Tag: Hockey

by Abhishek Shukla

Our experienced Midfielders group will be crucial for India’s success in the upcoming years: Indian Hockey Team Midfielder Pradhan

Bengaluru, 22 September 2020: Indian Women’s Hockey Team Midfielder Nikki Pradhan has been part of many memorable moments for the national side which includes the Gold Medal win at the Women’s Asia Cup 2017, victory at the FIH Women’s Series Finals 2019 and booking a place at the Tokyo Olympics after defeating USA at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers last year. Pradhan, who has played over 100 matches for the Indian team, recalled her time at the Bariatu Girls’ Hockey Center in Ranchi, where she learned the techniques of hockey.

“The time I spent at the Bariatu Girls’ Hockey Center is always going to remain special for me. I picked up the sport of hockey at a young age, but I learned most of the techniques of the sport at the Hockey Centre when I joined in 2005. Practicing and learning at the centre laid a good foundation for me and I kept building on the skills I developed there as I moved forward in my career. I was very fortunate to take up hockey seriously at a place like the Bariatu Girls’ Hockey Center,” said the 26-year-old.

Pradhan expressed that India’s present experienced Midfielders group will hold the key in the big tournaments in the upcoming years.

“We are very lucky to have so many Midfielders in the Indian team, who have already played 100 matches for the national side. Experience is a huge factor when it comes to big tournaments like the Olympics and if we play at our hundred percent then we can win against any team. Experience teaches one to be calm and think clearly under pressure and therefore our experienced Midfielders group will be the key to our success in the upcoming years,” said Pradhan.

The 26-year-old, who became the first woman hockey player from Jharkhand to represent India in the Olympics in 2016, spoke about her experience at the quadrennial event.

“It was fantastic to take part in the Rio Olympics. Just being around the top athletes from all over the world was something else. The Indian Women’s Hockey Team made it to the Olympics after 36 years so it was a huge moment for us. However, it was disappointing to come back without a victory. But it didn’t deter us from trying harder and Hockey India has shown tremendous faith in us over all the good and bad times. Hockey India through SAI, State Governments and State Units have constructed the best pitches for practice and international matches and instilled the belief in us that we can take on any top side in the world. When we have a tremendous backing of our own federation, then it inspires us to perform every time we step on the field,” said the Midfielder.

by Abhishek Shukla

“Feels good to be back with the rest of the group,” says Indian Men’s Hockey Team Striker Mandeep Singh

Bengaluru, 21 September 2020: Indian Men’s Hockey Team striker Mandeep Singh is excited to be back on the pitch and go about basic activities to improve fitness after recovering from Covid-19. He was the first player to be admitted in the hospital in Bengaluru and Mandeep recalled the experience as being one of the toughest times of his life.

According to Mandeep, what helped was constant team-support and reassurances from Hockey India during this entire phase. “I think we had read and heard so much about the pandemic being a deadly disease, the first few days was stressful and anxious after testing positive for the virus. Although I have been in some of the most difficult match-situations as a professional hockey player, I had never felt this stressed. I was never taken away in an ambulance, never been seriously injured either. So, this phase was a new experience for me but I am really grateful to the constant team-support and Hockey India officials speaking with us individual to assure everything will be taken care of. After recovering, they (Hockey India) even gave us an option to return home to take a break if we felt like it but we wanted to stay back and rejoin the rest of the group,” explained the young forward who scored maximum goals for Team India in 2019 season. 

He further emphasized that they have a good support system around them which is why returning to activities has been a smooth transition. “We have a very good trainer in Robin Arkel and he knows exactly how much to push us. We are taking only 50-60 per cent of the regular work load at the moment and have just one session per day. Chief Coach Graham Reid is also constantly monitoring how we feel during a session. It feels good to be back with the rest of the group and I feel relieved to be fine and recovered fully,” he said. 

