Sports Bulletin

SPORTS NEWS Lausanne, Switzerland (August 12, 2021):-Double Olympian with Great Britain’s hockey team – in 2000, where he even captained the team, and previously in 1996 – Jon Wyatt (195 international caps) joined the International Hockey Federation as Sport Director in 2018. Present in Tokyo, he gives his analysis of the Tokyo 2020 hockey events from a sport and technical perspective. What is your overall technical assessment of the hockey showcased during the Tokyo 2020 hockey events? Jon Wyatt: The level of hockey across both competitions has been consistently the highest level of tournament hockey we have ever seen. The physical strength, speed and fitness of the athletes is beyond anything we have seen before, and the way they were prepared and able to continue to play at such a high level in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees and with 85% + humidity, was amazing. The skills on show and the ability to continue to execute skills perfectly even in the final seconds of the matches again showed the level of preparation all of the teams had undergone. On top of these physical attributes, the mental strength and team togetherness shown by so many teams who came back from being behind in matches, or won matches following defeats in a previous match, showed how well prepared they were mentally as well. And all of this during the huge challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused for us all. Athletes have had to spend long periods of time away from friends and family, weeks in hotels self-isolating in order to travel, and in many cases, the usual Olympic preparation has been significantly disrupted with only a handful of preparation matches being possible in the final months. Have you noted some new trends? Or a confirmation of certain elements of the game which teams have focused upon in recent years? As athletes have got fitter and defensive structures improved, the coverage of the pitch when defending by all teams has been fantastic. The way to unlock these defenses and find space on the field by using aerial passes is a trend that has grown in recent years but was taken to a new level in this tournament. All players are able to identify space and then deliver aerial passes, eliminating defenders, sometimes over 20m-30m, and at times using up to 60m passes. The receiving of these aerial balls, by attackers and defenders alike, has also vastly improved and it is now rare to see an aerial ball not controlled by the receiver, and more common to see such a pass creating a shooting opportunity and in some cases a spectacular goal. It is often said about such events that you can’t have a 100% correct assessment of a team performance after the Pool stage because from the quarter-finals on, the context is quite different. What makes the difference in the “do or die” encounters? The format of the Olympic Games, with a Pool stage followed by a knockout stage, certainly leads to a competition of “two halves”. The Pool stages are important as they set up the potential route to a semi final and final, so finishing high up in the pool is really important. As we saw in the men’s competition, the 2 teams that topped the pools (Belgium and Australia) went on to reach the final, whereas those that did not perform to their best in the pool stages ultimately didn’t make it all the way to the final. That said, there are obviously no guarantees in the knockout stages and despite winning their pool, the Australian women came up short and lost their quarter final to the inspired Indian women’s team. We saw last minute goals and shootouts deciding which team progressed to the next round, and even for the men, the destination of the Gold medal. In the knockout stages, there are no second chances. History counts for nothing and when it comes to the top 12 teams in the world, anyone can beat anyone in a one-off encounter (as the inspirational South African men showed against Germany during the pool stage!). Teams from four different continents were involved in the semi-finals. What does it mean in terms of the globalisation of hockey? It is a brilliant outcome for hockey and shows the true international and global growth of the game. This is the first time since 1976 that 7 different countries from 4 continents have been represented in the semi-finals, and to have medalists returning to each of those continents to spread the joy of hockey can only be good for the game. At the individual club, national, continental and international level, we all now need to capitalize on these inspirational stories and teams, by providing opportunities for newcomers to try hockey and fall in love with our beautiful game. Other nations such as Japan or South Africa did not make it to the quarter-finals. However