Germany’s star forward Christopher Ruhr on Thursday heaped praise on the Indian hockey team, saying the 2014 Asian Games champions are one of the best contenders for a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The two-time World Junior Player of the Year said India can also win the 2018 World Cup because the prestigious tournament will take place in India and it could give extra advantage to the hosts.

“I think India and (2016 Olympic champions) Argentina developed most of all among the big hockey nations over the past 2-3 years. I like the style India plays and I think they are a huge competitor for winning an Olympic medal in 2020,” Ruhr, who was part of Germany’s team that won the bronze medal in 2016 Rio Games, said in a release.

“Also a medal at the World Cup in 2018 — especially because the World Cup takes place in India and the crowds in India are always amazing, which gives the home team another percentage point in motivation,” he added.

Considered as one of the most devastating forwards in the world, the 23-year-old, who was recruited by former champions Ranchi Rays for a whopping $75,000 for his Hockey India League (HIL) debut, has enjoyed tremendous success while playing in India.

Apart from the 2013 Junior World Cup title here, Ruhr also featured in Germany’s team in the 2014 Champions Trophy-winning team in Bhubaneswar.

Ruhr said he has been looking forward to playing in the Indian league ever since the German team lifted the Junior world title at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.

“I am super excited to play in the HIL. Since I played the Junior World Cup in Delhi, I have been dreaming about playing in this country in front of the unbelievable crowds in each stadium. We don’t have big crowds very often, when we play in Germany or Europe,” said Ruhr.

“I can’t wait to play with and against so many world class players and experience the hockey and the country itself,” he added.

He also reckoned that the HIL stint will help his career at this stage when Germany prepare for the World Hockey League Semi-Final and Final competitions to be held this year.

Rühr was the leading goal-scorer with six goals at the previous Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Final in Buenos Aires — which Germany won — and further scored three goals in the 2015 Hero Hockey World League Final in Raipur.

“Playing in the HIL will help me a lot for my career because I am going to see so many different styles of hockey and can adapt them to my game to make it more and more unpredictable,” said the Düsseldorf native in Germany.

Ranchi Rays will begin their camp in Mumbai next week where they play their first match of the edition on January 21 against Dabang Mumbai.

–IANS

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]]> https://glint.tv/ports/india-colts-storm-into-quarters-of-mens-junior-hockey-world-cup/ Tue, 13 Dec 2016 05:02:06 +0000 https://glint.tv/?p=6263

India zoomed into the quarter-finals of the men’s Junior Hockey World Cup in style, getting the better of South Africa 2-1, to remain unbeaten in Pool D on Monday.

Skipper Harjeet Singh led from the front with the opening goal in the 11th minute but the hosts were pegged back in the 28th minute when visitors’ Kyle Lion-Cachet made the most of a penalty corner to restore parity.

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Both teams entered the break with the scoreboard reading 1-1.

India got their noses ahead once more in the 55th minute, this time Mandeep Singh sounding the board with a sublime finish on the turn.

South Africa almost scored their second goal but for a superb save by goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya in the 68th minute.

The Harendra Singh-coached side finished on nine points from three matches having previously beaten England 5-3 and Canada 4-0. The one-time champions started in dominating fashion against Canada, then playing out a thriller against England.

Earlier, Australia made it two out of two beating Austria 4-2 to stay top of the heap in pool A and with one foot on the quarters place followed by Argentina who recorded their first win of the competition in resounding fashion smashing five goals past Korea who managed only one consolation strike.

In other matches of the day, the Netherlands recovered from their defeat at the hands of group-toppers Belgium on Sunday to canter to a 7-0 win against wooden-spooners Egypt.

Belgium trounced Malaysia 3-0 to maintain their pole position and secure a quarters berth along with Germany. Group A is now the only open group with Australia — on six points from two outings — playing Korea on Tuesday and England taking on Canada in Group D.

IANS

In-form drag-flick expert Rupinder Pal Singh scored a brace as top-ranked India eked out a 2-1 win over Malaysia to secure the top spot in the round-robin stage in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament on Wednesday.

Rupinder, who had scored eight goals before this match, gave world No.6 India the lead in the 12th minute but Razie Rahim equalised for world No.14 Malaysia in the 18th minute. However, Rupinder once again stepped up to convert a penalty corner to make it 2-1.

With this win, Roelant Oltmans-coached India have 13 points having played all the five games, while Malaysia remained in the second spot with nine points from four games.

