India Crushed out of Asia Cup Hockey 2009

India has been crushed out of the ongoing Asia Cup 2009 hockey tournament after being held to a 2-2 draw with China today. With this draw, China has confirmed their progress to the semi final from Pool B. Pakistan had already reached the last four of the tournament after beating arch-rivals India 3-2 in their last match. No doubt, defending champion India’s departure in the tournament has come as a big shock to many hockey fans.

Indian team came to Malaysia with their Sultan Azlan Shah Cup success fresh in mind and they were considered to be host favorite in the tournament. However, the way India has failed to make it to the semi final it reminds me Indian cricket team’s departure from ICC World Cup 2007. India’s performance in the recent hockey tournaments has been pretty much satisfactory, and that is why, there were lots of expectation from India’s men’s hockey team. However, they failed to live up to the expectation of Indian fans.

Pakistan Reached Semi Final of Asia Cup 2009 Hockey, Beating India 3-2

Pakistan men’s hockey team defeated India 3-2, and thus, reaching the semi final of Asia Cup 2009 tournament. Pakistan earlier drew with China 1-1 in their tournament opener. Though India took an early lead in the match, Pakistan did not take long to equalize before taking leads in subsequent goals. It was an exciting affair between the two arch-rivals as both sides played attacking hockey throughout the match.

With this victory, Pakistan has taken a sweet revenge of their defeat to India in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament. In order to make it to the semi final, India now has to win over China in their last pool match. However, it would not be very easy for Team India as China also played attacking hockey in their first match against Pakistan and held them to a 1-1 draw.

India is the defending champion in the competition as they won the 7^th Asia Cup event at their home ground in 2007. Naturally, India was considered to be the most favorite for the tournament, given India’s recent excellent performance. India recently won the title of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia, before winning a hockey test series against New Zealand on New Zealand soil. So, it would be a huge disappointment for Indian hockey fans as well as for the players, if India fails to get into the last four of the tournament.

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Asia Cup Hockey 2009 Schedule

I clearly remember that 25 years ago, Asia Cup Hockey was considered to be one the top 3 events in this sports. At that time, India and Pakistan were the two super powers of world hockey. Especially, Pakistan was the top country. India was also a strong country. Even Bangladesh used to play well. In the last 10 years, both India and Pakistan have lost their glory and Asia Cup has lost its value a lot in world stage.

Asia Cup Hockey 2009 is taking place in Malaysia this time. It was originally to be held in Dubai but because of economic recession, Dubai stated that they cannot arrange the event and Malaysia agreed to do so. Thus, the tournament is already underway and some matches have been played. Today, I noticed that many people came in this blog for Asia Cup 2009 schedule. Well, we should have given schedule earlier. Anyway, here is the schedule.

Stage	Date	Competing Teams	Time
Group Stage	9 May 2009 Saturday	Pakistan vs China	15:00 (Malaysian local time)
		South Korea vs Malaysia	17:00 (Malaysian local time)
		Japan vs Bangladesh	19:00 (Malaysian local time)
	10 May 2009 Sunday	India vs Pakistan	17:00 (Malaysian local time)
	11 May 2009 Monday	Japan vs South Korea	17:00 (Malaysian local time)
		Bangladesh vs Malaysia	19:00 (Malaysian local time)
	12 May 2009 Tuesday	China vs India	15:00 (Malaysian local time)
		South Korea vs Bangladesh	17:00 (Malaysian local time)
		Malaysia vs Japan	19:00 (Malaysian local time)
7th Place Decider	14 May 2009 Thursday	Pool A (4th) vs Pool B (3rd)	15:00 (Malaysian local time)
Semi Final	14 May 2009 Thursday	Pool A (1st) vs Pool B (2nd)	17:00 (Malaysian local time)
		Pool B (1st) vs Pool B (2nd)	19:00 (Malaysian local time)
5th and 6th Place Decider	15 May 2009 Friday	Winner of 7th Place Match vs Pool A (3rd)	17:00 (Malaysian local time)
3rd and 4th Place Decider	16 May 2009 Saturday	Losers of the Semi Final	17:00 (Malaysian local time)
Final	16 May 2009 Saturday	Winners of the Semi Final	19:30 (Malaysian local time)

Pakistan Facing China in Asia Cup 2009 Hockey Opener

Asia Cup 2009 campaign of Pakistan starts off today (Saturday) with Pakistan facing China in the tournament opener in Malaysia. After poor performance in last month’s Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia, Pakistan is now gearing up to bounce back strongly in the Asia Cup 2009 tournament.

