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  1. #31
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  2. #32
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    കോപ്പയുടെയും യൂറോയുടെയും തിരക്കിൽ മറക്കല്ലേ; ശ്രീജേഷ് നയിക്കുന്ന ടീം ലണ്ടനിൽ തകർത്തുവാരുന്നുണ്ട്!
    സർദാർ സിങ്ങും ശ്രീജേഷും. സർദാർ സിങ്ങിനു വിശ്രമം നൽകിയതോടെയാണു വൈസ് ക്യാപ്റ്റൻ ശ്രീജേഷ് നായക സ്ഥാനത്തേയ്ക്ക് ഉയർത്തപ്പെട്ടത്.
    ലണ്ടൻ∙ കായിക ലോകം കോപ്പ അമേരിക്ക ഫുട്ബോളിന്റെയും യൂറോ കപ്പിന്റെയും ആരവങ്ങളിൽ മുഴുകി നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ അങ്ങകലെ ലണ്ടന്റെ മണ്ണിൽ ചാംപ്യൻസ് ട്രോഫി ഹോക്കി കളിക്കുന്ന ഇന്ത്യൻ ടീം മലയാളി താരം പി.ആർ.ശ്രീജേഷിന് കീഴിൽ തകർത്തു വാരുകയാണ്. ശ്രീജേഷ് ക്യാപ്റ്റനായിറങ്ങിയ ആദ്യ മൽസരത്തിൽ നിലവിലെ ഒളിംപിക്സ് ചാംപ്യൻമാരായ ജർമനിക്കെതിരെ അവസാനനിമിഷം വരെ ലീഡ് ചെയ്ത ഇന്ത്യ ഒടുവിൽ സമനില വഴങ്ങിയെങ്കിലും പിഴവുകൾ തിരുത്തി ഇന്നലെ നടന്ന രണ്ടാം മൽസരത്തിൽ ആതിഥേയരായ ഗ്രേറ്റ് ബ്രിട്ടനെ 2-1ന് തോൽപ്പിച്ചു.
    ഒളിംപിക്സിലേയ്ക്കുള്ള യാത്രയ്ക്കു മുൻപായി ആത്മവിശ്വാസം ഉയർത്തുന്നതിന് ലഭിച്ച അവസരം ഇന്ത്യ മുതലെടുക്കുന്ന കാഴ്ചയാണ് ഇതുവരെ കണ്ടത്. നാലു പോയിന്റോടെ ഗ്രൂപ്പിൽ ഒന്നാം സ്ഥാാനത്താണ് ഇന്ത്യ. ക്യാപ്റ്റനും മലയാളി ഗോൾകീപ്പറുമായ പി.ആർ.ശ്രീജേഷിന്റെ മികവാണ് പല ഘട്ടങ്ങളിലും ടീമിനെ കാത്തത്. ബ്രിട്ടനെതിരായ രണ്ടാം മൽസരത്തിൽ നാലു പെനൽറ്റി കോർണറുകൾ ഉൾപ്പെടെ ഒട്ടേറെ ഷോട്ടുകളാണ് ശ്രീജേഷ് രക്ഷപ്പെടുത്തിയത്. 17-ാം മിനിറ്റിൽ മനൻദീപ് സിങ്ങാണ് ഇന്ത്യയുടെ ആദ്യ ഗോൾ നേടിയത്. 33-ാം മിനിറ്റിൽ പെനൽറ്റി സ്ട്രോക്കിലൂടെ ഹർമൻപ്രീത് സിങ് ലീഡ് ഉയർത്തി. എന്നാൽ, രണ്ടു മിനിറ്റിനുള്ളിൽ ബ്രിട്ടൻ ഒന്നത് തിരിച്ചടിച്ചു.

    ജർമനിക്കെതിരായ ആദ്യ മൽസരത്തിലും തകർപ്പൻ പ്രകടനമായിരുന്നു ശ്രീജേഷിന്റേത്. ഒളിംപിക്സിലെ നിലവിലെ ചാംപ്യൻമാരായ ജർമനിയെ വെള്ളംകുടിപ്പിക്കുന്ന പ്രകടനമായിരുന്നു ടീം ഇന്ത്യയും പുറത്തെടുത്തത്. പെനൽറ്റി കോർണറുകൾ അസാമാന്യ വൈദഗ്ധ്യത്തോടെ നേരിട്ട ശ്രീജേഷിന്റെ മികവ് ഒരുഘട്ടത്തില്* ഇന്ത്യയ്ക്ക് അട്ടിമറി ജയം നേടിക്കൊടുക്കുമെന്നുപോലും തോന്നിച്ചു. കളി തീരാൻ മൂന്നു മിനിറ്റ് മാത്രം ശേഷിക്കെ വഴങ്ങിയ ഗോളാണ് ഇന്ത്യയ്ക്ക് ജയം നിഷേധിച്ചത്. വി.ആർ.രഘുനാഥ് (6), മനൻദീപ് സിങ് (26), ഹർമൻപ്രീത് സിങ് (32) എന്നിവരുടെ വകയായിരുന്നു ഇന്ത്യയുടെ ഗോളുകൾ.

