India Finish With Silver In 37th and Last Men's Champions Trophy |

Photograph credit FIH
he
37th Men's Champions Trophy was played at the De Bredase Hockey & Bandy
Club in Breda, Netherlands, from June
23 - July 1, 2018. The participating teams were world no. 1 Australia, no. 2 Argentina, no. 3 Belgium,
no. 4 Netherlands, no. 6 India and no. 13 Pakistan. This is the last
edition of the Champions Trophy - this event will be replaced by the FIH
Pro League starting next year.
India came 2nd in the 37th Champions Trophy, losing in a shootout to Australia in the final. Match results are given below:
Stage |
Date |
Result |
Goal Scorers - India |
Pool |
June 23 |
India 4 - Pakistan 0 |
Ramandeep Singh (26 min) Dilpreet Singh (54
min) Mandeep Singh (57 min) Lalit Upadhyay (60 min) |
|
June 24 |
India 2 - Argentina 1 |
Harmanpreet Singh (17 min), PC Mandeep Singh
(28 min) |
|
June 27 |
Australia 3 - India 2 |
Varun Kumar (11 min) Harmanpreet Singh (58 min), PC |
|
June 28 |
India 1 - Belgium 1 |
Harmanpreet Singh (10 min), PC |
|
June 30 |
India 1 - Netherlands 1 |
Mandeep Singh (47 min), PC |
Final |
July 1 |
Australia 1 - India 1 (3-1 SO) |
Vivek Sagar Prasad (42 min) |
The final standings were as follows: 1 - Australia, 2 - India, 3 -
Netherlands, 4 - Argentina, 5 - Belgium, 6 - Pakistan
The following were the tournament awards:
- Rabobank Player of the Tournament: Aran Zelewski (AUS)
- ONVZ Goalkeeper of the Tournament: P. R. Sreejesh (IND)
- Volvo Rising Player of the Tournament: Jake Harvie (AUS)
- Hero Top Scorer of the Tournament: Gonzalo Peillat (ARG)
- Deloitte Coach of the Tournament: Colin Batch (AUS)
The Indian team for the 37th Men's Champions Trophy was as follows:
Goalkeepers: P. R. Sreejesh (captain), Krishan B. Pathak
Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar,
Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra
Midfielders: Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh
(vice captain), Vivek Sagar Prasad
Forwards: S. V. Sunil, Mandeep Singh,
Ramandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Lalit Upadhyay
Officials: Harendra Singh (chief coach), Christopher Ciriello
(analytical coach), Jugraj Singh (coach), Bharat Chettri (goalkeeping
coach).
|
All Set For Sandeep Singh Biopic Soorma Releasing In July |

iljeet
Dosanjh starrer Soorma has been creating a buzz ever since the trailer
has released.The actor is essaying the role of the former captain of the
national hockey team, Sandeep Singh.
Soorma showcases Sandeep's struggles to get on his own feet after
getting paralyzed for two years after an accidental gunshot injures him
right before the World Cup.
Shaad Ali, who chose Diljeet Dosanjh for the film, says, "Diljeet was
the obvious choice for the film because he looked the part. I was not
trying to find too much resemblance. That was not my criteria, because I
was just trying to go with the look, who would look honest in that
part."
Ali also talked about the challenges one faces while dealing with a
biopic. "Biopics comes with an added responsibility because you are
dealing with a real-life person. It's not easy to make a biopic, but if
you work with that persona and his or her family, things get easy," says Ali.
Soorma will feature Diljeet Dosanjh essaying the role of Sandeep Singh,
alongside Taapsee Pannu and Angad Bedi in pivotal roles. Produced by
Sony Pictures Networks Productions, Chitrangada Singh and Deepak Singh,
Soorma is written and directed by Shaad Ali, and is slated to release on
July 13, 2018.
|
Odisha Chief Minister Asks For Hockey To Be Notified As National Game |

Photograph credit Bisvaranjan Rout of The Hindu
s Odisha prepares to host the men's hockey World Cup 2018 here in
November, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to notify hockey as the national game of India.
Excerpts from the letter Patnaik wrote the following to the prime minister
are given below:
Till the 1980s, India's presence in the international
sports arena was marked by its brilliance in hockey. Crores of Indians
rejoiced every time our hockey team became victorious and our national
anthem was played. Hockey became part of the India psyche.
Cutting across different strata of society and regions, cutting
across the rural-urban divide, hockey is hugely popular in India. In the
tribal areas of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, hockey is a way of
life. In fact, in a first of its kind, Odisha state government is sponsoring the
national hockey teams for the next five years.
As you know, Sir, the next World Cup in hockey will be held in
Odisha in November this year. While reviewing the preparations, I was surprised and shocked to know that what is popularly known
as the national game - hockey - has in fact never been notified as our national game.
I am sure you will agree with the crores of hockey loving
fans in our country that hockey truly deserves to be notified as our
national game. This will be a fitting tribute to the great hockey
players who have made our country proud. It will also inspire our future
generations.
With regards,
Yours sincerely, Naveen Patnaik
|
The Incredible Story of Zimbabwe Hockey In The 1980 Olympics |

