja Junaid, Head Coach National Hockey Team Sigfried Ekman, Assistant Coaches Ajmal Khan Lodhi (Sialkot), Olympian Syed Sameer Hussain (Karachi), Goalkeepers Coach Olympian Ahmed Alam (PIA), Physiotherapist Mohammad Aslam (WAPDA), Physical Trainer Mohammad Abid Amin (Lahore). The players have been instructed to report any case to Manager Khawaja Junaid by noon on January 17.
Argentina tops the polls in FIH Best of 2021 fan vote
SPORTS BULLETIN
Lausanne, Switzerland: The top honours in the FIH Best of 2021 fan vote have both gone the way of Argentina, with the men’s team taking the Best Goal prize and the women the award for Best Match, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) can reveal.
The Best Goal of 2021 award, as voted for by the fans of the sport, goes to Nicolas Keenan’s outrageous smash-shot against host nation Japan in the pool phase of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Following an exchange of passes with Juan Lopez, Keenan produced a moment of sporting magic with three touches all within a second of each other, lifting the ball over a defender’s stick at the top of the circle before changing the angle in mid-air and crashing a vicious overhead strike against the backboard of the Japanese goal.
It was a strike of pure, instinctive brilliance from Keenan, a truly iconic moment from a wonderful hockey competition at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
The fan’s choice for the Best Match of 2021 also came from Tokyo 2020, with Argentina’s superb 3-0 quarter-final triumph over Germany generating the most votes.
Germany’s second place finish behind the Netherlands in Pool A saw them come into the match against Las Leonas, who finished third in Pool B, as marginal favourites. However, the giants of Pan American hockey produced a dominant display against Die Danas, with the deadlock being broken in the 27th minute by Agustina Albertarrio, a goal voted by the fans as the second best of 2021.
A Victoria Granatto penalty corner doubled Argentina’s advantage just before half time, with the result being put beyond all doubt by teenager and FIH Rising Star of the Year 2021 nominee Valentina Raposo, who fired home a superb penalty corner strike to send the eventual silver medallists into the semi-finals.
Best Goal of 2021
1st Place: Nicolas Keenan (ARG). Argentina Men v Japan (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
2nd Place: Agustina Albertarrio (ARG). Argentina Women v Germany (Quarter-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
3rd Place: Dayaan Cassiem (RSA). South Africa Men v Belgium (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Best Match of 2021
1st Place: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Quarter-Final – Germany 0-3 Argentina
2nd Place: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Men’s Pool B – South Africa 4-3 Germany
3rd Place: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Men’s Bronze Medal – Germany 4-5 India
Favorite goal and Hockey Match in 2021
Sports Bulletin
Lausanne, Switzerland:-The third best goal of 2021, as chosen by the fans, goes to South Africa’s Dayaan Cassiem for his sensational strike against eventual Olympic gold medallists Belgium when the two sides met in the pool phase of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
Cassiem, unquestionably one of the stars of the tournament at the showpiece event in Japan, netted a sensational solo effort against the Red Lions, running half the length of the field in possession before producing an outrageous flicked effort past the shoulder of brilliant Belgian goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch and into the net.
To score a goal of such rare quality against the reigning world champions and soon to be Olympic gold medallists was a moment to treasure for the immensely gifted attacker who, alongside younger brother Mustaphaa, represents a bright, exciting future for South African hockey.
The fans have decided that the third best match of 2021 also came from the men’s hockey competition at Tokyo 2020, with India’s remarkable 5-4 triumph over Germany in the bronze medal game getting the nod.
A pulsating contest saw six goals exchanged between the teams in the first two quarters, with the two sides going into half time with the score locked at 3-3.
Crucially, India netted twice early in the third quarter before Germany reduced the deficit early in the fourth period, but it was the Indians who held on for victory, securing their first Olympic medal since winning gold at the Moscow 1980 games, some 41 years previous.
The second favorite goal and match of 2021 will be revealed on Thursday 13 January, with the winners being announced on Friday 14th.
