Champions Trophy Hockey Semi-Final Line-Up Completed

By Nadene Smith

MELBOURNE, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: Pakistan stunned Olympic champions Germany by two goals to one to storm their way into semi-final of the Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament on Thursday.

Two goals by Shakeel Abbasi set Pakistan against Netherlands, who defeated New Zealand by 2-0, in semi-final.

India will take on Australia in the second semi-final after beating Belgium by 1-0. Australia defeated England 2-0 in the last quarterfinal.

Read More

PIA beat NBP; Army play 1-1 draw against NBP in Gold Cup Hockey

By AM Khan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) scored a narrow 2-1 win over National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and Pakistan Army played a 1-1 draw against Customs in the Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the outer ground of the National Hockey Stadium on Thursday.

The national air career led the first half 2-1 while the second half failed to produce even a single goal which narrated the saga of missed chances and long term ball possession on part of both the sides.

PIA shot into lead with the fifth minute goal scored by Inyat Ullah in mid field move. PIA beaming with stars accelerated the pace of attacks and deployed full force to hunt more goals.

Ammad Shakeel Butt scored their second in the 27th minute before Bankers equalised at 1-1 after receiving 21st minute goals from Arslan Qadir in a lovely mid field move aided by right and left wings.

Both the teams did everything except scoring in the coming half and long time balls possession mostly confined the game to mid field.

Customs and Army played a goalless first half and the real action of the game was seen in the second half. Both the teams made desperate productive efforts to score and Customs stamped their supremacy with the 52nd minute penalty corner goal scored by Mushtaq. Army salvaged their pride three minute before the close of the when Safeer equalized off a short corner.

Friday is the rest day while Army will take on NBP and Wapda will play against Customs on Saturday.

Read More

Dutch Flying Veterans to play last hockey match of Pakistan tour today

By AM Khan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: The Flying Dutch Veterans hockey team will concluded their tour to Pakistan on Friday with the third and final match against their Dutch counterparts at the Johar Hockey Stadium at 1430 PST.

Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif is expected to be the chief guest for the final match.

The current hockey series of the visiting Flying Dutch hockey team, which is here on the combined invitation of Dar Hockey Academy president Tauqir Dar and the Sports Board Punjab (SBP), is being held under the banner of the Punjab International Sports Festival.

Dutch veterans having the services of five former internationals and Olympians have played two matches, drawing the first match 2-2 with the Aitcheson College team before edging out the young guns of Dar Academy 5-4.

Pakistan veterans’ team comprises Hasan Sardar, Samiullah, Danish Kaleem, Shahbaz Senior, M Akhlaq, Rana Mujahid, Khawaja Junaid, Saleem Sherwani, Shahid Ali Khan, Khalid Bashir, Anjum Saeed, Tahir Zaman, Khalid Rasool and Arshad Ch.

The Flying Dutch’s team consists of Rood Ven Rooij, Sander Ven Hyfte, Gerd Scuiatmann, Maarton Ven Grimbergen, Gonans Gratama, Michel Princen, Williem Bams, Martyn Gosens, Walter Michels, Peter Vogeaar, Gys Wetering, Rewe Klaassen, Wouter Ven Pelt, Mark Kleysen, Paul De Ruyter, Jan Chris Pinexteren and Sultan Ahmed. Win Kemps is coach and Rob Lathouwers manager.

Read More

Champions Trophy Hockey: Pakistan stun Germany to enter last-4

By Jamie Pierce

MELBOURNE, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 6, 2012: A controversial goal helped Pakistan defeat the Olympic champions Germany by two goals to one to book them a place in the semifinals stage of the 2012 Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament in Melbourne on Thursday.

Shakeel Abbasi scored both of Pakistani goals while Germany’s only goal was scored by their skipper Mo Fuerste in the first half.

Pakistan has dominated most of the teams in the current edition of the Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament but lacked the execution on most occasions and the same problem continued pegging them back in the first half of their quarterfinal match against Germany as they missed numerous chances which helped German cause.