would you agree that they showed they can absolutely compete with the teams who did qualify? And if yes, why? By definition, not every team can make it to the quarter finals, but all 4 teams in each gender who did not qualify certainly showed they deserved to be in Tokyo and at times were the equal, and sometimes superior, of their opponents. The South African men’s forwards have fantastic talent, scoring 4 against the Olympic Champions Belgium and of course defeating Germany, briefly raising them into the top 10 in the World Rankings for the first time ever, and ultimately seeing them ranked 12 after the Olympic Games (up from 14 beforehand). Both Japanese teams, winners of the 2018 Asian Games, also showed moments of brilliance and more than matched the top teams in the world for long periods. As usual, a few umpiring decisions were debated. But looking at the bigger picture, what do you think about the overall performance of the umpires in Tokyo? Just like every athlete, the appointed umpires and Officials have spent years training, working and improving to become the very best hockey officials in the world. They have spent long periods of time away from their friends and family, and had to cope with the restrictions of COVID and the lack of matches to prepare in their usual way, but every one of them has shown incredible commitment and dedication to be here in Tokyo. They are all volunteers, taking time out from work and their careers to facilitate the great matches we have seen, without financial compensation and in many cases incurring significant costs to follow their Olympic dreams. The pressure to perform and the analysis of every decision they make is far greater than even for athletes, and the criticism they have to endure for even the smallest mistake tests their mental strength to the limit. There is not an athlete in Tokyo who has had a perfect competition without a mistake, and yet this is what the athletes, coaches, social media hockey fans and critics around the world expect of every umpire, in every match. Of course, that is what they strive for, but as in all sports, hockey matches cannot take place without umpires and officials, and the effort and pride each and every one of them puts into their performance is humbling to witness. They are the best in the world, and like the athletes, they deserve to be congratulated and to be rightly proud of being selected for the Olympic Games, and for their excellent performance throughout the competition. To conclude, what comments did you hear about the turf? All 4 turfs, the 2 competition pitches and the 2 training/warm up pitches, have been outstanding. They have allowed the athletes to showcase their remarkable skills and the speed of the modern game. In addition, the sustainability credentials of the turfs (made from 60% bio-plastic and requiring 40% of the amount of water that was required in previous Games), mean we can be rightly proud of contributing to the wider environmental targets of the Tokyo Olympic Games. These 4 turfs will be left in Japan as part of the hockey legacy, for the Japanese hockey community to enjoy for years to come. The final word must go to the organisers and to the army of volunteers, for whom nothing was ever too much of any ask. To have put on an Olympic Games during a pandemic, with all of the additional logistical and medical challenges this has brought, is nothing short of a miracle. And all were with a smile on their faces. To everyone involved in the organisation of the Tokyo Olympic Games and the hockey competition in particular, on behalf of the FIH and every member of the hockey family from across the globe, we say to our Japanese friends from the bottom of our hearts.

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Rawalpindi (August 12, 2021):-National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), WAPDA' Navy and PAF have confirmed their berths in the top-four stage after winning their respective matches of the Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2021 on Thursday at Mari Petroleum Astroturf Hockey Stadium Ayub Park Rawalpindi. The semifinals will be played on Friday at same venue. The tournament resumed after a day rest, in the only morning session competition National Bank of Pakistan ousted Punjab with a big margin 6-2. Shan Irshad was top scorer for the winners, who netted the ball twice while Abubakar Tariq, Mohid Ahmed, Abu Zar Junior and Mohammad Atiq scored each one goal. Zain Ejaz and Arsal Khan scored goal for Punjab. In the penultimate contest of the day Pakistan Navy defeated Pakistan Army 4-2, as Hammad’s last minutes a spectacular goal confirmed the lead of Navy that led the winners to the semifinals. Teams: Pool (A): WAPDA, Pakistan Navy, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Army Pool (B): National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Air Force (POA), Punjab Schedule & Results: August 8, 2021 (Day-1): WAPDA beat Pakistan Army 2-1 NBP beat Pakistan Air Force 3-2 Pakistan Navy beat Mari Petroleum Company 2-1 August 9, 2021 (day-2) SSGC Vs Punjab 2-2 Draw Army Vs MPCL 3-3 Draw WAPDA beat Navy 1-0 August 10, 2021 (day-3) PAF beat Punjab 5-1 NBP beat SSGC 4-3 August 12, 2021 (day-4): NBP beat Punjab 6-2 SSGC Vs PAF 1-1 Navy beat Army 4-2 WAPDA Vs MPCL 0-0 August 13, 2021 (Day-5) 1st Semifinal (WAPDA Vs PAF) 2nd Semifinal (NBP Vs Navy) August 14, 2021 (Day-6) Third place match Final     

