Hockey

Asian Champions Trophy 2024 points table: India, Japan, Pakistan rankings

The defending champions India are the only team to secure a win in their first two matches at the 2024 Asian Hockey Champions Trophy.

Tayyab Ikram to continue as FIH chief for second consecutive term

Incumbent International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Tayyab Ikram is set to be elected unopposed as the head of the world body at its 49th Congress in Muscat, Oman on November 9. The nominations for FIH elections were received by the August 31 deadline for the positions to be elected by the National Associations that are members of the FIH at its Statutory Congress. Ikram has a long association with the sport. The former Pakistan and China hockey coach is a member of the IOC Olympic Solidarity Commission, and has been an Executive Board member of the FIH since 2016. On 5 November 2022, he was elected as the 13th President of FIH. The FIH Elections Oversight Panel (EOP) has also completed its assessment of all the candidates nominated for the positions of FIH president and FIH ordinary executive board members and has determined that all nominations submitted meet the required standards and criteria. While Ikram is the sole candidate for the president's post representing Hong Ko

Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 HIGHLIGHTS: India beat China 3-0 to start their title defense

Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Malaysia held Pakistan to a 2-2 draw after going 0-2 down in 2nd quarter.

Harmanpreet Singh wants to start fresh with ACT title defense in China

Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh said it's time to move on from the euphoria of a second successive Olympic bronze medal if the side desires to retain its Asian Champions Trophy title in Hulunbuir, China this month. Under Harmanpreet's leadership, India won a second successive bronze medal for the first time in over half-a-century at the Olympics in Paris recently. But Harmanpreet said it's time to move and start afresh after a deserving break for the Asian showpiece to be held from September 8 to 17. "With a brief break after the Paris Olympics, the team is ready to take on the best hockey playing nations in Asia and prove its mettle. "We had a good outing in Paris but hockey is a very close game, we cannot rest on our laurels," the skipper said before leaving for China in the early hours on Tuesday. "The aim will be to play high-octane hockey and retain our title." Besides India, the Asian Champions Trophy will feature Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and hosts

We feel proud of every player, no matter which state: UP CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday he feels proud of every Hockey player no matter which state he is from, noting that every athlete is first an Indian and a representative of the whole country. According to an official statement, the chief minister interacted with the officials of Hockey India at his official residence at 5 Kalidas Marg on the eve of the 14th Hockey India Congress. Welcoming the officials of Hockey India, the chief minister said that it was very important for the 14th Hockey India Congress to be held in Uttar Pradesh. "We feel proud of every player, no matter which state he is from. The player is first of all an Indian and he represents the whole country," he said. He expected that the officials of Hockey India prepare the best hockey team for the country in accordance with global standards, according to the statement. "The best facilities should be provided to the players. We have to create a sense of belongingness in the minds of the

National Sports Day 2024: Check date, history, significance, theme, more

National Sports Day 2024 is celebrated every year on August 29 to mark the legacy of Major Dhyan Chand, and to promote sports and fitness in the countryIndia celebrates National Sports Day every year

Paris Olympics: Play fearlessly, says Ashok Dhyanchand to hockey players

The Indian hockey team has been handed an unenviable draw at the Paris Olympics and the legendary Ashok Dhyanchand reckons that the players will have to play "fearlessly" and "without pre-conceived notions" to negotiate the challenge. India had clinched a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 under Manpreet Singh to break a nearly four-decade-long jinx. There are huge expectations from Harmanpreet and Co. to achieve success in Paris. But India's performance over the last few months, especially against Australia and in the Pro League, has become the talking point as the team heads into the Games, commencing in less than a week's time. Ashok, the son of the hockey wizard Dhyanchand, conceded that India will have its hands full, but added that if they are able to control their nerves at crucial junctures, they would be successful. India have Australia, Belgium, Argentina, Ireland and New Zealand in their group. "They have always given us a tough fight. The pool is very tough. Th

IND vs AUS hockey: Series lost, India look to rectify mistakes in 4th game

The series already lost, India would look to work on their weak links ahead of the Paris Olympics when they take on the mighty Australia in the fourth men's hockey Test here on Friday. The Indians started the tour on a disastrous note losing 1-5 and 2-4 against the hosts but produced a stellar defensive display in the third Test on Wednesday before squandering a goal lead to lose 1-2 and hand the series to Australia. A visible improvement was witnessed in India's performance match by match in the series but yet it was not enough to upstage the formidable Kookaburras. For Indian's chief coach Craig Fulton , who is taking the series to test out his strategies ahead of the Paris Games, a lot is left to do. If one day the forward line performed, the next day it under-performed and vice versa for the defence as well. While India's defence dished out a gallant effort in the third Test, braving Australia's constant threats from start to finish, the forward line looked a pale shadow of .