Germany went up by a goal only in the ninth minute when skipper Mo Fuerste delivered a back flick from on top of the D-area as Pakistani goalkeeper, who has been a revelation in the tournament, couldn’t stop it passing by him into the goal.

Germany entered the halfway stage with a goal advantage and Pakistan were left ruing a number of chances going begging in the first 35 minutes.

Pakistan continued to dominate the possession in the second half and kept attacking the German goal which soon translated into their first goal with Shakeel Abbasi finally managing to sneak one past the German goalkeeper who stood like a rock in the goal for the best part.

With game equalized, it was Germans who came under severe pressure as their forwards wasted various chances due to nervous energy in the business area around Pakistani goal which made the job easy for Pakistani defenders and goalkeepers in many ways.

On the other side, Pakistani forwards upped the tempo and put German defence line under tremendous pressure and soon they got a penalty corner. German goalkeeper was able to stop the direct hit by Pakistani striker but rebound came slowly to another Pakistani striker whose back-stick hit the ball (which is a foul as per hockey rules) and his touch led the ball to another Pakistani striker who passed the ball to Shakeel Abbasi whose back-flick beat the goalkeeper into the net.

German players challenged the goal but the television referee maintained the decision made by the onfield umpire on the basis of the assumption that the ball after hitting the backside of Pakistani striker’s stick didn’t deviate and changed its pace so as to help Pakistan in anyway.

German officials didn’t like the ruling and approached the match officials but couldn’t do more than registering their protest as Pakistan acquired a one goal advantage over the Olympic champions.

 

Pakistan continued enjoying the possession thereafter and German strikers failed to force the issue until the final couple of minutes when two unnecessary fouls by Pakistani players cut them down to nine men on the field as two of their players including the goal-scorer Shakeel Abbasi were showed yellow cards.

The unnecessary fouls gave Germans the lift they required and they achieved a penalty corner in the final minute of the match but they failed to exhibit their professionalism and lost the opportunity to equalize the game and take it into the extra time.

With this victory, Pakistan entered the semi-finals stage of the Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament for the first time in eight years and this triumph has also ensured them qualification into the next edition of the tournament.

The victory for Pakistan also bettered their bilateral record against Germany as now they have defeated the Germans on 10 occasions as against 12 defeats while six matches between the two sides ended in a stalemate.

Read More

Dutch veterans post first victory in Lahore

By AM Khan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) December 5, 2012: The Flying Dutch Hockey team on Wednesday defeated the young guns of the Dar Academy 5-4 in a hotly-contested second match of the three-match series here at the Johar Hockey Stadium.

The Dar Academy which was leading the game at half time 2-1 lost the match with a goal difference as experience prevailed over youth. The average age of Dar Academy was below 20 whereas the foreign side was beaming with veteran Olympians and former world cup players.

The Flying Dutch Hockey team is visiting Lahore on the invitation of the Dar Hockey Academy and with the support of the Sports Board Punjab, which is following the vision of the Punjab government in holding national and international sports events.

MNA Mian Hamza Shahbaz was the chief guest of the hockey match and presented souvenirs to the visiting team. Usman Anwar, Director General Sports and Youth Affairs was also present on the occasion along with former international Pakistan hockey players and Olympians like Khawaja Zakauddin, Danish Kaleem and Tauqir Dar, who is also president of the Dar Academy were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Hamza said that the Punjab government not only held international sports activity in the province but also displayed to the world that the country is safe for holding any international tournament. “With the successful holding of the Punjab International Sports Festival we have helped in portraying a soft image of the country and the world has now realized that Pakistan is safe to host any international team,” he said.

“We have not only established 11 world records but also showed to the world more than 2.5 million people took part in the Punjab Youth Festival,” he said.

Expressing his surprise on the progress of the Dar Academy team players, Dutch team manager Bob said that he had seen these youngsters playing in Holland a year ago and they had improved their game a lot. He also expressed his surprise over the wrong impression being spread about Pakistan regarding insecurity and praised the treatment they were given thus far during their stay in Pakistan.

The Dutch veterans apart from playing hockey are also visiting historic and places of interest like Wagha Border, Lahore Fort, Badshahi Masjid etc. and as a good will gesture they have also brought 200 hockey playing kits for the Pakistan youngsters.