    ഏഴു ടീമുകൾ കളിക്കുന്ന റൗണ്ട് റോബിൻ ലീഗിൽ ഇന്ത്യയുടെ മറ്റു മൽസരങ്ങൾ ബൽജിയം (13), ദക്ഷിണ കൊറിയ (14), നിലവിലെ ഓസ്ട്രേലിയ (16) എന്നിവർക്കെതിരെയാണ്. ക്യാപ്റ്റൻ സർദാർ സിങ്ങിനു വിശ്രമം നൽകിയതോടെയാണു വൈസ് ക്യാപ്റ്റൻ ശ്രീജേഷ് നായക സ്ഥാനത്തേയ്ക്ക് ഉയർത്തപ്പെട്ടത്. രൂപീന്ദർ പാൽ സിങ്ങിനും വിശ്രമം നൽകി.
    1982ൽ ആംസ്റ്റർഡാമിൽ നേടിയ മൂന്നാം സ്ഥാനത്തിനപ്പുറം കടക്കാൻ ഏഴു ചാംപ്യൻഷിപ്പുകളിലും കഴിയാത്ത ഇന്ത്യ, ഇത്തവണ ആ ചരിത്രം മാറ്റിയെഴുതാനുള്ള ശ്രമത്തിലാണ്. 2012ൽ മെൽബണിലും 2014ൽ ഭുവനേശ്വറിലും നാലാം സ്ഥാനമായിരുന്നു. ഇവിടത്തെ മെഡൽ നേട്ടം ഒളിംപിക്സിലും ഇന്ത്യയ്ക്ക് ആത്മവിശ്വാസം പകരുമെന്നു കോച്ച് റോളന്റ് ഓൾട്ട്മാൻസ് പറഞ്ഞു. ലണ്ടൻ ഇന്ത്യയ്ക്കു കയ്പുള്ള ഓർമകളാണു നൽകുന്നത്. 2012ലെ കഴിഞ്ഞ ഒളിംപിക്സിൽ അവസാന സ്ഥാനത്തു ഫിനിഷ് ചെയ്യേണ്ടിവന്ന നാണക്കേടിന്റെ ഓർമയാണു മനസ്സിൽ.

  3. #33
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    Meet Sreejesh, the shah of the shootout

    Fuelled by his focus, talent and a bit of craziness, India's goalkeeper has become the mainstay of the national hockey team
    In the summer of 2003, a tall, skinny, wide-eyed 15-year-old carrying a tiny bag walked into the National Stadium in Delhi for a trial. As always happened when a new goalkeeper came into India's junior national hockey camp, he was tested in the most rigorous way - the ball hit hard into the goal towards the rookie's body. Saju Joseph, assistant coach and trainer of the Indian junior team at the time watched the rookie take the barrage, wearing thin, cheap pads and little other special protection.
    "With him, they were twice as brutal. It was really pathetic to see him hit so badly." From time to time, the boy hobbled off the field, rubbed his hands over his body in an attempt to free himself of the pain and then return for more. A member of the support staff called out to Harendra Singh, then the junior national coach.