Women Junior World Cup to be played in South Africa in April
Sports Bulletin
Lausanne, Switzerland (January 10, 2022):-Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have decided that the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup, which was initially scheduled to be played in December 2021 but had to be put “on hold” due to the Omicron variant outbreak, will be staged from 2 to 13 April 2022 at the originally planned venue, the North-West University of Potchefstroom in South Africa.
“Since the postponement of this event, we’ve been in permanent contact with the South African Hockey Association. Based on the reports about the current evolution of the health situation in the country, the EB has confirmed its decision from its December meeting, namely that the tournament should be postponed – and not cancelled - and that South Africa should have priority for hosting it. We’re aware that the new dates are challenging for some nations – in particular because of Ramadan or the European club calendar – but it was essential for FIH to fully support the wish of the athletes to play. We’re looking forward to a great event with hockey’s female rising stars, ”FIH CEO Thierry Weil commented.
Sadly however, FIH and Hockey Belgium have been forced to cancel the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Belgium 2022. This decision has been taken on the basis of the current health situation in Belgium and after extensive consultations with and recommendation from all official and competent authorities in the country.
Thierry Weil said: “The FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup is the pinnacle of indoor hockey. Therefore, considering all indoor hockey athletes and fans, it was extremely hard to cancel the 2022 edition planned in just a few weeks. But, of course, we have followed the recommendations of the local authorities. On behalf of FIH, I would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the Belgian organisers, and in particular the Belgian Hockey Association, for their tremendous preparation works and their great dedication.”
Vote for the Best Goal in field Hockey in 2021
Sports Bulletin Report
Lausanne, Switzerland (January 3, 2022):-Despite all the challenges connected with the COVID-19 global health pandemic, 2021 was still an incredible year for the sport of Hockey, a year which deserves to be celebrated like any other.
With some truly extraordinary moments taking place at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, FIH Hockey Pro League and a Men’s Junior World Cup, restricting our categories to just ten nominees for the Best Goal and the Best Match of 2021 was far from simple. However, we’ve given it our best shot!
Nominees – Favourite Goal of 2021
1: Nicolas Keenan (ARG). Argentina Men v Japan (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: A stunning run and overhead smash-shot from the top of the circle slams the backboard.
2: Timm Herzbruch (GER). Germany Men v Argentina (Quarter-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: An outrageously intricate penalty corner routine from Die Honamas, bewildering the Argentine defence for Herzbruch to deflect home.
3: Agustina Albertarrio (ARG). Argentina Women v Germany (Quarter-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: A brilliantly worked passing move is finished off by Albertarrio, who touches home from close range.
4: Tim Brand (AUS). Australia Men v Germany (Semi-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Kookaburras superstar Brand volleys home a vicious cross-shot from Ogilvie, who was picked out in the circle by a glorious overhead pass that eliminated the Germany defenders. (3 August)
5: Berta Bonastre (ESP). Spain Women v Great Britain (Quarter-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Pouncing from close range, Bonastre takes two magnificent touches to lift the ball over the head of Maddie Hinch and into the GB goal.
6: Dayaan Cassiem (RSA). South Africa Men v Belgium (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Incredible solo effort against the World and eventual Olympic champions, running half the length of the field in possession before flicking past the shoulder of goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch.
7: Lidewij Welten (NED). Netherlands Women v Germany (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: A fine passing move carves through the Germany team before Welten taps home from close range.
8: Kenta Tanaka (JPN). Japan Men v New Zealand (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Pacey Samurais attacker Tanaka runs three quarters of the lengths of the field in possession before sensationally firing home.
9: Hollie Pearne-Webb (GBR). Great Britain Women v India (Bronze) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: A rare field goal from GB’s captain, smashing home a superb first-time volley to put her team on course for the bronze medal.
10: Stacey Michelsen (NZL) New Zealand Women v Australia - FIH Hockey Pro League: A superb solo goal from the Black Sticks legend, cutting in from the right before crashing a stunning backhand strike inside the right post.