Read More

Wapda, Customs win in NBP Gold Cup Hockey Tournament

By AM Khan

LAHORE, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) December 5, 2012: Pakistan Customs caught the star-studded PIA by surprise with a 2-1 victory while Wapda outplayed Sui Southeran Gas Company 4-2 in the NBP Gold Cup Hockey Tournament at the outer ground of the National Hockey Stadium Wednesday.

It was an unexpected win on part of Customs against the national air career boys and the winners struck a brilliant show of skillful hockey and technique. Customs led the first half 1-0 at break after receiving 28th minute field goal from their captain Rizwan Khan.

PIA came in patches but failed to make a productive impression on their opponents who were far ahead in attacks launched by their mid field with the aid of their both right and left flanks.

Customs appeared in total control when Amir Ali scored the 52nd minute field goal for the much disappointment of Airlines.

Airlines gained some relief when Kashif Ali translated the 58th minute short corner with a calculated shot. Wapda and SSGC played a 1-1 draw at half time.

Wapda jolted SSGC with the addition of a goal in the very first minute through Shahbaz Ali as SSGC leveled one minutes before the end of the first after receiving a goal from Zeeshan. Wapda played the second half with splerndid display of artistic hockey hammering three more goals to leave their opponents in deep gloom.

Salman Hussain scored the 40th minute goal as Sohail Abbas contributed a penalty corner goal in the 62ndminute and Mohammad Suleman added 69th minute field goal before Sohail Manzoor supported SSGC with a penalty corner goal.

Today’s matches: Army vs Customs and NBP vs PIA.

Read More

Kate Middleton enjoys hockey in heels at Prep School

By Ashley Williams

LONDON, England (TheSportsNEXT) December 2, 2012: Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge returned to her former Prep School on Sunday and took hockey stick in her hand and wasted no time to step into the hockey field wearing heels.

Not wearing a professional athletic kit rather wearing an Alexander McQueen dress and high-heeled boots, Kate Middleton showed her love for the game of field hockey as she dribbled across the Astroturf to delight the students.

A number of reporters followed the Duchess of Cambridge, who was a regular visitor at this year’s London Olympic Games, and took pride in making headlines regarding her hockey skills all across the British media.

Kate Middleton attended St. Andrew's in Pangbourne, Berkshire from 1986-1995 and was on hand to unveil a plague to open a new turf pitch.

Read More

Argentina beat Korea 5-0 to win Champions Challenge 1

By Luther Jefferson

QUILMES, Argentina (TheSportsNEXT) December 3, 2012: Argentina qualified for the next edition of Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament on Sunday when they outclassed Korea by 5-0 in final of the Champions Challenge 1 in Quilmes.

It was a truly brilliant performance from the South Americans, who totally dominated the world number 7 to seal a place in the next edition of the FIH Champions Trophy.

Agustin Mazzilli, Gonzalo Peillat, Pedro Ibarra, Guillermo Schickendantz and Manuel Brunet were the scorers for Argentina, delighting a huge partisan crowd in Quilmes.

Argentina were hugely impressive in the first half of the final, and snatched an early lead when Agustin Mazzilli pounced on a loose ball in the Korean circle to score and send the home fans into raptures.

Gonzalo Peillat added a second goal two minutes from the end of the half with a blistering penalty corner, rattling the backboard with a perfectly executed low effort.

The home side won a succession of penalty corners at the end of the first half, but their failure to convert their chances left Korea very much in the game for the second half.

However, Argentina added a third goal at the very start of the second period, with Pedro Ibarra taking on the flicking duties with another brilliant penalty corner effort.

Korea went in search of a much needed goal, but an error in their own circle cost them another penalty corner.

Again, there was a different player taking the flick, with Guillermo Schickendantz sending a high shot into the roof of the net for his fifth goal of a remarkable debut tournament.

The fifth and final goal was a beautiful move from Argentina, passing their way through the Korean defence before Manuel Brunet tapped in from close range to seal an epic victory.

The competition final brought to an end a hugely entertaining event, with all of the matches being played in a great spirit under glorious sunshine.