    "Partner, who have you called up? Na bag hai, na pad hai, bas khelne chala aaya hockey?, (no bag, no pads, and he's turned up to play hockey?)" The boy came from Kerala, a state where hockey is an alien sport, and spoke no Hindi. He was in Delhi after Harendra had spotted him at an under-14 tournament in Thiruvananthapuram and, who knows, even looked into the future.
    Thirteen years on, PR Sreejesh stands towering over most of his contemporaries, easily India's most valuable hockey player at the moment. Sreejesh leads the national side at the Champions Trophy, currently on in London, and has just completed his 150th match for India. It has been a long journey, but Sreejesh is philosophical about it - it comes with the territory.
    "It takes goalkeepers twice as much time as the other players in the side to get noticed,' he says. "A lapse on the goalkeeper's part reflects on the scoreboard and, despite being in a team sport, you're often held accountable individually. You have to be able to shoulder the responsibility of seeing your side through to a podium finish, only then do people sit up and take note. That's exactly what happened in my case."
    In four of India's India's last six major tournaments - the Asian Champions Trophy, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Hockey World League finals - Sreejesh's contribution has been a rock. But where he comes into his own is the shootout, which becomes Sreejesh Standard Time. That's when he can turn into a 12-foot-wide road block between the opponent's ambitions and the Indian goal.
    During penalty shootouts, Sreejesh turns into a 12-foot-wide road block between the opponent's ambitions and the Indian goal Hockey IndiaTwo stunning saves in the shootout at the 2014 Asian Games final in Incheon helped India beat Pakistan 4-2, and win gold after 16 years. It was India's first victory against Pakistan in an Asian Games final since the 1966 Bangkok Games and earned them a secure passage into the 2016 Rio Games.
    Last December, Sreejesh played the Hockey World League final with an injured right thumb, right shoulder and right thigh, and with a generous dose of painkillers. Seven goals were scored in the final 13 minutes and, with the scores standing at 5-5 after four quarters, it was time for the shootout again. Three crucial saves there handed India a win over Holland and a bronze medal, ending the country's 33-year medal jinx in the sport at a major international tournament.
    Sreejesh shot into notice at the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy when he, more than anyone else, beat Pakistan 4-2 on penalty strokes in the final. "Only after this win was I noticed," he says. Maybe it was saving those penalty strokes - or maybe it was Pakistan. Or Sreejesh's towering presence which continues to grow.

    Goalkeepers, whether in hockey or football, are known to belong to an eccentric species. A role that requires you to defy your natural instincts and hurl yourself towards an incoming projectile is certainly not for the lily-livered. Sreejesh could not agree more. "You have to be crazy to be a goalkeeper. It's an amazing and extraordinary role. It's definitely not something a normal person can do."
    Goalkeepers remain stationary for long periods of a match, watching the action from a distance but with probably the best view of the field. Much like the conductor who guides and synchronizes an orchestra, a goalkeeper has to organize and structure the defensive line and communicate well with the players.
    At 6 ft, Sreejesh is taller than many goalkeepers, which helps him cover greater ground and offers him a better reach. With height, agility could often end up being a casualty but Sreejesh has worked "very hard" on this aspect says former team-mate and India goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza. He has also learnt, according to D'Souza, a unique method of handling game situations and the tensions they contain. "He treats every game like a training session. It's a fantastic trait since that way he feels little pressure."
    It is perhaps the best way to tackle the boiling cauldron that is modern hockey's penalty shootout. Since 2011, the penalty shoot-out, now dramatically called the Shootout, is no longer the goalkeeper facing a series of penalty strokes. It has become a one-on-one between the attacker and the goalkeeper, with eight seconds handed out after the whistle to score or save. In his early days, Sreejesh found the experience "challenging" but now is comfortable. "With time, experience and practice you tend to grow in your ability to think on your feet." The key, he says, "lies in staying calm and not being overwhelmed by who your opponents are or the repercussions of a miss."
    He knows first hand the repercussions of every hockey result: "If the team wins 1-0 the credit goes to the scorer, and if it's a 1-0 loss the blame falls on the 'keeper. So you're either a hero or a zero. There's no middle path," he says.
    Maybe it is where his belief in destiny comes into play because despite the "hero or zero" job, he believes his life is has been touched by the magic of the fates: "Even in my wildest dreams I couldn't have imagined that I be would where I am today. Hockey picked me."
    *****

    "The medal count separates me from the rest. When you look up our achievements in the sport many years from now, my name will be up there, in big, bold letters" Tony Marshall/Getty ImagesRaised in a village named Erumeli near Kizhakkambalam, around 25 kms from Kochi, Sreejesh, the son of a farmer, dreamed of being a pilot because airplanes fascinated him. He took up hockey in 2000 while at the GV Raja Sports School, Thiruvananthapuram. Like most of his seniors in school, Sreejesh too believed he would go down a familiar route: pursue a physical education course, and find a job in a school or college.
    He was not very good at Kerala's three pet sports, football, volleyball and basketball; the idea of trying to master a sport which most of his peers excelled in was disconcerting. "I noticed that hockey was the one sport in school where everyone was still learning the basics, so I joined in and soon found it interesting."
    An aversion to running - who would have imagined that from the land of PT Usha - made him opt for the goalkeeping position. The hockey stick did not cost much but the goalkeeping gear - between INR 15000 to 20000 at the time - was beyond his family's means. "My father somehow managed to buy the gear for me. Though my family had never heard of hockey before and were apprehensive of its future prospects, they supported my decision."

