World Cup Hockey : India

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...gry-at-video-referral/articleshow/5629086.cms

Charlesworth angry at video referral
PTI, Feb 28, 2010, 09.43pm IST

NEW DELHI: Australian coach Ric Charlesworth on Sunday said the video referral system had made his side's life difficult with many wrong decisions against them during the 2-3 loss to England in their first match of the hockey World Cup.

"The umpires made lots of decisions against us and the video referral decisions went against us. It happened in the Champions Trophy in Australia last year also. But it is the system here, what can we do," he said at the post-match press conference.

"Towards the close of the match our chance to have a penalty corner was overturned. I could not believe it. That was a penalty corner," he added.

Charlesworth said his boys were to blame themselves for the defeat as they missed chances galore, including 12 penalty corners of which they converted only one.

"We missed at least 28 chances and how can win if you missed like that. We did not do well in penalty corner conversion. We are disappointed. Now our next match against India on Tuesday has become a must-win match," he said.

"But this is not the first time we are in such a situation and it is a long way to go in the tournament," said Charlesworth who had coached India earlier.

Australia captain Jamie Dwyer was also a disappointed man and said his side will have to put up a good performance against India on Tuesday in front of their home crowd.

"We are disappointed and it was frustrating that you have lots of chances and you don't convert them. We have to recover and regroup before the India match.

"The crowd was fantastic today and they would be cheering the Indians on Tuesday. We have to come up with a much improved performance against India," he said.

England captain Barry Middleton said that they were happy to have a winning start in the tournament but add that his side would have to improve their performance.

"It is a great start in the tournament, especially a win against Australia. But we would not wanted that Australia had so many chances though they did not capitalise on them.

"We think we can beat any top side of the world on our day. The win has not changed our target of reaching the semifinal but we have to improve in the next matches," he said.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gWNDKyV0c2ePSVSso0pWXlF941_g

Field Hockey: India's Shivendra suspended

(AFP) – 4 hours ago

NEW DELHI — India striker Shivendra Singh was on Monday banned for three matches and Pakistan's Irfan Muhammad for one game for different violations in the men's field hockey World Cup.

Shivendra was handed the suspension by tournament director Ken Read for hitting Pakistan's Fareed Ahmed above the eye in Sunday's league clash between the Asian rivals.

Read penalised Irfan for wearing an unapproved glove and knee pad to defend the first penalty corner in the same match, a statement from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said.

Shivendra will miss India's key group B matches against Australia, Spain and England, but will be available for the last game against South Africa.

Irfan will sit out of Pakistan's match against Spain on Tuesday.

Shivendra, who scored a goal in India's emphatic 4-1 win on Monday, was charged under a level 2 offence of FIH's code of conduct which deals with physical assault without causing serious injury.

Read said he handed the three-match suspension after video replays suggested that Shivendra had hit Fareed deliberately, even though the on-field umpires did not penalise the player during the match.

Pakistan's Irfan was suspended following manager Asif Bajwa's admission that the offending glove and knee pad were not taken to the technical committee for approval before the tournament.

The 12-nation tournament in the Indian capital ends on March 13.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/542271_India-hope-to-maintain-winning-momentum-against-Oz

India hope to maintain winning momentum against Oz

STAFF WRITER 12:45 HRS IST

Philem Dipak Singh

New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) After a virtuoso performance in an emotionally charged campaign-opener against arch-rivals Pakistan, India will have to maintain the attacking form when they take on Australia in their second Pool B match of the hockey World Cup here tomorrow.

India produced one of the finest performances in long time in front of a capacity crowd at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium to beat Pakistan 4-1 yesterday and now would want to overcome Australia to brighten their chances for semifinals.

Pumped up by a cheering home crowd, everything clicked for India against Pakistan with the midfield, defence and upfront spot on.

The defence of Sandeep Singh, Diwakar Ram and Dhananjay Mahdik were able to keep at check the dangerous strike duo of Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi throughout the match.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/543095_Shivendra-s-ban-reduced-but-HI-not-happy

Shivendra's ban reduced but HI not happy

STAFF WRITER 11:54 HRS IST

New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) The International Hockey Federation (FIH) today reduced the three-match ban on Indian forward Shivendra Singh, for "deliberately" hitting a Pakistani player during his team's World Cup opener here, to two.

The verdict of the FIH jury means that Shivendra, who scored a goal against Pakistan on Sunday, will miss tonight's crucial game against Australia and the one against Spain scheduled for Thursday.

"We have just been told about the FIH's decision that his ban has been reduced to two matches," Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra said.

"We are not at all happy with the decision because the foul was not intentional. We are disappointed with the jury's verdict but we don't have any option now and he will have to sit out," he added.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h4F5Vgp5CP3iESH5qpOBZQNMDCKQ

Germany survive Korean scare in hockey World Cup

By Kuldip Lal (AFP) – 16 hours ago

NEW DELHI — Two-time defending champions Germany came from behind to force a 2-2 draw on South Korea in the men's field hockey World Cup on Monday.