India eye cohesive effort to keep 5-Test hockey series alive against AUS

The Indian men's hockey team would aim for a cohesive effort to avoid a hat-trick of losses when it takes on a formidable Australia in the third Test of the five-match series here on Wednesday. The Indians were drubbed 1-5 and 2-4 by Australia in the first two matches of the series, which is a part of preparations for this year's Paris Olympics for both the sides. The tour is of huge significance for India as it will provide valuable inputs about the areas to improve to chief coach Craig Fulton. And the first two matches have already done that as the Indian defence was put under continuous pressure by quick turnovers by the Kookaburras. The Indian defence, led by skipper Harmanpreet Singh, did not have the best days in the first two games as it wilted when put under pressure and conceded both penalty corners and soft field goals. The lack of ideas from the forwards inside the opposition circle is another area the Indians would need to address. The likes of Mandeep Singh, Abhishek

India vs Australia Hockey Test Series: Matches, timing, live streaming

In India, people can live stream the India vs Australia Hockey Test Series matches on JioCinema free of cost

Cricket presses its field advantage, scores big in Rs 15.7K cr sports biz

The Indian Premier League or IPL, a cricketing event, remains the largest in revenue, reach, and popularity

PR Sreejesh aspires to be Indian hockey team's chief coach by 2036

Indian men's hockey team goalkeeper PR Sreejesh doesn't want to predict his future at the moment and will take a call on his retirement after the Paris Olympics but the veteran custodian aspires to be chief coach of the national side by 2036. Sreejesh, who will be featuring in his fourth Olympics this year, refused to believe that the upcoming edition in Paris could be his last outing in the sporting extravaganza. He remains optimistic but said once he calls it quits, he definitely wants to give back to the game in one or the other way. "For me, this Olympics is really important because at this age it is really hard for me to talk about next four year cycle. From the last Olympics, I was only taking one year at a time. The rest decision comes after the Olympics," Sreejesh told PTI in an interview. "I don't think so (it will be his last Olympics) because when you are 36 and doing a beep test of 20.8 , I think it's quite good. "(But) after my career I will take a break for sure. I w

FIH Hockey Rankings: Indian men slip to 4th, women's team ranked 9th

India on Tuesday slipped a spot to the fourth position in the latest FIH men's world rankings with Germany taking the third place following their impressive run at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers. India (2761) had directly qualified for the Paris Olympics through an Asian Games gold last year and didn't need to play in the recently-concluded Olympic Qualifiers. Germany (2786), on the other hand, went unbeaten at the Olympic Qualifiers in Oman and followed that up with two wins and two draws against Argentina and a young Belgian side during the Santiago del Estero mini tournament in the FIH Pro League to surpass India. Netherlands (3060) continue to sit at the top of the rankings, coming away from the India leg of the FIH Pro League, relatively unscathed, with two draws against India and a loss to Australia accounting for their only dropped points in 8 matches. Belgium (2848) continue to hold on to the second place in the rankings after a strong showing at the Olympic Qualifiers i

Defending Asian champions Trophy crucial to becoming best: Hardik Singh

Indian men's hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh feels that the Asian Champions Trophy triumph last year was the perfect impetus for his side to achieve greater heights and defending the title will be an important step in becoming the best in the world. Since emerging victorious in the Asian Champions Trophy last year, the Indian hockey team went on to win the Asian Games and directly qualify for the Paris Olympics while also putting up a good show in the home leg of the FIH Pro League. The next edition of the men's Asian Champions Trophy will take place in Hulunbuir City, China from September 8 to 17. "Coming back from behind to win the tournament was a special feeling, and looking back, I feel the team used that game as a springboard to reach greater heights," Hardik was quoted as saying in a Hockey India release. "There is no doubt that we are looking forward to playing in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 and defending our title," the midfielder added. "We aim to be the