    Timeline: Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh

    2004: Debut for national junior team versus Australia in Perth.
    2006: Debut for senior national team at the South Asian Games, Colombo.
    2008: Goalkeeper of the tournament and gold medalist at the Junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad, as India beat South Korea in the final.
    2013: Goalkeeper of the tournament and silver medalist at the Asia Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia. India lose to South Korea in the final.
    2014: Asian Games gold medalist, as India beat Pakistan in the final through a penalty shoot-out, gaining direct entry into the Rio Olympics.
    2014: Silver medalist at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
    2015: Bronze medalist at World Hockey League in Raipur, with India defeating Netherlands in the third place playoff for their first FIH tournament medal in 33 years.
    2015: Arjuna Award, first for a hockey player from Kerala.
    That kit was to be the butt of jokes when he joined the 2003 junior national camp. But what did not go unnoticed, even among his peers, was his drive to excel. No matter the quality of the goalkeeping gear, it is what has always made Sreejesh protected, looked after.
    "With gear, I feel I can do pretty much anything on the field. Without it I would be a little lost. It has been 16 years now since I've been wearing it. It's almost like my second skin."
    Former India player Adam Sinclair remembers meeting Sreejesh at the camp: "Many of the players and support staff poked fun at him since he had this very basic, old gear which looked like it belonged to his schooldays while the other 'keepers had specialized, world-class kit."
    But after the first day's session itself, says Sinclair, "we knew there was something special about him. His focus and dedication left many surprised." He was often bullied for his little knowledge of Hindi or English and his pronounced rustic ways but took it in his stride. He turned his preference for a lungi over boxer shorts into a joke, wearing a lungi during the team's dancing celebrations.
    When his team-mates stole his lungi, Sreejesh would go over to Saju's room and ask his fellow Keralite for a spare. Harendra, who calls him a 'great' dancer, recalls his own reaction when the Lungi Dance song from the 2013 film Chennai Express was released.
    Harendra says he promptly texted Sreejesh: "Jangoo, tera gaana aa gaya. Aajkal iss pe Shah Rukh nachta hai." (Big Guy, your song is here. These days, Shah Rukh grooves to it.) To get Sreejesh's Hindi working, Harendra switched his room-mate from a player from the south to the player from the north - with instructions.
    "I asked the guy to start with the Hindi expletives first. That's often the fastest way to make someone learn a language," chuckles Harendra. Sreejesh's struggles with Hindi, the Indian team's most widely spoken language, are more significant when realising that the requirements of a modern goalkeeper go beyond technical skill. Communication with the defensive line and through it, a projection of the team's mood is fundamental.
    In this trait, former Pakistan captain Salman Akbar notices the big leap that Sreejesh's presence has helped his team take. "Goalkeeping has always been a problem area for Indian hockey," Akbar says. "With Sreejesh coming into the side, it has now turned into one of India's strengths. What stands out in his game is his ability to read match situations, which very few 'keepers do well and the manner in which he defends penalty corners. His aggression rubs off on the rest of the team."
    *****
    "With gear, I feel I can do pretty much anything on the field. Without it I would be a little lost" Getty ImagesJugraj Singh, former Indian defender, drag flicker and penalty corner specialist, has watched Sreejesh grow into one of the top goalkeepers in the world. "The biggest thing about a goalkeeper is that he reacts to the action in front of him. It can be a problem if a goalkeeper reacts first; he must always wait to see what the opponent is doing before reacting. This was a problem area for Sreejesh early on, but he has clearly worked very hard on that. Today he is the ultimate goalkeeper."
    Today, as he leads India in the Champions Trophy, Sreejesh's is the first name on the team sheet; very far from the boy who was left out of the first XI by all the other players in his camp on the eve of the 2005 junior World Cup. When former goalkeeper and Olympian Charles Cornelius arrived to select the squad, he was impressed enough by Sreejesh's abilities and picked him as the second 'keeper in the side after D'Souza. The look on his face, says Saju was one of "both shock and thrill."
    Sreejesh was to join a very long queue of established goalkeepers - Baljit Singh Dadhwal, Adrian D'Souza, Devesh Chauhan and Bharat Chhetri. As fifth choice keeper, Harendra said Sreejesh "would stay back for extra hours after a three-hour practice session in the blazing sun. He never said no."
    No matter where he came from or where he found himself, hockey had a way of keeping Sreejesh rooted and connected: a job with Indian Overseas Bank was the financial security he needed to stay in the sport. Had that not happened, he says he would have followed his elder brother, and trained to become a male nurse.
    Destiny once again threw up the path for him to tend goal for India instead. Indian mainstay Baljit's right eye injury in 2009, which left his retina, cornea and lens damaged, opened a window of opportunity for Sreejesh. He was called in as a replacement goalkeeper for a Europe tour in July that year.
    By 2011, D'Souza began to fall out of favour with the national hockey body for his participation in the rebel World Series Hockey following which he was slapped with a one-year ban for failing a dope test in 2012. Following India's disastrous last-place finish at the London Olympics four years ago with Chhetri at the helm, Sreejesh stepped up to become India's first-choice goalkeeper. "After the Olympics in London, the team began to trust me a lot more," he says.
    What is likely to work at the Rio Games, Sreejesh feels, is that India has been "carrying a team" in recent times. Over the past two years, the core group of players in the side has remained unchanged, which has helped in forging greater faith and understanding within, he goes on to add.
    He promises Rio will not be a repeat of London: "I have gained in experience and confidence in dealing with pressure situations. Goalkeepers are like wine, they only get better with time." Sreejesh has left the scrawny, hesitant 15-year-old behind and carries no false modesty. He unabashedly ranks his achievements higher than that of his predecessors.
    "The medal count separates me from the rest. When you look up our achievements in the sport many years from now, my name will be up there, in big, bold letters."