Nominees – Favourite Match of 2021
1: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Men’s Pool B – South Africa 4-3 Germany
2: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Quarter-Final – Germany 0-3 Argentina
3: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Quarter-Final – Australia 0-1 India
4: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Men’s Bronze Medal – Germany 4-5 India
5: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Bronze Medal – Great Britain 4-3 India
6: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Men’s Gold Medal – Australia 1-1 Belgium (2-3 ASO)
7: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Gold Medal – Netherlands 3-1 Argentina
8: FIH Hockey Pro League: Men – Netherlands 2-4 Germany
9: FIH Hockey Pro League: Women – Argentina 1-3 Germany
10: FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021: Pool phase – France 4-3 India
FIH selects 10 players and 10 matches for votes
Lausanne, Switzerland (SB Report):-Despite all the challenges connected with the COVID-19 global health pandemic, 2021 was still an incredible year for the sport of Hockey, a year which deserves to be celebrated like any other.
With some truly extraordinary moments taking place at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, FIH Hockey Pro League and a Men’s Junior World Cup, restricting our categories to just ten nominees for the Best Goal and the Best Match of 2021 was far from simple.
Nominees – Favourite Goal of 2021
1: Nicolas Keenan (ARG). Argentina Men v Japan (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: A stunning run and overhead smash-shot from the top of the circle slams the backboard.
2: Timm Herzbruch (GER). Germany Men v Argentina (Quarter-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: An outrageously intricate penalty corner routine from Die Honamas, bewildering the Argentine defence for Herzbruch to deflect home.
3: Agustina Albertarrio (ARG). Argentina Women v Germany (Quarter-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: A brilliantly worked passing move is finished off by Albertarrio, who touches home from close range.
4: Tim Brand (AUS). Australia Men v Germany (Semi-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Kookaburras superstar Brand volleys home a vicious cross-shot from Ogilvie, who was picked out in the circle by a glorious overhead pass that eliminated the Germany defenders. (3 August)
5: Berta Bonastre (ESP). Spain Women v Great Britain (Quarter-Final) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Pouncing from close range, Bonastre takes two magnificent touches to lift the ball over the head of Maddie Hinch and into the GB goal.
6: Dayaan Cassiem (RSA). South Africa Men v Belgium (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Incredible solo effort against the World and eventual Olympic champions, running half the length of the field in possession before flicking past the shoulder of goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch.
7: Lidewij Welten (NED). Netherlands Women v Germany (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: A fine passing move carves through the Germany team before Welten taps home from close range.
8: Kenta Tanaka (JPN). Japan Men v New Zealand (Pool phase) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Pacey Samurais attacker Tanaka runs three quarters of the lengths of the field in possession before sensationally firing home.
9: Hollie Pearne-Webb (GBR). Great Britain Women v India (Bronze) – Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: A rare field goal from GB’s captain, smashing home a superb first-time volley to put her team on course for the bronze medal.
10: Stacey Michelsen (NZL) New Zealand Women v Australia - FIH Hockey Pro League: A superb solo goal from the Black Sticks legend, cutting in from the right before crashing a stunning backhand strike inside the right post.
Nominees – Favourite Match of 2021
1: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Men’s Pool B – South Africa 4-3 Germany
2: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Quarter-Final – Germany 0-3 Argentina
3: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Quarter-Final – Australia 0-1 India
4: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Men’s Bronze Medal – Germany 4-5 India
5: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Bronze Medal – Great Britain 4-3 India
6: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Men’s Gold Medal – Australia 1-1 Belgium (2-3 ASO)
7: Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Women’s Gold Medal – Netherlands 3-1 Argentina
8: FIH Hockey Pro League: Men – Netherlands 2-4 Germany
9: FIH Hockey Pro League: Women – Argentina 1-3 Germany
10: FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021: Pool phase – France 4-3 India
FIH World Rankings: Netherlands Women & Australia Men on top
Sports Bulletin Report
Lausanne, Switzerland (December 23, 2021):-With the end of 2021 very much in sight, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) can reveal that the Netherlands women and Australia men will finish the year at the top of the FIH World Rankings.