Dutch penalty corner ace Taeke Taekema slammed the first hat-trick of the tournament to help his team crush Argentina 3-0 at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi

In another group A match, New Zealand came back from a 1-2 deficit at half-time to defeat Canada 3-2, with Ryan Archibald scoring the winner four minutes before the final whistle.

The Koreans led 2-0 at half-time, a margin the powerful Germans had not endured at the interval of a World Cup match since trailing 0-4 against Australia in Sydney in 1994.

But the reigning Olympic champions who are looking for a hat-trick of World Cup titles after winning the last two editions in 2002 and 2006, fought back strongly after resumption.

Florian Fuchs narrowed the margin in the 50th minute with a goal that was referred to the video umpire, before Benjamin Wess scored the equaliser off a goal-mouth melee eight minutes later.

The Germans were lucky to escape with a point in the opening match of group A, which also includes the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand and Canada.

Two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals.

Hyun Hye-Sung put the Asian champions ahead in the fourth minute with a stinging penalty corner shot, before Lee Nam Yong produced a brilliant second goal in the 15th minute.

Taking a pass from the centre, Lee sped down the left flank and hit a reverse stick from the narrowest of angles that caught German goalkeeper Max Weinhold on the wrong foot and went in.

"I am must admit we were lucky to draw," said German captain Max Muller. "But I am also happy we were able to fight back in the second-half and create chances.

"We need to improve our penalty corner conversions. We wasted six today. Just can't afford to do it in our remaining games.

"The South Koreans were fast on their counter-attacks like always, but we always knew that. They did not play any better today, it's just that we were not at our best."

Taekema's hat-trick against Argentina took his World Cup tally to 16, just one short of another Dutch penalty corner specialist Floris Jan-Bovelander.

"A good start, of course," said Dutch coach Michel van den Heuvel. "Taeke is obviously a very important player for us and it is good to have him in such form.

"This is only the first match and we are settling down well."

Canada, ranked 11th in the world, took an early lead against the number eight Kiwis when Mark Pearson scored off a rebound in the second minute.

Priyesh Bhana drew level in the 11th, but the Canadians nudged ahead a second time in the 20th through a field goal by Philip Wright.

New Zealand attacked after the resumption and were rewarded with the equaliser by Nick Haig in the 46th minute, before Archibald found the winner from the top of the circle.

 

[Pintu]

http://sify.com/news/Hockey-World-Cup-England-beat-South-Africa-6-4-news-National-kdcsEbfgdeg.html

IANS
Hockey World Cup: England beat South Africa 6-4

2010-03-02 18:40:00

England defeated South Africa 6-4 in a high scoring Pool B clash of the Hockey World Cup here Tuesday.

For England, Richard Mantell scored twice while Nick Catlin, Ashley Jackson, Rob Moore and Iain Mackay struck one goal each. South African Marvin Harper scored twice while Llyod Norris-Jones and Thornton McDade sounded the board once.

Both teams were locked 2-2 in the halftime

 

[Pintu]

http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=99851

Pakistan beat Spain 2-1 in World Cup

Updated at: 1935 PST, Tuesday, March 02, 2010

NEW DELHI: Pakistan defeated Spain 2-1in their second match in the FIH hockey World Cup here on Tuesday.

After being beaten by India in their first match, Pakistan showed good spirit this time despite a tense contest.

Rehan Butt got Pakistan lead in the last moments of the first half but Spain equalled the score in the second half.

However, Abdu Haseem Khan made the deciding goal in the final moments and Pakistan emerged victorious in the end.

 

[Pintu]

India - Vs- Australia , Australia leads by 1 - 0 .

Regards

 

[GokuInd]

It's been now 3 - 0...

 

[Vinod2070]

Is it available online?

 

[GokuInd]

I got this from the TOI homepage

 

[Vinod2070]

Australia leading 5-1!

We are jinxed against Australia it seems.

 

[Singh]

5-2 loss against the thunders from down under.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...izzard-from-Australia/articleshow/5635034.cms

India hit by a blizzard from Australia
Alok Sinha, TNN, Mar 3, 2010, 12.48am IST

NEW DELHI: After the terrific take-off on Sunday, India ran into an air pocket here on Tuesday night. It was a bumpy ride no doubt with the Australians coming at them in waves — teasing them, bullying them and, at times, mocking them. But that was not the way the entire script went in the fast-paced Hero Honda World Cup encounter that ended 5-2 in the favour of the legendary Ric Charlesworth's men.

It was also a story of India's new-found will to fight back; their desire to tell their fans that they are no pushovers. They lost the bruising battle but not before playing some serious hockey. It was heartening to see fans chant India, India even after the team had lost. It shows that the fans are willing to back them and to support them in their hour of distress. Surely, a new bonding seems to be emerging here.

It's never easy for a team ranked No. 12 in world to stage a fight back after being 0-3 down against the No. 2 team. And don't go by that scoreline. If the Indians had converted some easy opportunities that came their way in both halves, it would have been a different story. Australia, smarting from their shock defeat at the hands of England on Sunday, had vowed to hit India hard. That they did, taking advantage of defensive lapses. They took the lead in the second minute and slammed home the second even before the hosts could settle down.