  4. #34
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    India pips South Korea



    ndia muffed chances galore before a deft deflection from Nikkin Thimmaiah enabled it to pip South Korea 2-1 in the 36th Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Tuesday. At the Lee Valley Hockey Centre, India’s domination earned it the lead through S.V. Sunil’s 39th-minute goal.
    South Korea equalised in the 57th minute through Kim Jun-hu, only for Thimmaiah to reclaim the lead for India within 30 seconds with a fine deflection on Talwinder Singh’s diagonal cross from left.
    The narrow victory ensured India stayed in the hunt for a medal.
    The result: India 2 (S.V. Sunil 39, Nikkin Thimmaiah 57) bt South Korea 1 (Kim Jun-hu 57).

  5. #35
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    PM leads country's praise of Indian hockey team



    Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI Photo)NEW DELHI: From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eminent sports personalities, the country was wholesome in its praise for the Indian hockey team's gutsy effort that saw it clinch a historic silver medal in the Champions Trophy in London.

    The Indian team settled for a silver medal in its best ever performance in the prestigious tournament after going down fighting 1-3 to world champions Australia in a controversy-marred summit clash penalty shootout late last night.


    "Congrats to our Hockey Team for a spirited performance in Champions Trophy finals. Their effort has been brilliant. We're proud of the team," the PM wrote on his official twitter handle.

    Only Harmanpreet Singh was able to score in the shootout, while SK Uthappa, SV Sunil and Surender Kumar all hit wide off the target. Just four attempts were required from the two teams as Australia had gained a winning 3-1 lead.

    Indian cricket greats Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman also lauded the team's performance.


    "Great effort by @TheHockeyIndia ,went right down to the wire. Lost a great final in Penalty Shootout but won our hearts," Sehwag said.


    Laxman tweeted, "Congratulations 2 Indian Hockey team on a well fought finals & a fantastic #HCT2016 ?? All the best for the future matches??

    Olympic silver-medallist shooter and union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said, "Fighting performance by Hockey Team India in Champions Trophy. Deserves applause. Congrats for bringing glory to India."


    Ace shuttler Parupalli Kashyap and shooter Joydeep Karmakar expressed their happiness over the team's performance.


    Kashyap said, "India Hard luck guys! Super show! @TheHockeyIndia @raghuhock @16Sreejesh #RoadToRio #HCT2016 #silvermedal."




    While Karmakar wrote, "No final results today, no ones taking the trophy back tonight? #HCT2016 drama unfolding in the most unprecedented way! Unbelievable!"

    The hockey fraternity too was delighted with the historic result.


    Regular skipper Sardar Singh said, "Great effort by our team in the finals of #HCT2016 and congrats for Silver medal. We will continue to work hard to make our country proud."