Accused of rape, Varun withdraws from FIH Pro League to fight legal battle

Accused of rape under the stringent POCSO act, Arjuna award-winning Indian hockey player Varun Kumar has withdrawn from the FIH Pro League in Bhubaneswar to explore his legal options against the allegation, which he described as a "calculated attempt to extort money" from him. The 28-year-old has been granted "urgent leave" from national duty by Hockey India after he stated that the incident has taken a toll on his "physical and mental health". Varun has been booked by the Bengaluru Police after a woman accused the defender of sexually abusing her multiple times when she was a minor. The 22-year-old, in her complaint filed on Monday, said that she came in contact with Varun in 2018 through Instagram, and the player raped her on multiple occasions promising her of marriage when she was 17. In a letter to Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, which is in possession of PTI, Varun claimed that the complaint against him is false and a misuse of the "state machinery". "Through media repo

India hockey player Varun Kumar accused of rape, booked under POCSO act

Arjuna award-winning Indian hockey player Varun Kumar was on Tuesday booked under the stringent POCSO act by the Bengaluru Police after a woman accused the defender of sexually abusing her multiple times when she was a minor. The 22-year-old, in her complaint, said that she came in contact with Varun in 2018 through Instagram, and the player raped her on multiple occasions promising her of marriage when she was 17. She said Varun was training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru when she met him. Varun, who was awarded the Arjuna in 2021, was recently promoted as a DSP in Punjab Police. "Based on the complaint received from the woman, we have registered a case on Monday against the Hockey player under appropriate section of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and sections 376 (rape) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code," the Bengaluru Police said in a statement. Varun, who was in the Indian stand

FIH Women's Pro League: Indian hockey team matches, timing, live streaming

India will face the USA, the Netherlands, China, and Australia in the matches played at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium, Bhubaneswar and Birsa Munda Stadium, Rourkela

Lack of drag flickers concerning for Indian women's hockey: Schopman

The Indian women's hockey team's woeful penalty conversion rate is due to the lack of drag flickers in the side, according to chief coach Janneke Schopman, who stressed on the need to have a more effective talent development programme in the country. Penalty corner conversion has been a thorn in the flesh for the Indian women's team of late. The inability to convert was one of the reasons the side struggled at last month's Olympic Qualifiers, eventually missing the bus for the Paris Games. "We need potentially more depth in our penalty corner. That is a concern in women's hockey in India," Schopman said on the eve of India's FIH Pro League match against China. "If you look at any other country in the top 10, they have 5-6 drag flickers and we do not. So there's work that needs to be happening in talent development." Schopman said while the team is still hurting after its shocking failure to qualify for the Olympics, it is time to look ahead and make the most of the opportunities th

Indian men's hockey team end SA tour with 1-5 loss to the Netherlands

The Indian men's hockey team ended its tour of South Africa with a disappointing 1-5 drubbing at the hands of the Netherlands here on Sunday. Abhishek (39') scored the lone goal for India while Jip Janssen (10', 28'), Duco Telgenkamp (16'), Tjep Hoedemakers (21'), and Koen Bijen (35') were on target for the Dutch side, which is world's top-ranked team. The match began with Netherlands taking an early advantage as Janssen found the back of the net in the 10th minute to give his side the lead. Despite repeated attacks, India were unable to cover the deficit by the end of the first quarter. At the start of the second quarter, Telgenkamp (16') doubled his side's lead. Minutes later, Hoedemakers (21') scored the third goal for the Netherlands, building more pressure on India. Janssen (28') scored late in the second quarter as the Dutch side went into halftime with a 4-0 lead. India began searching for early goals in the second half, but Bijen (35') managed to get another goal for the

India beat South Africa 6-3 to enter FIH Hockey5s Women's World Cup final

India registered a thrilling 6-3 win over South Africa to advance to the final of the FIH Hockey5s Women's World Cup here. Akshata Abaso Dhekale (7th minute), Mariana Kujur (11th), Mumtaz Khan (21st), Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (23rd), Jyoti Chhatri (25th) and Ajima Kujur (26th) scored for India in the semifinal on Friday night. Teshawn De La Rey (5th), captain Toni Marks (8th) and Dirkie Chamberlain (29th) were on target for South Africa. South Africa began the first half on a defensive note, waiting for counters to threaten the Indian goal. The game's first chance fell to South Africa but India goalkeeper Rajani Etimarpu was vigilant in front of the goal. It was a close-range reverse shot from South Africa's Teshawn De La Rey that gave them the early lead, which was short-lived as Akshata equalised for India with a powerful shot that beat South African goalie Grace Cochrane all ends up. But a minute later skipper Toni picked up a pass, dodged the keeper and found the back of the net t