Article by Cathy Harris, courtesy The Times
n
what was surely one of the most bizarre starts to an Olympic campaign,
the Zimbabwe women's hockey team set off from Harare for the 1980 Moscow
Games in an aircraft used to transport meat. They had to cope with the
overpowering stench, strapped in like paratroopers down either side,
their luggage piled up in the middle.
Robert Mugabe had led the newly independent country, formerly known
as Rhodesia, for three months when the International Olympic Committee
extended its invitation. Women's hockey was making its Olympic debut and
there had been plans for a six-team tournament, but five pulled out
after the US-led western boycott protesting against the Soviet Union's
invasion of Afghanistan.
With only the hosts left, the organisers cast around for
replacements. The Zimbabweans received their invitation 35 days before
the opening ceremony and officials scrambled to select a squad. Their
captain, Ann Grant, admitted that they were like a bunch of excited
children when they first saw the Olympic stadium. "We had never seen an
artificial pitch and didn't have the right shoes to play on it because
we'd only ever played on sunbaked grass pitches in Zimbabwe," she
recalled. "We had to rush out and buy the shoes."
The happy-go-lucky group attracted the attention of many athletes in
the Olympic Village. Britain's impending medal-winners Daley Thompson,
Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett were among the athletes who spent time
with them and followed their progress during the Games.
"Suddenly people wanted to know all about Zimbabwe," said Chase. "We
went to a party at the Kremlin and had such fun socialising with loads
of famous athletes. Everyone wanted a part of us - we were all just so
proud."
A skilful and versatile forward with a natural goalscoring ability,
Chase was a cornerstone of the side as they pro- gressed through the
round-robin event. Despite struggling with a knee injury, she provided
the pass for Pat McKillop to seal Zimbabwe's 4-1 victory over Austria,
which secured the gold medal.
There was one hitch at the medal ceremony, Sarah English, the team's
goalkeeper, recalled. "Zimbabwe didn't even have its own national
anthem," she said. "They played the Olympic anthem, that's all. But
there was the Zimbabwe flag and we were all so proud."
Back home the team's unlikely victory had captivated the nation: they
were heralded as 'The Golden Girls', and Mugabe's wife, Sally, promised
each squad member an ox.
At a ceremony to mark their triumph the said animals failed to
materialise and the players were left bemused as Mrs Mugabe presented
them with a small polystyrene-wrapped packet of meat each.
Liz Chase, pictured above, died of cancer on May 9, 2018, aged 68.
|
Indian Women Draw 5-Test Hockey Series With Spain |

Photograph of the India vs. Spain match courtesy Hockey India
he
10th ranked Indian women's team played a 5-test series against 11th
ranked Spain at the Consejo Superior de Deportes Hockey Stadium in Madrid, from
June 12-18, 2018. This was an exposure tour ahead of the Vitality
Women's World Cup in July.
India drew the 5-test series 2-2. Match results are given below:
Date |
Result |
Goal Scorers - India |
June 12 |
Spain 3 - India 0 |
|
June 13 |
India 1 - Spain 1 |
Anoopa Barla (54 min) |
June 15 |
India 3 - Spain 2 |
Gurjeet Kaur (28 min), PC Lalremsiami (32
min) Rani Rampal (59 min) |
June 16 |
Spain 4 - India 1 |
Udita (22 min) |
June 18 |
India 4 - Spain 1 |
Rani Rampal (33, 37 min) Gurjeet Kaur (44,
50 min), both PCs |
The Indian team for the Spain test series was as follows:
Goalkeepers: Savita Punia (vice-captain), Svaati
Defenders: Deepika, Sunita Lakra, Deep Grace Ekka,
Gurjeet Kaur, Suman Devi Thoudam, Suseela Chanu Pukhrambam
Midfielders: Monika, Namita Toppo, Nikki Pradhan, Neha Goyal,
Leelima Minz, Navjyot Kaur
Forwards: Rani Rampal (captain), Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navneet Kaur, Anoopa
Barla, Udita
Officials: Sjoerd Marijne (chief coach), C. R. Kumar (coach),
Erik Johan Wonink (analytical coach)
|
Photograph of the Month |

Graphic courtesy Excel Entertainment
he
Photograph of the Month for July 2018 is of the poster of the movie
Gold, whose trailer was released on 25th June.
In the movie, Tapan Das (Akshay Kumar), an assistant manager of the
Indian Olympic team in 1936, dreams of winning a gold medal for an
independent India. He forms a hockey team that initially falls apart but
join hand again to achieve the goal in 1948. This Olympic gold medal would be the first
sporting achievement of independent India.
The character of Tapan Das is loosely based on Pankaj Gupta of
Kolkata, who was the assistant manager of the Indian team in 1936, and
the manager in 1948.
Besides Akshay Kumar, Gold's ensemble cast includes Kunal Kapoor,
Amit Sadh, Vineet Kumar Singh and also television actress Mouni Roy, who
makes her Bollywood debut with this film.
Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani have jointly produced Gold under
the banner of Excel Entertainment. The trailer of the movie can be
viewed
here.
|
Money Matters |