SPORTS NEWS Lausanne, Switzerland (August 11, 2021):-With three gold medals (Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Tokyo 2020) to her name, Netherlands captain Eva de Goede is looking slightly shellshocked. “It hasn’t really sunk in,” she admits before the interview begins. “It has been like a whirlwind between winning the gold medal and now.” The last few days may have been a whirlwind to the 32-year-old midfielder, but to all the opposing teams who faced the Dutch on their way to the gold medal, it was more like a steam roller. Unbeaten throughout the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 women’s hockey competition, the world number one side lived up to their billing. “I can’t believe that we did it. I am very happy and proud of the way we played,” says de Goede. “The pressure was quite high for us. A lot of people expected us to win and that is not easy. But we stayed focused from the start and we played a little bit better each game and that was what we wanted. “First we had to get used to each other and get used to playing at the Olympics. We excelled through the quarter-final, semi-final and then played our best in the final.” As she compared her previous Olympic experiences, which also include a silver medal win at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, de Goede says that the first thing she noticed was the quiet in the stadium. At such a major event, the Netherlands would normally be playing in front of thousands of people, either cheering them on or cheering against them. Either way, the quiet atmosphere was unsettling. “But also,” she says, “it was very special because it was so intimate with the team. And we knew that we had the support of thousands of people around the world.” The Netherlands won the gold medal after defeating Argentina 3-1 in the final. De Goede recalls the moment the final whistle went. “It was a very special moment. I still can’t believe we actually did it. “It [the Olympic Games] took way longer than expected, so for another year and a half we had to keep pushing. And then, after all the delay, it all went by so quickly at the end.” On their return to the Netherlands, the team went straight to the beach at Scheveningen where the Dutch National Olympic Committee hosted a party for returning athletes, family and friends. “It was special that we could have a celebration even in these times,” says de Goede. Speaking about the Netherlands Head Coach, Alyson Annan, Eva said: “Alyson is so good at giving us trust and confidence that we can do it. She also gets us to talk about things. Apart from that, she is an amazing coach. Because of that, you go to the Games knowing and trusting you are fully prepared.” Fans of Dutch hockey and fans of hockey generally will be disappointed to hear that Eva de Goede has hinted that she may not be gracing the stage at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 but, if this is to be the midfielder’s last Olympics, then she can gracefully retire as a true champion at the pinnacle of her sport.

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Rawalpindi (August 10, 2021):-Pakistan Air Force (POA) outclassed Punjab 5-1 in the Group-B match of the Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2021 on Tuesday here at the blue surface of the Mari Petroleum Astroturf Hockey Stadium Ayub Park. PAF team started the game with a bang, as they attacked the Punjab goal-post back-to-back in the first quarter of the game. Rizwan Ali was unstoppable for the Punjabi guys, as he netted the ball thrice during the all four quarters. Sufyan Khan and Abdul Reham scored each one goal for their team PAF.  Bilal Aslam scored only one goal for Punjab team. Later in the second match of the day National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) defeated Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) 4-3 in a well contested match. Dilbar Khan, Ali Hasan, Junaid Manzoor and Arsalan Qadir scored goal for winners while Sohail Riaz scored two and Abbas Haider one goal for SSGC. Sohail was declared player of the match. Teams: Pool (A): WAPDA, Pakistan Navy, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Army Pool (B): National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Air Force (POA), Punjab Schedule & Results: August 8, 2021 (Day-1): WAPDA beat Pakistan Army 2-1 NBP beat Pakistan Air Force 3-2 Pakistan Navy beat Mari Petroleum Company 2-1 August 9, 2021 (day-2) SSGC Vs Punjab 2-2 Draw Army Vs MPCL 3-3 Draw WAPDA beat Navy 1-0 August 10, 2021 (day-3) PAF beat Punjab 5-1 NBP beat SSGC 4-3 August 12, 2021 (day-4): NBP Vs Punjab SSGC Vs PAF Army Vs Navy WAPDA Vs MPCL August 13, 2021 (Day-5) Semifinals August 14, 2021 (Day-6) Third place match Final     