With FIH Hockey Pro League restarting from tomorrow, Mandeep feels it’s good that sporting activities have begun around the world. “Over the weekend, we watched brilliant IPL matches between Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians and then Delhi Capitals Vs Kings XI Punjab. Though we don’t follow cricket very closely, it was exciting to watch these two matches. It brings a very positive energy especially when everything else has been halted due to the pandemic. I think watching live sports on TV will also give people who have endured a lot over the past six months, a reason to take their minds off their troubles for some time and enjoy the action. As a team we will also be watching the Germany Vs Belgium hockey match tomorrow,” he added. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team win 3-Nations Tournament despite 1-2 loss to Australia

Canberra (Australia), 08 December 2019: The Indian Junior Women’s Hockey Team on Sunday won the 3-Nations Tournament in Australia as they finished top of the points table despite suffering their first loss of the competition. The Indian team lost 1-2 to hosts Australia in their fourth and final match of the competition which saw India’s Gagandeep Kaur score in the 53rd minute to cancel out Abigail Wilson’s strike in the 15th minute. However, the Australian youngster scored yet again in the 56th minute to give her team a 2-1 win.

It was a difficult first period for the Indian team as they were constantly put under pressure by the hosts. The visitors had some chances of their own inside the first 15 minutes but the chance of the first quarter fell to the hosts, who managed to make the most of it. It was in the 15th minute that Australia were awarded a Penalty Corner, and it was Abigail Wilson who stepped up for the hosts to make it 1-0.

India tried to make up ground in the second quarter, but some resolute defending by the home team meant that the visitors could not equalize inside the second quarter. The Indians had a Penalty Corner in the 22nd minute, but could not force it on target. Another Penalty Corner for India in the 26th minute saw Australia’s Hannah Astbury make a diving save to help her team retain their one-goal lead. Two minutes later, Australia had a glorious chance of extending their lead to two goals through a Penalty Stroke, but India’s Goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam made a fine save to keep the score down to 0-1 at the half-time break.

A similar story unfolded in the third quarter with neither side able to score. Both the teams had chances through Penalty Corners in the third period, but some good defending by both the sides meant that the outcome of the match would be decided in the last period. India had a couple of Penalty Corners in the third period but were denied by Australia’s Astbury.

However, the start of the fourth quarter was different for India as they put the hosts under pressure from the start, and that resulted in the visitors winning themselves a Penalty Corner in the 53rd minute. It was India’s Gagandeep Kaur who stepped up to take the execution, and scored past Astbury to equalize for India. But India could not stay on level terms for too long as three minutes later, it was Australia’s Abigail Wilson who scored her second goal of the match through a Penalty Corner to snatch a 2-1 lead. India tried to equalize for the second time during the remaining four minutes, but could not make the most of their chances as Australia registered a 2-1 win.

Despite suffering their first loss of the 3-Nations Tournament, the Indian team won the competition by finishing top of the points table with a tally of seven points from four matches, ahead of hosts Australia on goal difference, with New Zealand finishing third with only three points from their four matches.

by Abhishek Shukla

BPCL wins, PNB holds ONGC in Obaidullah Khan Heritage Hockey Cup

Bhopal, 16 September 2016: The third day of the Obaidullah Khan Heritage Hockey Cup had ONGC, Punjab National Bank, BPCL and Sports Authority of India in action from Pools C & B respectively.
 
In the Pool C game, ONGC and PNB drew 1-1. ONGC opened the scoring in the 21st minute via a PC conversion by Diwakar Ram. In a defensive game, dominated by the midfield tussle, PNB struggled to equalise till the final ten minutes of play. In the 63rd minute, they won a stroke for a technical foul in the D area and Arjun Antil put it away to draw them level and ensure both teams split the points. Diwakar Ram was adjudged the Man of the Match.
 
BPCL beat SAI 3-2 in the second encounter of the day. The Pool B encounter started off at a fast pace, with BPCL dominating the early exchanges. They scored two quick goals in the first half, both off Lalit Kumar Upadhyay (12’, 15’) before adding the third right from the restart via S.V Sunil in the 32nd minute. Not to be outdone, SAI reduced the deficit in the 35th minute with a PC conversion by Abhishakh. In the 65th minute they got another goal via another PC conversion by Abhay, and ensured an exciting finish to a quality game. BPCL held on though, to take the victory. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay was adjudged the Man of the Match.