    Former captain Viren Rasquinha, who is now involved with non profit organisation Olympic Gold Quest, said, "Woke up feeling very proud of our hockey team. Well done.
    https://twitter.com/virenrasquinha/s...26470385917953

    "The Indian team can stand tall with their heads held high. Proud of the boys. You played your hearts out.

    "Can't remember the last time India did not allow Aus to score in normal time in a tment match (not test series).


    Coach Roelant Oltmans was also satisfied with the result.


    "What a great day in London. Unfortunately we lost the Finals on shoot-outs but we won confidence on our way to Rio. Congratulations Aussies."

    Rupinder Pal Singh tweeted, "Feel proud for your efforts boys! You all played your hearts out today!



    PR Sreejesh, who led the team in the absence of Sardar, said, said, "We lost the match ..But .. We won millions of heart ..Be proud boys #silver #HCT2016 #BestOfTheBest @TheHockeyIndia."







    Hockey India was not left behind and said, "A very big congratulations to the @Kookaburras on winning their 14th Men's Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016!




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    Rio review hockey: Expectations belied, but some progress made




    Players from India stay in the pitch a little longer after they lost to Belgium during a men's field hockey qu... Read More The tweet from PR Sreejesh, captain of the Indian hockey team, after his side crashed out in the quarterfinals at Rio, was succinct. 'Rio over... Pain remains... Sorry for letting you down'.

    The expectations from his team stemmed from stellar performances in tournaments in the run-up to the Games. But the moment the curtains fell on the team's campaign, following a 1-3 loss to Belgium in the quarters, the team came in for sharp criticism.

    Regardless of the show in Rio, this Indian side has been a giant leap forward from teams of the past. The fitness levels have been high, camaraderie exceptional and skills set eye catching. Ranked No 5 in the world, India finished eighth among the 12 teams in fray. It was an improvement over their wooden spoon finish in London four years ago.

    Here is a look at what went wrong and the way forward for the team.

    Lack of bite in the forward line

    Led by the fit and sharp SV Sunil, the forward line disappointed on many counts. On the flanks, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Sunil were impressive, but on many occasions they looked clueless inside the striking circle, failing to position themselves well or losing possession. The fluency in attack was missing at key junctures. In the six games in Rio, the team scored only three field goals.

    Failure to soak up pressure

    While the team looked physically fit, enthusiastic and spirited, the youngsters, who were playing on the big stage for the first time, succumbed to the pressure. Players like Kothajit Singh and Surender Kumar fumbled under pressure. The Indians picked up too many cards.

    The way forward

    Indian hockey appears to have moved along in the right direction in the last couple of years. It is important for Hockey India to keep the continuity going and not indulge in blame games and mindless sacking of players and coaching staff.

    RESULTS

    GROUP STAGE: India 3 (VR Raghunath 15, Rupinderpal Singh 26, 4 bt Ireland 2; Germany 2 bt India 1 (Rupinderpal Singh 22); Argentina 1 lost to India 2 (Chinglensana 7, Kothajit K 34); The Netherlands 2 bt India 1 (VR Raghunath 37). India 2 (Akashdeep Singh 32, 40) drew Canada 2;
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    QUARTERFINAL: Belgium 3 bt India 1 (Akashdeep Singh 14).

    Hockey eves flatter to deceive

    The sacking of skipper Ritu Rani in the eleventh hour did the team no favour. They went into the Games sans expectations, riding more on the euphoria of having made the cut for the first time in 36 years. Even then, some fight was expected out of Sushila Chanu and her team. But the team was found seriously wanting in spirit, speed and stamina. The team cannot complain of lack of match practice having travelled extensively over the past year. If they gained from the exposure tours, it didn't show. Having come away with one point from the draw against Japan, it is time to get down to brass tacks.

    RESULTS

    GROUP STAGE: Japan 2 drew India 2 (Rani 30, Lima Minz 39); India 0 lost to Great Britain 3; India 1 (Anuradha Thokchom 59) lost to Australia 6; USA 3 bt India 0; Argentina 5 bt India 0.

