Javed Hockey Club Facing Punjab and Sind Bank in Surjit Hockey Final

Pakistan’s Javed Hockey Club is going to face Delhi’s Punjab and Sind Bank in the final of Silver Jubilee Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament. The final match will take place at the Olympian Surjit Singh hockey stadium in Jalandhar. Javed Hockey Club reached the final defeating Mumbai’s Indian Oil 3-1 in the semi final, while Punjab and Sind Bank saw off another Mumbai team Air India by 2-1 score line.

The final match is supposed to have finished by yet, but I could not find any news any the result of the match in the internet. I will let you know about the result of the final match whenever I know about it.

Ric Charlesworth Takes over as Head Coach of Australian Men’s Hockey Team

Just two months after resigning as India's technical director, Ric Charlesworth has taken over as the head coach of Australian men’s hockey team. He has been appointed as the successor of Barry Dance who quit after Beijing Olympic Games. Charlesworth represented Australia and captain his team as a player. Later he coached Australian women’s hockey team and led the girls to win Olympic Gold medals at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games.

It would not be an easy task this time at the helm of men’s team because a number of players retired after this year’s Olympic Games in Beijing. Even he admitted that he has to rebuild Australian men’s hockey team who has been losing their dominance in world field hockey.

IHT reported:

"The team changes all the time and the team which played in Beijing will never play together again," Charlesworth said.

"The job really is about building a new team and only a handful of the players playing now will be under 30 at the next Olympics."

I think, he is a good choice as the coach of Australian men’s field hockey team who are not at their prime at this moment. Now, let us see if Ric Charlesworth can bring Australian team back to their dominating form with his skill, talent and experience as a coach.

Germany Clinched Men’s Gold, while Netherlands Wins Women’s in Beijing Olympic Hockey Tournament

Germany clinched men’s hockey gold at Beijing Olympic Games 2008 defeating Spain 1-0 in the final match. Christopher Zeller scored the winner for Germany in the 16^th minute of the match. With this victory, Germany won their first hockey gold medal since 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

Canada.com reported:

"Unbelievable, just unbelievable," said forward Florian Keller. "We need time to grasp that we really won the gold medal."

Spain finished winning silver medal while Australia defeated Netherlands 6-2 to clinch the bronze medal at Beijing Olympic Games. Though Netherlands men’s hockey team could not win any medal, their women’s counterpart ended up winning gold medal in women’s hockey final at Beijing Olympics. Netherlands women’s hockey team defeated host China 2-0 to win their first gold in 24 years. Second half strike from Naomi van As and Maartje Goderie earned Netherlands first Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey since 1984 Los Angles Olympic Games. Last year’s silver medalist Argentina defeated reigning champion Germany 3-1 to ensure the bronze medal.

Six Men of South Asian Descent in Canada’s Field Hockey Squad for Beijing Olympic

Canadian field hockey team has qualified for this year’s Beijing Olympics Games in China and they are preparing to take part in another Olympics Games after a gap of eight years. Canada Men’s Field hockey team last participated in 2000 Sidney Olympic Games. It is pretty much sure that Canadian players are pretty much excited with this competition because for many of them this is the first Olympics Games.

Well, you know that Indian field hockey team failed to qualify for Beijing Olympic Games and this is the first time they have suffered this blow in the history of Olympic Games. However, for Indian fans there is a chance to see some players of Indian descent in the competition. In fact, there are few Canadian players who have Indian descent and these players will represent Canada in the tournament. Recently, reports came in Indian media that as India is not playing in the tournament; Indian people must support Canada in the tournament. There are six players of South Asian descent in the current Canada men’s hockey squad.

Now, let us see if Indian-Canadian players can perform well helping Canada win something special from the tournament.

Related article:

Thestar

Ric Charlesworth Stepped down from Indian Hockey Team’s Job

Australian hockey legend Ric Charlesworth has stepped down from Indian field hockey team’s technical advisor post stating that he is not happy with the way Indian hockey is running on. Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Randhir Singh admitted Charlesworth’s unhappiness with the system of Indian hockey and also said that they tried to convince him to stay with Indian hockey team.

Ric Charlesworth is a man of versatile quality. Himself as a great player, he was part of Australia’s 1986 world cup winning team. Upon his retirement in 1988, Charlesworth stepped into coaching and led Australia’s women’s hockey team to become one of the best squads ever in the history of the sport. Charlesworth also played first class cricket for Western Australia.

Related article:

AFP

Australia Defeated Spain in the Final of the Champions Trophy Field Hockey Tournament

Australia won the title of Champions Trophy Field Hockey defeating Spain 4-1 in the final of the tournament. Five minutes into the first half, Desmond Abbott put Australia ahead in the match. However, Xavi Ribas brought the equalizer for Spain five minutes later. Australia had to wait till 52^nd minute of the match in order to get the lead once again in the match thanks to a goal by Jamie Dwyer from a penalty stroke. Just eight after the second goal, Austria increased the lead to 3-1 as Eddie Ockenden scored. Eli Matheson scored the last goal for Australia in the penultimate minute of the match. This is the ninth Champions Trophy Field Hockey title for Austria.

Argentina defeated Netherlands 5-3 in penalty shootout after the match ended in 2-2 draw to claim the third place in Champions Trophy Field Hockey tournament. Germany secures the fifth place thanks to the 3-1 victory against South Korea in the fifth and sixth place deciding match.

Related articles:

International Herald Tribune

Canada Men’s Hockey Team Wins over Great Britain in the First Match of Europe Tour

Canada men’s hockey team started off well in their Europe tour by defeating Great Britain thanks to the solitary goal from Peter Short in the second half. Canada men’s hockey team is now on a 12-day tour in Europe and will play few more matches in Ireland and Netherlands ahead of Beijing Olympic Games 2008.

Great Britain very offensive in the match, but Canadian defense was up to the mark to defend their goal to clinch a victory. Canada will face Great Britain once again in a Pool B match of Beijing Olympic Games 2008. Canada men’s hockey team is ranked 15, while Great Britain secures 8^th place in world ranking.

Related article:
CBC