he
Odisha government has made significant infrastructural upgrades in the
lead up to Men's World Cup which will be held in Bhubanesvar in
November-December.
The seating capacity of Kalinga Stadium has been increased to 15,000.
The stadium will also get two brand new pitches. The floodlights at both
the main pitch and the practice pitch have been upgraded while the
entire main stadium is being given a facelift, with wider roads, new
gates and CCTV cameras to monitor stadium safety.
The upgrades are being carried out by the Department of Youth
Services and Sports, Government of Odisha.
FIH events director Gabrielle van Zwieten, who visited Bhubanesvar to
review the preparations, said, "I am delighted with the progress of work
at the Kalinga Stadium. The keenness of the Odisha government and Hockey
India to leave no stone unturned in their preparations to host the
biggest hockey event is worth a mention. I am confident that the hockey
fraternity will witness a spectacular event starting this November."
Besides the stadium upgrades, the city itself is getting spruced up
for the big event. An increase in the number of city buses, improved bus
stands and shelters, fresh painting of major public properties and
development of roads are just some of the items being worked on. Also,
wi-fi spots have been proposed at nearly 300 locations in the city, in
partnership with Bhubanesvar Smart City Ltd.
|
Media Matters |

Article and Graphic courtesy FIH
book
charting the Rio 2016 gold medal triumph of Great Britain's women's
hockey team won a prestigious book award in London, when The
History Makers was named the Thomson Reuters Illustrated Book of
the Year at the 16th Sports Book Awards. The awards ceremony was held at
Lords Cricket Ground on June 7.
Written by lifelong hockey players, fans and freelance journalists,
Richard Stainthorpe and Sarah Juggins, and with photographs from World
Sports Pics, the award is a fantastic recognition for the sport and
Great Britain's women's team.
The book charts the journey of Team GB's women's hockey team from
their lowest point - failing to qualify for the Athens 2004 Olympics. It
recalls the battles the team faced - sliding down the world rankings,
in-fighting and discord within the squad, no funding and very little
prospect of a bright future.
Three players - Crista Cullen, Helen Richardson and Kate Walsh - were
junior members of that team. Fast forward 12 years and the same three
players were at the heart of the greatest moment in Great Britain
women's hockey, standing on the podium in Rio with Olympic gold medals
proudly hanging around their necks.
The History Makers is more than an account of a famous victory. It is
the story of how a team changed its culture and its attitude and
transformed a sport barely worth a mention in the press into the
provider of an Olympic moment that gripped the nation.
The History Makers fought of fierce competition from George Rowlands
The Redmen: The Tobacco Years, Michael Donald's Goal!, Iain T. Spragg's
Remarkable Golf Courses, Martyn Farr's The Darkness Beckons and AELTC's
A Portrait of Wimbledon to win the award.
|
Visitor of the Month |

he
Visitor of the Month for July 2018 is more a Website of the Month. A new
website, The Bridge,
seeks to bridge the gap in Indian sports. As they mention in their
website:
Why is it that we don't have a world-class basketball team from
the one billion plus Indians? Why is hockey dying in India? Why have
we failed to win the second individual Olympic gold medal?
Are we destined for mediocrity and should accept it and move
on?While the debate and embarrassment exist for a few weeks after
every Olympic Games, it vaporises into thin air soon except for
school essays and college debates.
The Bridge is here to bring about a change in the sports
ecosystem, and most importantly, a change in you. We have a billion
people in this country; it is just the matter of identifying the
right talent and training them. The change can't come alone. A start
has been made and there is a glimmer of a hope to change the script
that has starved Indian sports for so long. The signs are positive.
|
Fun With Numbers |

Statistics by B. G. Joshi
he
July 2018 edition of Fun with Numbers is on the Women's World Cup
Hockey, the 14th edition of which is taking place in London from July 21
- August 5, 2018.
- Europe has dominated the Women's World Cup, winning 9 of the 13
tournaments held so far, including the first 7 editions in a row
- Netherlands has won the maximum number of golds, more than all
other countries combined
- Netherlands has won a medal in 12 of the 13 tournaments it has
participated in, the lone exception being 1994 when it returned
empty-handed
- New Zealand is the highest ranked team in the tournament (world
no. 4) to have never won any medal in the Women's World Cup
World Rank |
Country |
App |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
1 |
Netherlands |
13 |
7 (1974, 78, 83, 86, 90, 2006, 14) |
4 (1981, 98, 2002, 10) |
1 (1976) |
2 |
England |
9 |
|
|
1 (2010) |
3 |
Argentina |
13 |
2 (2002, 10) |
3 (1974, 76, 94) |
3 (1978-Joint, 2006, 14) |
5 |
Australia |
10 |
2 (1994, 98) |
3 (1990, 2006, 14) |
1 (1983) |
6 |
Germany |
13 |
2 (1976, 81) |
2 (1978, 86) |
2 (1974, 98) |
7 |
USA |
8 |
|
|
1 (1994) |
8 |
China |
7 |
|
|
1 (2002) |
9 |
South Korea |
7 |
|
|
1 (1990) |
13 |
Belgium |
5 |
|
|
1 (1978-Joint) |
|