PORTS NEWS Lausanne, Switzerland (August 10, 2021):-With the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 coming to its exciting culmination with the national men’s team of Belgium and the women’s team of Netherlands taking the gold medals, there has been jostling for positions in the FIH World Rankings. For Belgium men, winning the Olympic medal in a scintillating match against their close rivals Australia brought another prize - a jump in rankings to number one in the world. The victory moved Belgium onto 2716 points, ahead of Australia who are on 2642 points. India men enjoyed a fantastic competition, beating Germany in exciting fashion in the bronze medal match. This was India men’s first medal since they last won gold in 1980. The 41-year wait ended with a bronze medal and wins over Argentina, Japan, Great Britain and Germany in the pool and knock-out stages, sees the India (2362) move to third in the world rankings, ahead of the Netherlands (2115) in fourth and Germany (2072) in fifth. Great Britain, whose world rankings are categorised as England (1990), remain in sixth position, after they lost to India in the quarter finals, while Argentina (1826) also retain their position at seventh. New Zealand (1598), Spain (1532) and Canada (1422) are also unmoved following their performances at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but South Africa’s (1413) performance, which included a surprise win over the higher-ranked German team has moved the African team from 14th to 12th in the FIH World Rankings. Host nation Japan (1025) drop one place from 15th to 16th, meaning they change places with Asian rivals Korea (1065). There is, once again, no change at the very top of the women’s FIH World Rankings where Olympic champions the Netherlands remain resolutely in the number one position. Argentina’s loss in the Olympic final, combined with Great Britain’s bronze medal win, sees England (2275), who represented Great Britain in the world rankings, leapfrogging Argentina (2261), Australia (2234) and Germany (2165) to move to second in the world rankings. The quarter-final losses suffered by Australia [to India] and Germany [to Argentina] caused both teams to slip two places down the rankings. Spain’s (1859) strong Olympic performance sees the Red Sticks move from eighth to sixth, New Zealand (1721) have travelled in the opposite direction as they fall from fifth to seventh. India’s (1710) performance moves them up to eighth position from 10th, with Belgium (1700) remaining in ninth and China (1651) slipping to 10th. Ireland’s (1499) failure to make the quarter-finals in Tokyo sees the Irish team slip to 12th. It is no move for host nation Japan (1231) or South Africa (1040) who remained unmoved in 14th and 16th position respectively. Tokyo 2020 was the first Olympic Games to take place since the introduction of the match-based rankings calculated model, which came into play in January 2020. The move away from the previous tournament-based system to one where opposing teams exchange points in official matches means that, for the first time, the results of the fixtures in Tokyo will have a direct, real-time effect on FIH World Ranking positions.

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Rawalpindi (August 9, 2021):-The two matches of ongoing Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2021 on Monday, as the first match was played between SSGC and Punjab while second between Pakistan Army and hosts MPCL at Mari Petroleum Astroturf Hockey Stadium Ayub Park Rawalpindi. WAPDA tide-over Pakistan Navy 1-0 in the third fixture of the day-2. The first match of day-2 was played between Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Punjab that ended in a draw after four quarters fuss, as the final score was 2-2. Rizwan Ali and Sohail Riaz scored goal for SSGC while Zain Ijaz and Abdullah were the goal scorer for Punjab. It was great of the day and both teams showed nice hockey with full skill and different moves and attacks. Later, the second match of the day was also ended without any result. Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL) and Pakistan Army tried their to win the game but at the final whistle the score board was showing 3-3 level. Both teams earned each one point after playing a draw game. Aamir Sohail, Mohammad Waqas and Wasim Akram scored goal for Army. Teams: Pool (A): WAPDA, Pakistan Navy, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Army Pool (B): National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Air Force (POA), Punjab Schedule & Results: August 8, 2021 (Day-1): WAPDA beat Pakistan Army 2-1 NBP beat Pakistan Air Force 3-2 Pakistan Navy beat Mari Petroleum Company 2-1 August 9, 2021 (day-2) SSGC Vs Punjab 2-2 Draw Army Vs MPCL 3-3 Draw WAPDA beat Navy 1-0 August 10, 2021 (day-3) PAF Vs Punjab NBP Vs SSGC August 12, 2021 (day-4): NBP Vs Punjab SSGC Vs PAF Army Vs Navy WAPDA Vs MPCL August 13, 2021 (Day-5) Semifinals August 14, 2021 (Day-6) Third place match Final     

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL Rawalpindi (August 8, 2021):-Pakistan WAPDA, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Pakistan Navy recorded victories on the opening day of the Mari Petroleum Azadi Hockey Cup 2021 after defeating their respective opponents that started here at Mari Petroleum Astroturf Hockey Stadium Ayub Park Rawalpindi on Sunday. The top national hockey showpiece is being played under the banner of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). In the first match of the championship, WAPDA defeated Army 2-1, as the winners got the lead in the first half of the match when Rana Waheed netted the ball. Aslo, Waheed scored second goal for his team in second part of the match. Arslan Rao scored only goal for Army. Meanwhile, in the second match, National Bank of Pakistan beat Pakistan Air Force (PAF) 3-2 in a well contested match of the day, as both teams displayed excellent skills of game during ll the four quarters. However, NBP managed to defend their lead till the last whistle. Ali Hasan, Mohammad Shan and Mohammad Abubaker scored each one goal for their winner team NBP. Mohsin Hasan and Rizwan Ali were the scores for PAF. In the last match of the day Pakistan Navy defeated Mari Petroleum 2-1 in a trilling four quarters competition. Akbar Ali and Kamran Asif scored the goal for the winners while Aitsham scored the solitary goal for the losing side. President PHF Khalid Sajjad Khokhar graced the opening ceremony of the tournament. All top officials of Mari Petroleum and hockey federation were present on this occasion. The final of the championship will be played on red letter day August 14, 2021. Teams: Pool (A): WAPDA, Pakistan Navy, Mari Petroleum Company Limited (MPCL), Pakistan Army Pool (B): National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan Air Force (POA), Punjab Schedule & Results: August 8, 2021 (Day-1): WAPDA beat Pakistan Army 2-1 NBP beat Pakistan Air Force 3-2 Pakistan Navy beat Mari Petroleum Company 2-1 August 9, 2021 (day-2) SSGC Vs Punjab Army Vs MPCL Navy Vs WAPDA August 10, 2021 (day-3) PAF Vs Punjab NBP Vs SSGC August 12, 2021 (day-4): NBP Vs Punjab SSGC Vs PAF Army Vs Navy WAPDA Vs MPCL August 13, 2021 (Day-5) Semifinals August 14, 2021 (Day-6) Third place match Final  

SPORTS NEWS Tokyo (August 6, 2021):-The Netherlands added the Olympic gold medal to their World, European and FIH Hockey Pro League titles thanks to a 3-1 victory over Argentina, bringing a wonderful Hockey competition at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 to a close. The win gave the Oranje their fourth Olympic crown, with the 2020 gold medal being added to those collected at Los Angeles 1984, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. For team captain Eva de Goede and star attacker Lidewij Welten, it is a third Olympic gold medal and a fourth in total, with both players having been part of the triumphant campaigns in 2008 and 2012 as well as winning silver at Rio 2016. It is a fitting reward for a Netherlands side that has been the dominant force of women’s international hockey for the past five years, with the team coached by Alyson Annan – herself a double Olympic hockey gold medallist with Australia - absolutely justifying their position as pre-competition favourites. Argentina made life incredibly difficult for the Netherlands in the first period, although Caia van Maasakker came close to opening the scoring when her penalty corner drag-flick rattled the Argentine crossbar. The third quarter was decisive, with the Oranje opening up a three-goal lead that would prove too great a mountain for Las Leonas to climb. Margot van Geffen’s superb penalty corner tip-in broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, before van Maasakker scored two unstoppable penalty corner drag-flicks to put the Dutch into a commanding lead. However, Argentina hit back almost immediately when Agustina Gorzelany’s powerful penalty