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.

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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.

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CBC

Pakistan Defeated New Zealand in Sultan Azlan Shah Men’s Hockey Tournament

Pakistan men’s hockey team defeated New Zealand 6-3 in Sultan Azlan Shah Men’s hockey tournament. The sixth ranked Pakistan played superb and dominated throughout the match. However, New Zealanders also created some challenges for Pakistan. In fact, ninth ranked New Zealand opened scoring in the 11^th minute of the match, before Pakistan bounced back to score four goals within next 15 minutes. During half time, the score line was 4-2.

The New Zealand Herald reported:

Phillip Burrows gave New Zealand the lead after just 11 minutes from a well-taken field goal but the sixth ranked Pakistanis came back to score four in 15 minutes.

Hayden Shaw narrowed the margin with a penalty corner goal just before halftime and then made it 4-3 from a second penalty corner.

New Zealand defeated Indian in the tournament opener. They will take on hot Malaysia in the next game of the tournament. Pakistan defeated host Malaysia in their opening match of the tournament.

India Going to Take Part in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

Indian failed to qualify to the Hockey event of Beijing Olympics Games 2008 recently. It is going to be the first time Indian hockey team is going to miss a Olympics Games in last 80 years. Recently, a much-publicized bribery incident followed by the sack of Indian Hockey Federation has drawn huge criticism. Now, Indian hockey team has a good chance to compensate to their humiliating recent performances this week. India is going to take part in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup this week along with four Olympic qualified sides: Canada, Belgium, Pakistan and New Zealand.

AFP reported:

How India fare will be closely watched with the national team in crisis after a bribery scandal and failure to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 80 years saw their controversial hockey federation sacked.

The omens however do not look good, with the fallen giants winning only one of eight games at two mini tournaments in Australia over the past fortnight.

Besides India and four Olympic qualified teams, host Malaysia and Argentina are also going to take part in the competition. Now, let us see if Indian can make some good performances in the tournament which would be a consolation for the Indian hockey fans who are disheartened by India’s recent performance.

Indian Olympic Association Takes over Indian Hockey Federation following a Bribery Scandal

Indian male hockey team has failed to qualify for the upcoming Beijing Olympics Games 2008. This is the first time India has failed to book a place at the final of Olympic Games Hockey competition since field hockey included in Olympic Games in 1928. This is not that the disaster has hit the Indian Hockey suddenly. In fact, over the last decade, Indian hockey was going down as their performance at international stage was being faded. Once dominating Indian hockey team is now fighting to revive its lost pride and prowess.

Added to that, recently a high official of Indian Hockey Federation has been accused of taking bribe on a team selection. Even, this is not something new to IHF as the federation has been reportedly going through corruption over the past decade. In the aftermath of these series of blows Indian hockey received recently, Indian Olympic Association (IOC) has recently taken over the Indian Hockey Federation.

Canadian Press reported:

Indian Hockey Federation official Kumaraswamy Jothikumaran resigned last week after a television channel claimed to have filmed him accepting a cash bribe to include a player in the national squad.

On Monday, Kalmadi said Olympic rules empowered his body to take action against "member-associations involved in any undesirable activity bringing disrepute to the country."

"The IOA has taken a concrete action following media reports about corruption," Kalmadi said. "It's a painful decision we had to make."

Well, it is for sure that Indian hockey has come to a dead end from its once dominating form. So, it is badly needed to ensure there is no corruption in the hockey federation. However, taking over the IHF is not everything to develop the Indian hockey and revive its pride at the international stage. In fact, concerned authority must have a long term planning for the development of Indian hockey. I hope, Indian hockey gets back its dominance and becomes a major power in world hockey again.

Indian Hockey in Term Oil

Indian hockey fans are not happy at all these days. They have every reason to be unhappy. India failed to qualify for next Olympic Games and it offended all the fans.

The Hindu wrote:

Seeking the ouster of an "autocratic" K P S Gill, angry fans on Monday burnt the effigy of the Indian Hockey Federation President and demanded an overhauling of the IHF to save the sport.

Peeved with India's recent failure to make it to the Beijing Olympics, the Hockey Fans Club of India held a demonstration here and condemned the "lackadaisical attitude" of the federation towards the game.

United States Lost the Second Match of Olympic Qualifying Men’s Hockey Tournament

After the 1-9 humiliating defeat to Argentina in the first match, United States suffered another big margin defeat on Sunday in the Olympic men’s hockey qualifying tournament. This time the opposition was France. Argentina and New Zealand also won their respective matches over Trinidad and Tobago and Ireland respectively.

In the 4-7 loss, United States also had chance to win the match as they were leading 4-3 at one stage in the second half. However, United States conceded four straight goals with what their likely victory went out of their hand. Now, United States has three matches left in the tournament and they need a miracle to win the tournament in order to get the ticket of Beijing Olympics Games 2008.

ESPN Sports reported:

The Americans (0-2) must win the six-team event to advance to the Beijing Games. The U.S. men haven't appeared in the Olympics since 1996.

Jarred Martin, Pat Harris, Nate Coolidge and Andy Sheridan scored for the Americans, who led 4-3 in the second half before allowing four straight goals.