Also Read : India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in Asian Champions Trophy

Meanwhile, South Korea sealed a spot in the semi-finals following a 4-3 win over Japan, who lost five consecutive matches. South Korea are third on the table with seven points from four matches, while fourth-placed Pakistan face fifth-placed China on Thursday.

Pakistan have six points from four matches while the Chinese have three points. Pakistan not only have three points more than China but the goal difference of -1 for the former world champions could come into play even if China, who have a goal difference of (-14), manage a win.

The match at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium between India and Pakistan started at a very good pace with both the teams, known for their counter-attacking game, at it from the very beginning.

India, however, looked better and earned a penalty corner in the third minute. Malaysian goalkeeper Kumar Subramaniam brought out his stick to the left to deny Rupinder’s powerful flick in the third minute.

But Rupinder gave India a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute when the Punjab set-piece specialist scored on a rebound after his penalty corner flick hit the side bar and fell just in front of him.

India’s quick counter-attacking game came to the fore when Nikkin Thimmaiah led a stirring attack and squared for Akashdeep, who attempted a reverse-hand strike that was padded away by Subraniam in the 15th minute.

A couple of minutes into the second quarter, Affan Yousuf wasted a chance of putting India 2-0 up as Akashdeep set him up with just Subramaniam to beat but the former fired it over.

But the Malaysians levelled from the penalty corner as Razie flicked past young Indian custodian Akash Chikte, who was standing in for injured captain P.R. Sreejesh, in the 18th minute. Chikte quickly fell down during an untimely jump and it allowed Razie to send the ball over him.

Chitke, however, later proved his quality as he denied a close-range deflection near his right post to keep India at 1-1 till the half-time.

After the 10-minute break, India made numerous goal-scoring chances in the third quarter but the goal didn’t come.

Talwinder Singh’s drive from a close angle was blocked by custodian Subramaniam but the ball popped out, giving India a penalty corner. But Rupinder’s flick to the right was palmed away by the Malaysian custodian in the 37th minute.

Malaysia too had their moments earning two penalty corners in the final five minutes of the third and penultimate quarter but they were not able to go past the Indian defence. While Razie was denied by defender Surender Kumar, Shahril Saabah’s lethargic flick was blocked by Chikte.

Also Read: India crush China to seal semis spot in Asian Champions Trophy

Malaysia got another opportunity of taking a lead when an indisciplined defensive activity from India’s part earned the hosts a penalty corner in the 56th minute. But Razie’s flick went wide off the mark.

But India hit back in a fierce attack and earned a penalty corner which was duly converted by Rupinder with just 2.15 minutes left on the clock, stunning the home fans.

The hopes of the Malaysian fans revived as they were rewarded with a penalty corner in the final minute but Razie’s high flick was blocked by Chikte, paving the way for India’s 2-1 win.

IANS

Akashdeep Singh and Jasjit Singh Kular scored a brace each as a ruthless India routed China 9-0 in a round-robin match to enter the semi-finals of the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium here on Tuesday.

India displayed technical superiority over the Chinese as they ran riot, going 4-0 up till the half-time. They scored goals through Akashdeep Singh (ninth and 39th minutes), Affan Yousuf (19th), Jasjit Singh Kular (22nd and 51st), Rupinder Pal Singh (25th), Nikkin Thimmaiah (34th), Lalit Upadhyay (37th), Devinder Walmiki (41st).

Also Read: India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in Asian Champions Trophy

In total, India had 24 shots at the target while China had five as Akash Chitke, standing in for India’s premier goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh had a quiet outing.

With this win, India moved to the top of the standings with 10 points from four matches. They face Malaysia in their final round-robin match that could decide the top placed team before the knockouts. The hosts have nine points from three matches and are second on the table.

Meanwhile Japan are out of the race for the semi-finals after losing four consecutive matches — the latest coming in the form of a 3-4 defeat to Pakistan. Muhammad Aleem Bilal scored a couple of penalty corner goals as Pakistan moved to the third spot of the standings.

India dominated the game from the start to the end. Such was their domination that the match was almost played in China’s half.

It took only six minutes for India to stamp their authority when Akashdeep made China pay for a poor back pass as he trapped the ball a couple of yards behind the ‘D’ before shooting past H.Y. Wang with a reverse stick.

In the second half, India upped the ante and the goals rained. The quick counter-attacking flair of the Indians came to the fore as India found it easy.

Lalit Upadhyay and Akashdeep built the moves from the right as the Chinese defenders outnumbered the duo, the latter passed the ball to Yousuf, who drove the ball inside the goal on the far post to make it 2-0.