corner drag-flick squeezed between the legs of Netherlands goalkeeper Josine Koning, giving the South American giants a lifeline going into the final 30 minutes. Argentina battled hard in an attempt to claw back the situation but found clear goal-scoring opportunities few and far between thanks to the magnificent Dutch defensive line, which only conceded four times in their eight matches here in Tokyo. It was a deserved success for a team that is without question the best in the world, with Argentina having to settle for a third Olympic silver following their final defeats at Sydney 2000 and London 2012. “It's amazing - I'm a bit speechless, I'm sorry, I just can't believe that we actually did it”, said Netherlands captain Eva de Goede after the match. “We worked so hard for it, just like every other team. My fourth Olympics, fourth time in the final, and to win my third gold medal is just something that you not even dare to dream of. “And I'm so happy that after five years ago when we won the silver medal that I can give this gold medal now to the team, to the girls who won the silver there. It's just the best feeling ever.” When asked about how proud she was to captain this team, de Goede said: “It's almost an easy job for me. It's just great to play in a team that's willing to do better every training, every time we see each other we invest so much time in each other. We are each other's friends, we have each other's backs, just can't be better than this. “You really see a team playing every single time you step on the pitch and that's what I'm most proud of, and that's why I actually started to play hockey because it was most fun to play in a team, and this is it for me.” Argentina captain Noel Barrionuevo said: “I'm feeling sad, but at the same time I'm also feeling happy because at the end we were able to reach an Olympic final, this is something amazing, and we were also able to take the silver home. It was a pretty close game. We were facing a very dynamic rival. They scored their goals very quickly, so we were not able to recover from that.” On how proud she is to win a silver medal for Argentina, Barrionuevo said: “I'm feeling proud, really proud. I'm very proud to represent Argentina here. I'm also proud of the team, and at the end right now I'm feeling like a privileged person.” Earlier in the day, Great Britain’s women secured their third successive Olympic medal by edging India 4-3 in a hugely entertaining bronze medal match. The London 2012 bronze and Rio 2016 gold medallists were given a huge test by the Indian team, fighting back from 3-2 down to win 4-3 thanks to strikes from captain Hollie Pearne-Webb and Grace Balsdon in a contest played in sweltering conditions.  It is Great Britain’s fourth Olympic medal, having also medalled at Barcelona 1992 with a 4-3 victory against Korea. It is also a first Olympic medal for Great Britain head coach Mark Hager, who took New Zealand's women to the bronze medal games at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics but suffered defeat on both occasions. It is a third Olympic medal for defender Laura Unsworth, who was also part of the London and Rio campaigns. While defeat left India’s players and coaching staff clearly heartbroken, the team captained by Rani and coached by Sjoerd Marijne can leave Tokyo feeling incredibly proud of their achievement, matching their previous best Olympic finish of fourth, which came at Moscow 1980. Final Standings – Men Gold – Belgium Silver – Australia Bronze – India 4 – Germany 5 – Great Britain 6 – Netherlands 7 – Argentina 8 – Spain 9 – New Zealand 10 – South Africa 11 – Japan 12 – Canada Final Standings – Women Gold – Netherlands Silver –  Argentina Bronze – Great Britain 4 – India 5 – Australia 6 – Germany 7 – Spain 8 – New Zealand 9 – China 10 – Ireland 11 – Japan 12 – South Africa

SPORTS NEWS Tokyo (August 6, 2021):-Great Britain’s women secured their third successive Olympic medal by edging India 4-3 in a hugely entertaining bronze medal match at the Oi Hockey Stadium this morning. The London 2012 bronze and Rio 2016 gold medallists were given a huge test by the Indian team, fighting back from 3-2 down to win 4-3 thanks to strikes from captain Hollie Pearne-Webb and Grace Balsdon in a contest played in sweltering conditions.  