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    ഏഷ്യന്* ചാമ്പ്യന്*സ് ട്രോഫി ഹോക്കി: രൂപീന്ദറിന് ആറു ഗോളുകള്*, ഇന്ത്യക്ക് വമ്പന്* ജയം

    മറ്റൊരു മത്സരത്തില്* മലേഷ്യ നിലവിലെ ചാമ്പ്യന്*മാരായ പാകിസ്താനെ തോല്*പ്പിച്ചു









    കുവാണ്ടന്* (മലേഷ്യ): കൊച്ചിക്കാരന്* പി.ആര്*. ശ്രീജേഷിന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലിറങ്ങിയ ഇന്ത്യന്* ടീം ഏഷ്യന്* ചാമ്പ്യന്*സ് ട്രോഫി ഹോക്കിയില്* ജപ്പാനെ 10-2ന് മുട്ടുകുത്തിച്ചു. പെനാല്*റ്റി കോര്*ണര്* വിദഗ്ദ്ധന്* രൂപീന്ദര്* പാല്* സിങ്ങിന്റെ ഡബ്ള്* ഹാട്രിക്കായിരുന്നു മത്സരത്തിന്റെ സവിശേഷത. രൂപീന്ദര്* ആറുഗോളുകള്* നേടി. രമണ്* ദീപ് സിങ് (2), തല്*വീന്ദര്* സിങ്, അഫന്* യൂസഫ് എന്നിവരാണ് മറ്റു സ്*കോറര്*മാര്*.
    ഒരു ഘട്ടത്തില്* 7-0ത്തിന് മുന്നിട്ടുനിന്ന ഇന്ത്യ ഒന്നാം പകുതി അവസാനിക്കുമ്പോള്* 7-1ന് മുന്നിലായിരുന്നു. ഇന്ത്യയും ജപ്പാനും തമ്മിലുള്ള 75ാമത്തെ മത്സരമാണ് വ്യാഴാഴ്ച നടന്നത്. ഇതില്* 67ലും ഇന്ത്യ ജയിച്ചു. നാലെണ്ണത്തില്* ജപ്പാന്* ജയിച്ചപ്പോള്* മറ്റു നാലെണ്ണം സമനിലയിലായി.
    ടൂര്*ണമെന്റിന്റെ ഉദ്ഘാടന മത്സരത്തില്* ആതിഥേയരായ മലേഷ്യ 4-2ന് നിലവിലെ ചാമ്പ്യന്മാരായ പാകിസ്താനെ തോല്പിച്ചു. ഫൈസല്* സാരിയുടെ ഇരട്ടഗോളും ഫിര്*ഹാന്* അന്*സാരി, ഷഹ്രില്* സാബാ എന്നിവരുടെ ഗോളുകളുമാണ് മലേഷ്യക്ക് വിജയം സമ്മാനിച്ചത്. മുഹമ്മദ് അലീം ബിലാലിന്റെ വകയാണ് പാകിസ്താന്റെ രണ്ടു ഗോളും.

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    India hammer Japan 10-2 in Asian Champions Trophy hockey



    Rupinder Pal Singh scored six goals as India began their fourth men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament with a booming 10-2 win over Japan in Kuantan on Thursday.
    Ramandeep Singh opened the scoring floodgates in the second minute of the match. Rupinder then took over the mantle, netting in the ninth, 12th, 17th, 22nd, 46th, 47th minute.
    Ramandeep scored his second goal in the 15th minute, in between the Rupinder blitz. Talwinder Singh (19) and Yousuf Affan (50) completed the scoreline.
    Kenta Tanaka (23) and Hiromasa Ochiai (3 reduced the margin for Japan.
    Rupinder also captained his country in the match.
    India led 3-0 after the first quarter. And never looked back from then on, inflicting misery on the hapless Japanese players. They extended the lead to 7-1 at half-time.
    India played without forward S.V. Sunil and midfielder Manpreet Singh, who have been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
    In another match, hosts Malaysia stunned defending champions Pakistan 4-2 in the opening match of the tournament earlier on Thursday.

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    India downs Pakistan in a pacy encounter


    Ramandeep Singh.


    Has to dig deep against the defending champion

    Top-ranked India had to dig deep to earn a 3-2 victory over defending champion Pakistan in a preliminary league match of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Sunday.
    India exhibited a composed defence when under pressure from early Pakistan raids and worked hard to gain control of the match.
    Maiden goal

    Pradeep Mor scored his maiden goal in his 13th international appearance to give India the lead in the 22nd minute. Pakistan then took the lead through strikes from Muhammad Rizwan Sr. in the 31st and Muhammad Irfan Jr. in the 39th.
    Rupinder Pal Singh converted India’s only penalty corner in the 43rd while Ramandeep Singh made it 3-2 just a minute later by deflecting in a diagonal cross from Talwinder Singh.
    Seven points for India


    India now has seven points from three outings. It defeated Japan 10-2 in its first match and was held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea on Saturday. On the other hand, Pakistan suffered a 4-2 loss against host Malaysia and then won 1-0 over South Korea in its previous matches.
    The top four team from the round-robin competition will advance to the semifinals.
    The results:
    India 3 (Pradeep Mor 22, Rupinder Pal Singh 43, Ramandeep Singh 44) bt Pakistan 2 (Muhammad Rizwan Sr. 31, Muhammad Irfan Jr. 39).

