Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): The Hockey5s Oceania Cup 2023 came to an end today in Gold Coast as Australia, New Zealand and Fiji secured the gold, silver and bronze medals respectively, in both men’s and women’s competition! With the top-3 classification, all three teams, across both genders, have now qualified for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup Oman 2024!In the women’s competition Australia were the dominant team in the round-robin stage, winning all 6 of their matches, with New Zealand following closely behind with 5 wins and 1 loss. Fiji and Papua New Guinea joined the two Oceanic powerhouses in qualifying for the semi-finals with Fiji taking 12 points from their 6 games, while Papua New Guinea took 7 points to finish fourth. New Zealand took on Fiji in the first semi-final, and three goals in each half, helped the Black Sticks ease past Fiji and confirm a spot in the final and seal qualification for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup, where they will also be joined by Australia, who breezed past Papua New Guinea in the second semi-final with a 12-1 win, on the back of hat-tricks by Jamie Zimmerman and Dacia Koelmeyer. The bronze medal match was played between Fiji and Papua New Guinea, and Fiji came out 6-2 victors in a close match, where they rode the hot hand of Lora Bukalidi who bagged a hat-trick that sends Fiji to the inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup 2024. The finals were a close affair with Australia scoring the first two goals of the game before New Zealand cut their deficit in half at the stroke of half-time. New Zealand’s search for the equaliser didn’t bear fruit and Australia scored a third with a little over a minute to go in the game, to win the gold medal. In the men’s competition Australia finished at the top of the table, winning all 6 games in the round-robin phase. New Zealand and Fiji finished in second and third positions with 13 and 10 points respectively. Interestingly, New Zealand and Fiji played out an entertaining 5-5 draw in their head-to-head match up in the round robin stage, and would be matched up in the semifinals as well. Solomon Islands finished fourth and would face Australia in the second semifinals. Once again it was New Zealand taking on Fiji in the first semi-final, with New Zealand prevailing in a 6-2 win. Taimana Iversen scored a brace to lead the Black Sticks into the finals and seal qualification for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup 2024. New Zealand will be joined in the World Cup by Australia who made light work of their semi-final encounter against Solomon Islands, coming away with a 10-0 victory. Mitchell Pace scored a first-half hat-trick to put the game beyond doubt and Joshua Commins added two late goals in the second half to seal a second hat-trick for the Kookaburras who made the finals as favourites. Fiji dominated the bronze medal match against Solomon Islands, winning 6-1, and joined their female counterparts in qualifying for the inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup 2024. The finals produced a thriller with New Zealand shocking the home favourites by taking a 3-goal lead inside the first 8 minutes of the game. But Australia clawed their way back and snatched the lead, scoring 4 unanswered goals over the next 5 minutes! A minute later, New Zealand scored again to draw level. Australian captain Liam Kerr-Nelson stepped up and added two goals in the final 3 minutes of the game to lead the hosts to an incredible 6-4 win over their continental rivals and secured the gold medal! In the women’s competition Namibia, South Africa and Zambia from Africa have qualified for the World Cup, alongside hosts Oman. USA, Uruguay and Paraguay have qualified from Pan America while Netherlands, Poland and Ukraine have qualified from Europe. Australia, New Zealand and Fiji have now qualified from Oceania. The final three teams for the World Cup will qualify from Asia, later this year. In the men’s competition Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland from Europe, and Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria from Africa have qualified for the World Cup, alongside hosts Oman. USA, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica are the three qualifiers from Pan America. Australia, New Zealand and Fiji have now qualified from Oceania. The final three teams for the World Cup will qualify from Asia, later this year. 

Sports Bulletin ReportLausanne (Switzerland): Pakistan, China, and Spain will host the Paris Olympics 2024 FIH Hockey Qualifiers January next year in Lahore, Changzhou and Valencia respectively from January 13 to 21.According to International Hockey Federation (FIH), women’s fixtures will be held in Changzhou, China (one tournament) and Valencia, Spain (one tournament) while men’s in Lahore, Pakistan (one tournament) and Valencia, Spain (one tournament), as each tournament will consist of 8 teams.The top 3 teams in each of these FIH Hockey Olympic Qualification Tournaments will qualify for Paris 2024. They will join hosts France as well as the winners of each Continental Championship (African Hockey Road to Paris, Pan American Games, Asian Games, EuroHockey Championship and Oceania Cup).As has been the case since Beijing 2008, 12 teams per gender will play at the Paris 2024 Olympic hockey tournaments, with each squad consisting of 16 athletes.Women’s (Asia: 4, Europe: 8, Oceania: 1, Pan America: 3)Men’s (Africa: 1, Asia: 5, Europe: 7, Oceania: 1, Pan America: 2)

Sports Bulletin ReportSalalah (Oman):-India beat Pakistan 2-1 to win the title of the Juniors Asia Hockey Cup 2023 here at Youth Sports Complex Oman on Thursday night. At the half stage, Indian were leading 2-0.Pakistan Squad: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 AkramIndia Squad:Mohith H S, Himwaan Sihag (goalkeepers), Shardanand Tiwari, Rohit, Amandeep Lakra, Amir Ali, Yogember Rawat (defenders), Vishnukant Singh, Rajinder Singh, Poovanna C B, Amandeep, Sunit Lakra (midfielders), Boby Singh Dhami, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Aditya Lalage, Uttam Singh, Sudeep Chirmako, Angad Bir Singh (forwards) 

Pakistan to meet India in final on Thursday, Abdul Rehman names Player of the MatchSports Bulletin ReportSalalah (Oman):-Pakistan outclassed Malaysia 6-2 in the second semifinal of the Junior Asia Hockey Cup and set their clash with traditional foes India in the final, as in the first semifinal India defeated South Korea 9-1 at Youth Complex Salalah Oman on Wednesday. The final will be played between Pakistan and India on Thursday at the same venue, as both teams were balanced 1-1 in their pool match a few days back. Despite of this that going down 0-1, Pakistan players displayed top quality game to overcome heavyweights Malaysia in the second semifinal. The first goal for Pakistan was scored by Mohammad Sufyan Khan in the 42nd minute of the game while Abdul Rahman scored the second goal in the 44th minute. Abdul Hanan Shahid scored third in the 47th minute while Abdul Rahman struck 4th goal in the 48th minute. Abdul Rahman completed the hat trick by scoring 5th goal in the 51st minute.Arbaaz Ahmed in the 58th minute made the score-line 6-2 till the final whistle. Danish and Prabhu scored goals for Malaysia. Abdul Rahman was declared the player of the match. The final of the event will be played between Pakistan and India on June 1, 2023.

Green Shirts outplay Japan in the last Pool match 3-2, Abdul Wahab scores 2 goalsSports Bulletin ReportSalalah (Oman):-Pakistan cruised into the semifinal of the Asian Juniors Hockey Cup 2023 after beating Japan 3-2 in their last pool match at Salalah Oman on Monday. Abdul Wahab netted the ball twice and got the Man of the Match award.Arbad scored the first goal for Pakistan in the 23rd minute of the match. He directed the ball to the goalpost on a penalty corner. Abdul Wahab was the hero of the match, who scored two goals for his team in the 30th, and 39th minutes of the thriller contest to confirm Pakistan’s berth in the top-four stage of the regional hockey fixture of junior players.

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.

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.