It is Great Britain’s fourth Olympic medal, having also medalled at Barcelona 1992 with a 4-3 victory against South Africa. It was also a first medal for Great Britain head coach Mark Hager, who took New Zealand's women to the bronze medal games at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics but suffering defeat on both occasions. It is a third Olympic medal for defender Laura Unsworth, who was also part of the London and Rio campaigns. While defeat left India’s players and coaching staff clearly heartbroken, the team captained by Rani and coached by Sjoerd Marijne can leave Tokyo feeling incredibly proud of their achievement, matching their previous best Olympic finish of fourth, which came at Moscow 1980. Despite the on-field temperature reaching 43 degrees Celsius – a situation that lead to the implementation of not only extended quarter time breaks but also mid-quarter hydration breaks – the contest between the two teams was nothing short of thrilling. Both teams had chances to score in a goal-less first quarter before a flurry of goals arrived in the second period, with Great Britain’s Ellie Rayer and Sarah Robertson – who struck a diving backhand into the goal via the left post – opening up a 2-0 lead. Incredibly, India responded with three goals in just four minutes, as Gurjit Kaur bagged two penalty corners before Vandana Katariya scored from open play to leave Great Britain trailing at half time. A captain’s goal from Hollie Pearne-Webb levelled the scores with a rare but high-quality strike from open play five minutes after half time, with the game’s decisive moment coming from the stick of Grace Balsdon early in the fourth quarter, sending a low penalty corner drag-flick between the legs of India goalkeeper Savita. India fought until the very last second, but Great Britain’s defence – coupled with another excellent goalkeeping display from Maddie Hinch – held firm to seal the bronze medal. "This is definitely up there”, said GB’s Laura Unsworth on winning her third Olympic medal. “This has probably been my most challenging cycle since I first started, so on a personal note this is probably the most special medal out of all three of them. It has been a tough five years and to come away with a bronze medal to top it all off is just what dreams are made of." Talking about his message to his team after the defeat, India head coach Sjoerd Marijne said: “The first thing I said, like for me personal, first the emotion is about losing, yeah you want to win, but really first off that I feel proud. Pride. I'm proud of the girls, how they again showed their fight and skills. And normally when Indian woman team came 2-0 behind they always went 3-0, 4-0, and now they kept fighting. We came back in the match, we even were one up. “And I said to the girls, 'Listen, I can't take away your tears. No words will help for that. We didn't win the medal, but I think we achieved something bigger, and it's inspiring a country and make the country proud.' And I've shown many messages of people who were saying that, and I think the world have seen another Indian team, and I'm really proud of that.” The women’s Hockey gold medal match begins at 19:00 and will see hot favourites the Netherlands taking on Argentina. The Dutch are now just one win away from being in possession of the World, European, FIH Hockey Pro League and Olympic titles. However, they are not expected to have everything their own way against Las Leonas. Fascinatingly, Argentina were the last team to beat the Netherlands, inflicting defeat on the Dutch during their FIH Hockey Pro League encounter in Buenos Aires in February 2020, with the Oranje claiming a 3-1 victory the following day.  The gold medal game will be umpired by Laurine Delforge (BEL) and Sarah Wilson (SCO), with Amber Church (NZL) and Kelly Hudson (NZL) the reserve umpire and video umpire respectively.

SPORTS NEWS Tokyo (August 5, 2021):-The winners of the men’s Olympic gold medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 are Belgium, who claimed a dramatic shoot-out victory against Australia thanks to a heroic goalkeeping performance from Vincent Vanasch. The Olympic silver medallists from Rio 2016 went one step higher up the podium this time around, with Vanasch – a two-times FIH Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – denying three Australian players in the one-on-ones as the Red Lions added the Olympic crown to the World Cup they won in India three years ago. As well as earning that much coveted Olympic gold medal, the result means that Belgium have moved back to number one in the FIH World Rankings. The gold medal match itself was incredibly tense throughout, with the two finest men’s hockey teams on the planet proving themselves inseparable for the vast majority of a fierce, high-quality contest. Both Vanasch and Andrew Charter, his opposite number in the Australian goal, made some stunning saves in the game before the deadlock was finally broken early in the third quarter when Florent Van Aubel pounced from close range with a cunning, lifted finish.  