Alyson Annan’s Netherlands team enjoyed another sensational year, powering to the FIH Hockey Pro League and European championship titles before landing their fourth Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, defeating Argentina in the competition final.
The Oranje end 2021 with 3015.35 points, over 600 ranking points ahead of second placed England with 2375.78. Olympic silver medallists Argentina will begin 2022 third in the FIH World Rankings, being just 14 points behind England with 2361.28.
Australia (2334.04) finished the year in fourth place, with Germany (2126.15) and Spain (1959.62) fifth and sixth respectively. Belgium (7th place - 1939.88), New Zealand (8th place – 1821.11), India (9th place – 1810.32) and China (10th place – 1677.96) complete the top ten.
There has been a change at the top of the men’s FIH World Rankings since our last update, with Belgium’s recent FIH Hockey Pro League draw and defeat at the hands the Netherlands being enough to see them lose top spot to Australia, the team they beat to Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020. Australia closed the year with 2642.25 points, just ten points ahead of FIH Hockey Pro League and Olympic champions Belgium, who have 2632.12.
Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists India – recent third place finishers at the Hero Asian Champions Trophy in Dhaka, Bangladesh – sit third with 2296.04, with the Netherlands (2234.33) and Germany (2038.71) in fourth and fifth positions respectively.
The top ten is completed by England (6th – 1990.62), Argentina (7th - 1826.11), New Zealand (8th - 1598.24), Spain (9th - 1532.33) and Malaysia (10th - 1427.18).
The aforementioned Hero Asian Champions Trophy saw various exchanges of ranking points between the competing teams, although there was little in terms of movement. Competition winners Korea remain 16th with runners up Japan still in 17th position. Fourth placed finishers Pakistan continue to hold onto 18th place, while fifth placed Bangladesh have dropped two places to 40.
South Korea overcome Japan on penalty Shootouts in the Asian Hockey final
Sports Bulletin Report
Dhaka, Bangladesh (December 22, 2021):-South Korea overcame Japan on penalty shootouts to win the sixth edition of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Wednesday. India won the bronze medal after beating Pakistan by 3-4 goals in a thrilling match.
According to the details, Korea and India won on the final day of the Asian Champions Trophy played in Dhaka, Bangladesh under the auspices of the Asian Hockey Federation.
In the bronze medal match, India defeated Pakistan by 4-3 after a thrilling and nerve-wracking contest and claimed the third position in the 5-national regional hockey showpiece. The match started with a fast pace, as the traditional rivals displayed a top quality hockey during the all 60 minutes of play and amused the hockey lovers with great skilled-full contest.
India got the lead 1-0 in the second minutes of the game to put Green Shirts in pressure and in the 10th minute of the game, Afraz from Pakistan scored a goal through a field goal to end India's lead and the score was tied at 1-1.
A goal scorer on a corner gave Pakistan a one-goal lead. For India, their player Sumat ended the lead with a field goal in the 45th minute of the game and the score was tied at 2-2. India's Kumar Vorone scored on a penalty corner to give his team the lead once again. For India, Akash Deep Singh consolidated the lead by scoring on a penalty corner and the score became 4-2. On the counter-attack, striker Ahmed Nadeem reduced the deficit to one goal by scoring on Abdullah's best pass. By the end of the match, the score was 4-3 in the favour of India.
The final of the Asian Champions Trophy was played between Korea and Japan which ended in a 3-3 draw. At the end of the match, Korea defeated Japan in the penalty shootout stage to win the sixth edition of the Asian Champions Trophy.
FIH President Narinder Dhruv Batra says
Islamabad (Sports Desk):-As the current year is coming to an end, I’d like to review the last 12 months of FIH and look at what global hockey has to offer in 2022, which promises to be a very exciting year for our sport!