Argentina forward Lucas Vila was named as the Player of the Tournament thanks to some outstanding displays for his team, while the Goalkeeper of the Tournament Award went to Ireland’s David Harte.

Korea’s Jong Hyun Jang finished as the tournament’s top goal scorer thanks to eight penalty corner strikes, while Japan were given the Fair Play award for receiving the lowest number of disciplinary cards.

The bronze medal went the way of Ireland, who defeated Malaysia 4-3 thanks to a golden goal from Peter Caruth.

It was a remarkable achievement for a team playing in their first ever Champions Challenge 1, and one that their players will never forget.

Earlier in the day, Japan took fifth place with a 4-2 win over Canada, while South Africa took seventh place by beating Poland 4-1. Reports for both of these matches can be found by clicking here.

Final Standings at Champions Challenge 1

1: Argentina (Promoted to the Champions Trophy)

2: Korea

3: Ireland

4: Malaysia

5: Japan

6: Canada

7: South Africa

8: Poland

Awards:

Player of the Tournament: Lucas Vila (ARG)

Goalkeeper of the Tournament: David Harte (IRL)

Top Goal-scorer: Jang Jong Hyun (KOR) – 8 goals.

Fair Play Award: Japan

Read More

Pakistan beat Belgium 2-0 to revive Champions Trophy chances

By Nadene Smith

MELBOURNE, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) December 2, 2012: Pakistan opened their account in the Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament 2012 on Sunday when they defeated Belgium by two goals to nil in Melbourne.

Haseem Khan and Shafqat Rasool scored the goals for Pakistan.

In other matches, England defeated Germany for the first time in Champions Trophy as they won the match by 4-1 while the match between Australia and Netherlands ended in a goalless draw.

Read More

Lanco Super Series Hockey: Australia, England enjoy authority

By Nadene Smith

SYDNEY, Australia (TheSportsNEXT) November 22, 2012: The arch-rivals Pakistan and India started their nine-a-side Lanco International Super Series hockey campaign off to a poor start on Thursday.

The two South Asian teams were rocked by Australia and England who looked far more professional and agile in the box.

In the inaugural match of the nine-a-side Lanco International Super Series Hockey, Australia defeated Pakistan by four goals to two at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Bentley.

Aussies were leading the match by 3-1 at halfway stage and with both teams scoring another goal in the second half it was the home side which recorded a rather comfortable victory.

Veteran Aussie hockey player Jamie Dwyer was once again amongst the goals as he scored twice while Liam de Young and Beale Daniel also provided one goal apiece as Australia completely looked a better side on the field. For Pakistan, Abdul Haseem Khan and Muhammad Rizwan Senior scored one goal each but that proved insufficient to challenge Australia on their home soil.

In the other match of the opening day, England came from behind to stun the Indians by two goals to one in Perth.

Gurvinder Singh Chandi gave India the important lead but Indian defence-line failed to cope up with the mounted pressure by the English hockey players as they bounced their way back into contention when Daniel Fox equalized and then sealed the deal when David Condon gave the Englishmen the winning lead.

India will be up against Australia on Friday before the bitter rivals Pakistan and India heat up the tournament Saturday.

The nine-a-side format, also known as Hockey 9s, has the only tournament named the Lanco International Super Series played every year in Australia. This year’ edition of the Lanco International Super Series being played in Perth will be followed by the highly-esteemed FIH Champions Trophy 2012 in Melbourne from December 1-9, 2012 at the State Netball Hockey Center.

The hosts Australia, Olympic champions Germany, Australia, England, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Belgium, India and Pakistan will battle it out in Melbourne for the Champions Trophy Hockey 2012 title.

Read More

Germany win Johor Baru Junior Hockey Asia Cup title

By Shehzad Owaisi

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) November 18, 2012: German hockey team defeated Indian hockey team by three goals to two on Sunday to clinch the Johor Baru Junior Hockey Asia Cup title in Malaysia.

Pakistani hockey team continued to disappoint the local fans as it ended the tournament on a losing note after losing to Australia in the third position playoff.

Read More