Australia pulled level thanks to Tom Wickham’s brilliant overhead tap-in, showing his predatory instincts to force the ball over the line after both Flynn Ogilvie and Aran Zalewski kept the ball alive in the Belgian circle. Both teams had chances late on, but in the end, it came down to a shoot-out to separate the two highest ranked teams in the world, giving the sensational Vanasch a chance to shine. The shot-stopper gave Belgium an early advantage when he saved Australia’s first attempt, slapping the ball away from the stick of Blake Govers before Van Aubel and Arthur de Sloover netted either side of Flynn Ogilvie to give Belgium a 2-1 lead. Australia’s Tim Brand scored to keep the pressure on the Belgians, who then missed their next attempt when the usually calm and collected Felix Denayer lost control, with Australia’s Andrew Charter making the save. However, when Vanasch denied the effort of Joshua Simmonds and competition top scorer Alexander Hendrickx slotted home a penalty stroke after Charter had fouled Victor Wegnez, the pressure was all on Australia’s midfield dynamo Jake Whetton. When the Australian player hit the post, Belgium’s players exploded in celebration, but an Australian video referral ruled that Vanasch had accidently fouled Whetton before his shot, resulting in a re-award.  However, Vanasch took the moment in his stride, stepping out to save Whetton’s second attempt and spark scenes of utter jubilation from all members of the Belgian contingent, and leave level-headed coach Shane McLeod unable to control his emotions, crying tears of joy. "It's history again", said shoot-out hero Vincent Vanasch. "It was history at the World Cup, at the European Championships and now it's history at the Olympics. I will cherish that moment for a long time. This team is a dream team." Commenting on his performance and how he handles himself in shoot-out situations, Vanasch said: "It's just that we train so much. I'm like a musician, it's a rehearsal and then you come to the concert and it comes naturally. That's how I come on the pitch. I'm composed, but also I trust myself, I trust my reflexes and you can learn that from experience and that's why today I did something like this." Australia captain Eddie Ockenden said: "It was a tough match. It was a close game but I thought we had the running at the end and couldn't quite get there. Shoot-outs are tough. I prefer extra time. We couldn't get it done in the shootout." A shoot-out defeat was a tough ending to a superb Australian campaign here in Tokyo, but they will be determined to upgrade silver for gold at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, just as Belgium have done this evening here at the Oi Hockey Stadium. Earlier in the day, India claimed an Olympic medal for the first time since winning gold at Moscow 1980, beating Germany 5-4 in one of the most dramatic bronze medal matches in Olympic history. India fought back from 3-1 down to claim a sensational 5-4 victory over Die Honamas to seal their place on the podium this evening, with goals from Simranjeet Singh (2), Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh and Hardik Singh denying Germany a medal at a fourth successive Olympic Games (Gold: Beijing 2008, London 2012, Bronze: Rio 2016). The Hockey competition of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 enters its final day tomorrow, with the women’s medals being decided. The bronze medal match will take place on Friday 6 August, with Great Britain and India going-head-to head at 10:30 Japan Standard Time (UTC/GMT +9). GB are targeting a third Olympic medal on the bounce following bronze at London 2012 and gold at Rio 2016, while India, already guaranteed to match their previous best finish (4th – Moscow 1980), have the chance to create a moment of sporting history by claiming a first Olympic medal in women’s hockey. The match will be umpired by Michelle Joubert (RSA) and Michelle Meister (GER), with Irene Presenqui (ARG) and Kelly Hudson (NZL) the reserve umpire and video umpire respectively. The women’s Hockey gold medal match takes place at 19:00 will see hot favourites the Netherlands taking on Argentina. The Dutch are now just one win away from being in possession of the World, European, FIH Hockey Pro League and Olympic titles. However, they are not expected to have everything their own way against Las Leonas. Fascinatingly, Argentina were the last team to beat the Netherlands, inflicting defeat on the Dutch during their FIH Hockey Pro League encounter in Buenos Aires in February 2020, with the Oranje claiming a 3-1 victory the following day.  The gold medal game will be umpired by Laurine Delforge (BEL) and Sarah Wilson (SCO), with Amber Church (NZL) and Kelly Hudson (NZL) the reserve umpire and video umpire respectively. Final Standings – Men Gold – Belgium Silver – Australia Bronze – India 4 – Germany 5 – Great Britain 6 – Netherlands 7 – Argentina 8 – Spain 9 – New Zealand 10 – South Africa 11 – Japan 12 – Canada