Of course, with 2021 being an Olympic year due to the postponement of the 32nd Olympiad because of the global impact of the COVID crisis, I’d like to repeat just how much of a success the Tokyo Olympic Games were. It was a true hockey festival for 2 weeks. The Japanese organisers and authorities, as well as the International Olympic Committee and the fantastic volunteers, have done an amazing job to put together a magnificent event, despite unique adverse conditions. My sincerest thanks to all of them!
The FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India, was another highlight of 2021. Thrilling matches played in a refreshingly care-free way by the rising stars of our game provided for an outstanding event, excellently organised by Hockey India. The tournament was brought to the world thanks to our Watch.Hockey app, which, in its second year of existence only, has already made a significant impact when it comes to the promotion of our sport worldwide.
While, like you, I was also eagerly expecting the female Juniors to compete in South Africa, the outbreak of the Omicron variant forced us to take the heartbreaking decision to postpone this event. However, I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to ensure that this event DOES take place. We are fully aware of the competition’s importance for this generation of highly talented young players, who are very much the future of our game.
Even though the FIH Hockey Pro League has also suffered due to the COVID pandemic, the second edition crowned two worthy winners in the Netherlands Women and Belgium Men. I’m also really happy for the development and globalization of hockey that South Africa and Canada will join the Men’s League next year, albeit for one season.
All these events have played a significant role in strengthening the steadily increase of our audiences on our ever-growing FIH social media handles. Indeed, despite the global COVID pandemic, the cumulative number of followers on our Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter handles has increased by 30% in the last 3 years, including a rise of almost 70% for Instagram within this timeframe. Well done, Team FIH!
Development is and will always remain at the core of our mission. With 2021 designated as the #HockeyInvites Year of the Youth, numerous programmes and activities were organised to boost the growth of hockey among the young population. Those came in addition to the 150 online courses organised by FIH throughout the year.
I was very pleased to see at our Congress in May that the number of National Associations having introduced Hockey ID – also known as parahockey – had more than doubled in the last two years. Diversity and inclusion are two fundamental principles in hockey. Everyone is welcome and we all have a duty and responsibility to contribute to this!
Gender equality is one of our strongest values and principles, and I’m very proud of the numerous webinars that FIH has held in this regard. The fact that researchers from the University of Lausanne have chosen FIH to conduct a study related to women’s participation in decision-making in sport is a truly positive sign.
Asian Champions Trophy: Korea and Japan reach in the final
Sports Bulletin Report
Dhaka, Bangladesh (December 21, 2021):- South Korea and Japan have reached in the final of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2021 after beating Pakistan 6-5 and India 5-3 respectively in the semifinals in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Tuesday. Final will be played on Wednesday at the same venue.
Pakistan will meet India for the bronze medal match on Wednesday before the final match of Asian Hockey Champions Trophy. It is important to mention here that Japan and South Korea will play first time gold medal match in the top regional hockey showpiece.
The Korean team, which is in a better position in the world rankings, got two penalty strokes against Pakistan on which they scored successfully while scoring three goals on penalty corners and solitary field goal.
Pakistan scored a field goal with the help of captain Umar Bhatta. Korea responded with a penalty stroke in the 11th minute of the game, which their player Cheng scored to make it 1-1. In the 12th minute of the game Korea got another penalty stroke which Cheng scored to make the match 2-1. In the 22nd minute of the game Junaid Manzoor of Pakistan scored a goal to level the match 2-2.
Korea in the 25th minute of the game with the help of Cheng, they took the lead by scoring a goal in the penalty corner. By scoring a goal, they gave their team the lead. Korea strengthened its lead by scoring again in the 44th minute of the game. Equalized the decisive goal of the match was scored by Korea in the 57th minute of the game. In the second semi-final of the event, Japan defeated India 5-3 in a hard-fought match to advance to the final.
The final of the Asian Champions Trophy will be played between Japan and Korea on December 22, while the third position match between Pakistan and India will be played tomorrow at 2:30 PM Pakistan time. The final will be played at 5:00 pm Pakistan time.
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