Pakistani cricket fans can expect something impressive from their men’s hockey team in Asia Cup hockey tournament as a number of senior players, who were missing Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament, have joined Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad. Players like Salman Akbar, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmed and Rehan Butt participated in the Dutch league where they gained much more experience. Now, it is yet to see if these players can help Pakistan win the Asia Cup 2009 tournament.

Pakistan has been drawn in the Pool B, alongside defending champion India, China and Bangladesh. China is a strong side and it would not be easy for Pakistan to stave off the challenge of Chinese team.

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Bangladesh Hockey Team Arrives Malaysia for Asia Cup 2009

Bangladesh men’s hockey team has arrived in Kuantan, Malaysia where Asia Cup 2009 hockey tournament is scheduled to take place from 9 May to 16 May. Bangladesh team, led by striker Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, would play their first match against Japan on 9 May. Bangladesh has been drawn in Pool A alongside Japan, South Korea and host Malaysia. The seven team tournament also features defending champion India, Pakistan and China. Sir Lanka pulled out of the tournament in the last minute, and thus, making it a seven-team tournament. So, Pool B incorporates 3 teams including India, Pakistan and China. Top two teams from each pool would go into the semi final stage.

Bangladesh has declared a balanced squad. Bangladesh would definitely be looking to make it to the last four. Bangladesh won the AFC Cup 2008. So, Bangladeshi players would like to replicate their success in Asia Cup 2009.

Here, I am giving the full Asia Cup 2009 squad of Bangladesh:

Rasel Mahmud Jimmy (Captain), Manun ur Rahman Chayan (Vice-Captain), Rafiqul Islam, Sheikh Md Nannu, Md Asaduzzaman, Musharof Hossain Kuti, Md Zahidul Islam, ASM Mahbub Ullah Chowdhury, Pushkor Khisa, Zahid Bin Talib, Krishno Kumar, Msiur Rahman Biplob, AKM Shamsuddin, AHM Kamruzzaman, Ashaduzzaman Chandan, Rimon Kumar Gosh, Md Iqbal Nadir, Taposh Barman.

Jose Brasa: The New Coach of Indian Hockey Team

Ahead of Asia Cup 2009 hockey tournament, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) has appointed Jose Brasa as the permanent coach of Indian men’s hockey team. Brasa has good coaching record as the Spaniard guided Spanish women’s hockey team to win the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. After the resignation of Joaquim Carvalho last March as Indian hockey team coach, IHF appointed Australia’s Ric Charlesworth as the technical advisor. However, Charlesworth also left the job following a rift with hockey federation officials and sports ministry. Then Harendra Singh took over as stand-in coach and guided India to reach the final of Punjab Gold Cup and win the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia recently.

The first assignment for Jose Brasa would be the upcoming Asia Cup 2009 which kicks off from May 6 in Kuantan, Malaysia. India hockey team has shown enough improvement on the field after a disappointing 2008 during which India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games for the first time in 80 years. It was really something disgraceful for a country which has 8 Olympic Gold medals in men’s hockey.

Jose Brasa has been appointed till 2010 Asian Games. Next year, India will host the Hockey World Cup and it would be a great chance for Indian hockey team to win the world cup title in what would be a revival for Indian hockey.

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Sardar Singh Hails Indian Hockey Captain Sandeep Singh

Sardar Singh was one of the key players in the Indian hockey team which has recently won Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia. Sardar Singh thinks that it was Captain Sandeep Singh who led the team from the front. Terming Sandeep Singh a trump card of Indian hockey team, Sardar Singh has been full of praise about Sandeep Singh who was instrumental behind India’s excellent run on the field since the turn of the year. Regarding Coach Harendra Singh, Sardar has also hailed team coach Harendra Singh whom, he believes, to be very friendly with the players and always listen to the players very seriously.

Sardar Singh has said that Indian hockey team is full of confident ahead of Asia Cup 2009 which will also take place in Malaysia next month. He thinks that India has a different style of hockey which is very much dissimilar to European style of hockey, and that is why, he thinks that India does not need any European coach in what would have to change their natural hockey. Moreover, he also addressed the language problem with the European coaches.

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