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.

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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.

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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.

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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.