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    Asian Champions Trophy: India beats arch-foes Pakistan 3-2

    India exhibited its composed defence when under pressure from early Pakistan raids and worked hard to gain control of the showpiece encounter of the tournament by defeating Pakistan 3-2 at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.

    This victory gives India seven points from three outings. India had outplayed Japan 10-2 in its first outing, but was held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea yesterday.












    Top-ranked India had to dig deep into its reserves to eke out a 3-2 victory over arch-rivals and defending champions Pakistan in a preliminary league match of the fourth Asian Champions Trophy hockey here on Sunday.
    India exhibited its composed defence when under pressure from early Pakistan raids and worked hard to gain control of the showpiece encounter of the tournament at the Kuantan Hockey Stadium.
    Young striker Pradeep Mor scored his maiden goal in 13 international appearances to give India the lead in the 11th minute, but Pakistan then took charge through strikes from Muhammad Rizwan Sr. in the 31st minute and Muhammad Irfan Jr. in the 39th.
    Rupinder Pal Singh converted India's only penalty corner in the 43rd minute and Ramandeep Singh came into goal-scoring action the following minute by deflecting in a diagonal cross from Talwinder Singh.
    This victory gives India seven points from three outings. India had outplayed Japan 10-2 in its first outing, but was held to a 1-1 draw by South Korea yesterday.
    Starting as two-time defending champions, Pakistan suffered a 2-4 loss to hosts Malaysia and then prevailed 1-0 over South Korea in its previous matches of the six-nation league.
    Top four teams from the round-robin competition will advance to the semifinals. Pakistan forced the first penalty corner in the opening minute when an Indian defender carried the ball in the circle, but goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh blocked two shots to ward off danger.
    Sreejesh first padded the drag-flick from Muhammad Aleem Bilal and then dived to his right to clear the rebound attempt. Pakistan spelt danger again in the fourth minute when its strikers worked in unison to create space deep in the Indian territory and a cross from the right rebounded to unmarked Muhammad Rizwan Jr. on top of the circle. But he sent a wayward shot wide of the left post.
    The Indian players did some hard work and got to the top of the rival scoring zone on a couple of occasions, but the resolute defence denied them a crack at the goal.
    Talwinder Singh had the first Indian shy at the goal in the 11th minute when he picked up a pass from the right on top of the circle and created some space as he turned for the reverse hit, but the shot soared high over the cross-piece.
    India took the lead against the run of play in the 22nd minute when Pradeep Mor on the right flank latched on to the ball that had deflected off a Pakistani defender. Mor darted into the circle and sent in a firm shot from a very narrow angle that beat goalkeeper Imran Butt to land on target.
    This was the first goal for the 24-year-old Mor, who was playing in his 13th international and was one of the reserves for the Olympic Games. Stung by the reverse, Pakistan came back strongly to mount a raid into the Indian circle, but the defender held their ground and denied them a good look at the citadel in the 25th minute.
    The next minute saw an Indian counter-attack with S.K. Uthappa trying to run on the empty space on the left flank, but was obstructed by Ahmad Shakeel Butt, who was sent off for the deliberate foul.
    Continuing to look for the equaliser, Pakistan was rewarded in the first minute after half-time as the Indian defence left Rizwan Sr. unmarked on top of the circle as he collected a long diagonal ball and sent a snap shot into the left corner of the boards. Rizwan Sr. had no pressure of time or space and his flash strike denied Sreejesh even the time to react.
    After end to end counters by either side, Pakistan surged ahead in the 39th minute as Muhammad Ifran Jr. capitalised on an attack from the left to shoot home in a crowded circle.
    As the game picked up pace, India earned its first penalty corner in 43rd minute when the ball hit a Pakistan defender's foot. Rupinder Pal Singh converted the penalty corner with a rasping drag-flick that went high into the net.
    The Indians went into a 3-2 lead a minute later when a long ball caught Pakistan's defence off-guard. Talwinder neatly collected the ball on the left and sent in a diagonal cross that a diving Ramandeep Singh deflected into the boards.
    The third quarter of the match produced four goals, but both teams guarded their territory well in the last quarter.

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