Four minutes later, Jasjit made it 3-0 as he single-handedly stole the ball from the midfield to enter the rival circle before playing a one-two with S.K. Uthappa prior to employ a reverse-hand strike past the Chinese custodian.

India’s circle penetrations continued and three minutes later they earned a penalty corner which was converted by Rupinder in the 25th minute — eighth goal of the tournament for the Indian set-piece specialist — as India went into the half-time with a 4-0 lead.

The script remained the same after the 10-minute lemon break. India surged ahead and China had further trouble.

Uthappa played a through pass to Nikkin, who was stationed with his back facing the Chinese post. Nikkin made a spin and just lifted the ball in to make it 5-0.

In another quick counter-attack, the Chinese goalkeeper ran towards an onrushing Nikkin on the former’s right before the Indian passed the ball to Lalit, who sent the ball home into an empty net.

Later, Akashdeep again made the most of a poor trapping from a Chinese defender on the left and charged to the top of the ‘D’ before shooting home to make it 7-0.

Walmiki too registered his name among the goal-scorers as he beat the Chinese goalkeeper with a rasping drive in the 41st minute.

Despite being 8-0 up with only a quarter to go, India didn’t stop and piled further misery on the hapless Chinese as Jasjit rocketed the ball high in a goal-melee to mark his side’s ninth goal of the evening.

In the final minutes of the game, India tried their best to enhance their goal tally but they couldn’t as the battered Chinese were happy to walk off the pitch.

IANS

India produced a superb comeback to defeat Pakistan 3-2 in their third round robin match at the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Sunday.

For India, Pardeep Mor (22nd minute), Rupinder Pal Singh (43rd minute) and Ramandeep Singh (44th minute) found the targets while Muhammad Rizwan Senior and Muhammad Irfan Junior scored for Pakistan, respectively in the 31st and 39th minute.

With this win, India bagged the crucial three points to leap to the top of the points table with seven points from three matches. India will now take on China on Tuesday.

The match began with a commemoration for on-field umpire Murray Grime, who was officiating his 200th international game.

India did not get the start they wanted as in the initial minutes of the game Pakistan broke with a long ball and got their first penalty corner of the match but Indian goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh pulled off two back-to-back saves.

The first quarter also saw both teams trying to create openings but it was Pakistan who proved superior throughout the quarter as India failed to find their bearings when Talwinder Singh’s shot went past the goalkeeper’s gloves and then over the post.

The first quarter came to end with Pakistan dominating. They made at least three good moves and the Indian defence did well not to concede a goal.

In the second quarter, India played with more discipline by not giving away anything in the defence and keeping up the pressure in the midfield.

They penetrated the Pakistan circle many times but success came only in the 22nd minute when a long ball from Rupinder Pal Singh went to S.K. Utthapa and then Mor slammed a cross into the circle that went through the legs of Pakistan custodian into the goal.

After conceding the goal, Pakistan started counter-attacking with their captain Fareed Ahmed acting as the pivot.

The Pakistan defensive structure of Muhammad Arshad, Niwaz Ashfaq and Muhammad Bilal were alert and confident, denying the penetration by the blue sticks.

The Roelant Oltmans-coached side went to half time with a 1-0 lead.

Afer the break, a rejuvenated Pakistan started the proceedings much more strongly and found an equaliser in the initial minutes of the third quarter.

Rizwan Sr snapped a shot that left Indian custodian Sreejesh slightly off balance and resulted in the scoreboard count of 1-1.

Soon after the equaliser, Pakistan showed more intent in the game as they scored another goal in the 39th minute to take the vital lead. This time a field goal by Irfan Junior did the damage to India.

It seemed like this goal changed everything for India as out of nowhere, India scored two goals within a span of one minute in the dying minutes of the third quarter and created panic among the Pakistani players.

The first of these two goals was scored by drag-flicker Rupinder in the 43rd minute via a penalty corner and then in the 44th minute Ramandeep scored a field goal. Lalit Upadhyay passed the ball to Talwinder, whose deft pass was deflected into Pakistan’s goal by Ramandeep.

In the final quarter, India displayed some good defensive game and held their nerves to outplay Pakistan 3-2.

IANS

The movie traces the life of Prithipal Singh, one of the greatest Indian hockey players. After walking away from hockey, Prithipal was caught between two student groups during his stint as the head of student welfare at the Punjab Agricultural University.

Prithipal finds himself being accused of murdering a student and a deadly blood feud is ignited.