Was it nerves? Or was the loss of forward Shivendra Singh, who has been banned for two matches, playing on their minds? It's difficult to tell but the first six minutes surely rattled them. They tried to get their act together, tightening their midfield play, trying to open up the flanks. However, even as they looked to be settling down, Australia made it 3-0, scoring against the run of play. It seemed curtains.

The Australians were brilliant in defence, speedier and their trapping and passing skills looked far superior. But that was till the 3-0 scoreline; after that it was an open game. Gurwinder Chandi missed an opportunity to score when he tried to pass the ball instead of taking a straight hit at the goal after entering the circle. However, soon after that, a minute before the half-time hooter, Vikram Pillay slotted home on a pass by Gurbaz Singh from the right. 1-3. The fight was on.

Australia repeated the first half. They slotted home two goals in the first seven minutes to go 5-1 up and it was yet again time to play catch up. The good bit was that the Indians refused to fall back and swarm their defence in panic, as they have in the past. They fought for every ball, dived, slided and ran into empty spaces. The Aussies seemed to have lost the edge and were suddenly looking vulnerable. Arjun Halappa worked his way past four Aussie defenders and passed to Rajpal in front of the goal. 2-5 and 15 minutes to go, it was now a question of how far India could go.

Goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza showed the way, denying Jamie Dwyer, diving to his right after the umpire had pointed to the dreaded spot. The Indians then kept pressing as the stadium erupted. But the Australians did not relent.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...port-from-Indian-fans/articleshow/5634671.cms

Pakistanis delighted at support from Indian fans
IANS, Mar 2, 2010, 10.54pm IST

NEW DELHI: The Pakistani hockey team was delighted to find the Indian fans supporting them in their World Cup Pool B match against Spain at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Tuesday.

Pakistan's veteran player Sohail Abbas said it was a great feeling and he and his teammates felt that they were playing in Lahore or Karachi. Sohail made the comment after his team's 2-1 victory over the Spaniards.

"After a long time, we found some crowd support in India. It was a great feeling and we felt as if we are playing in Lahore or Karachi," said the star drag flicker.

Having lost their first match to India, the win against Spain has brightened Pakistan's hopes of fighting for a semi-final berth from their pool.

"The pool has opened now and after Australia's loss to England in the first game, it seems that every team has a chance of making the semis," he said.

The veteran defender went on to add that Pakistan were taking one game at a time and will quickly put this victory behind them.

"We will put this victory behind us and prepare for the next match. We are not thinking of the semi-final or the final. We are taking one game at a time," he said.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ntenced-without-crime/articleshow/5635048.cms

Shivendra sentenced without crime
Satya Siddharth Rath & Biswajyoti Brahma, TNN, Mar 3, 2010, 12.57am IST

NEW DELHI: There is no one to fight for Shivendra Singh. The livewire forward has been punished for a crime he never committed, yet there is no one to take up his cause - neither Hockey India (HI), which is virtually defunct and powerless, nor the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which, despite being joint organisers of the ongoing Hero Honda World Cup, have, for reasons best known to them, chose to keep quiet.

HI secretary Narinder Batra only went to the extent of saying that it's a harsh decision but could not specify his body's next move, while repeated calls and texts to IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi, who is also the joint chairman of the World Cup organising committee, went unanswered.

After the Indian team management filed an appeal against Shivendra's three-match suspension by Australian tournament director Ken Read, a three-member jury of the FIH reduced it to two matches, as the wise men felt his act of hitting a Pak player was not deliberate as deemed earlier but reckless, and hence the show of leniency.

That's hardly any solace for a shattered Shivendra. "What's the use? I had prepared so hard for the World Cup. I would be missing two key games. But I am confident my team will go all the way. I will cheer for them from the bench. I hope this acts as a motivational factor," he said.

However, several former players are fuming at the injustice. "This is shocking. If the tournament director wished so much to set a precedent why did he choose India? The England-Australia game before that was ill-tempered too, how come that escaped his notice? This is a conspiracy to skittle our campaign," said former star Mir Ranjan Negi. Former captain Zafar Iqbal said he always felt India and Pakistan teams were unfairly targeted by the FIH. "This is another clear example. When there was no complaint from either the rival team or the on-field umpires, what was the need for this?" he asked.

 

[Neo]

Australia leading 5-1!

We are jinxed against Australia it seems.

You are still above Pakistan in Pool ranking.

 

[Vinod2070]

You are still above Pakistan in Pool ranking.

That doesn't matter! What I care about is that we are number 4 in the pool tables and we need to be in top 2 to reach the semis.

I hope one of our teams goes all the way. I hope it's India.

 

[Neo]

India is my second best choice aswell.

England and Australia are both dangerous but both suffered quite a few goals in two matches. It means that we'll have to be more aggressive in upcoming matches against both of them.
If India beats England You'll most probably qualify for the Semis.

 

[Rage]

We got our a$$es handed to us on a big fvckin' silver platter today. Great job, India. You deserve a smack on the face.

Here are highlites of some of the plays:







Well done, Pakistan. They won against a strong team, Spain and deserved the win every bit.