Others

The Indian hockey team's recent Olympic success has dispelled the notion that they concede late goals, according to legendary hockey player Zafar Iqbal. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side has emerged as a formidable force in all aspects of the game, he believes.Iqbal, a gold medalist at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and captain of the 1982 Asian Games silver-winning Indian team, is optimistic about the sport's resurgence in India following the bronze medals in Tokyo and Paris."The general impression before was that India is a team that concedes goals late in games, but that has changed now," Iqbal said. "We are one of the best teams in the world in all aspects."Iqbal recalls the immense popularity of hockey in his era, with events like the Nehru Gold Cup and Asian Games drawing large crowds. He hopes that the recent Olympic success will reignite the passion for the sport in the country.The upcoming India vs. Germany matches at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi on October 23 and 24 have generated excitement among hockey enthusiasts. Iqbal believes that Germany is a tough opponent, but he is confident that the Indians will be motivated to perform well."The facilities are top-notch, and I am sure the game will be filled with riveting action," he added. "I would like to take this opportunity to invite hockey fans to turn up in numbers to support our team."Another hockey legend, Harbinder Singh, is equally upbeat about the return of big matches to the national capital. He recalls playing for the national team at Shivaji Stadium in 1972, where the stadium was packed to capacity."I believe a lot of fans will turn up to cheer for India and Germany as well," said Singh, a gold winner at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and bronze medalist at the 1968 Mexico and 1972 Munich Games. "They will be witnessing a high-level international match after a decade after all."With the matches against Olympic silver winners Germany, international hockey is returning to New Delhi after a decade. The last time India played at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium was during the Hockey World League Final Men's Round 4 in January 2014.Last year, Chennai hosted the Men's Asian Champions Trophy, while Ranchi organized the Women's Asian Champions Trophy and the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier. In November 2024, Rajgir, a city in Bihar, will host the Women's Asian Champions Trophy.India's Olympic hockey medals are a testament to the country's rich history in the sport. The team clinched its first-ever Olympic gold medal in 1928, paving the way for many more triumphs in subsequent Olympics. Dhyan Chand emerged as the star with 15 goals.Singh believes that high-profile matches should be hosted at various venues across the country, giving people from all regions a chance to witness the team live in action and grow the following for the sport.

India's sporting landscape remains dominated by cricket, leaving athletes from other disciplines struggling for recognition. Despite the recent rise of sports like hockey, badminton, and athletics, non-cricketing sportspersons continue to face obscurity, with only a few exceptions.Hockey midfielder Hardik Singh recently shared a disheartening incident that highlights the current state of affairs. At an airport, he and his teammates witnessed fans flocking to social media personality Dolly Chaiwala for selfies, while failing to recognize the hockey stars."I saw it with my own eyes," said Hardik. "People were getting themselves clicked with him and did not recognize us. We started looking at each other (feeling awkward)."This incident underscores the stark contrast between the fame enjoyed by cricketers and the relative anonymity of other athletes. Despite winning back-to-back Olympic bronze medals and the recent Asian Champions Trophy gold, India's hockey team continues to struggle for recognition."For an athlete, fame and money is one thing," said Hardik. "But when people are watching you and appreciating you, there is no bigger satisfaction than that."The lack of recognition for non-cricketing sportspersons has a detrimental impact on their motivation and morale. It also hinders the development of these sports in India, as young athletes may be discouraged from pursuing them due to the limited opportunities for fame and financial success.To address this issue, it is crucial to promote and celebrate the achievements of athletes from all sports. Media coverage, government support, and public awareness campaigns can play a vital role in raising the profile of non-cricketing sports and inspiring future generations of athletes.

Defending champions Indian Railways secured a thrilling 5-4 victory over former champions BPCL in the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament on Wednesday. The hard-fought match was filled with twists and turns, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats.Railways dominated the early stages of the game, taking a 4-2 lead going into the fourth quarter. However, BPCL refused to go down without a fight, forcing three consecutive penalty corners at the start of the quarter. Railways' defense held firm, but BPCL's relentless attack paid off as former international Devender Walmiki scored a brace within three minutes to equalize.Just when it seemed like BPCL would snatch a draw, Railways' Darshan Gawkar delivered the decisive blow in the dying minutes of the match. The goal sent shockwaves through the BPCL camp and secured Railways' place in the semifinals.In the other Pool-A match, Indian Army defeated Maharashtra 2-1 to join Railways in the last four. Cyril Lugun and Akshay Dubey scored for Army, while Venkatesh Kenche netted a consolation goal for Maharashtra.The semifinalists from Pool-B are IOC and Odisha. IOC defeated Central Secretariat 6-1, while Odisha beat Karnataka 6-4.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the former champion of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament, has secured its place in the semifinals after a 3-1 victory over Odisha in a Pool-B contest. With this win, IOC has assured itself of a spot in the knock-out stage.IOC, studded with Olympians and Internationals, has played hard and ticked all the boxes in this year's tournament. The team has scripted its third successive win, leaving nothing to chance. Odisha, from Pool-B, is the other team that has made it to the last four.In Pool-A, Indian Army tamed Tamil Nadu 3-1 with a delectable mix of aggression and caution. However, the picture in Pool-A is still unclear as to who will reach the semifinals. Tamil Nadu, after its wonderful win over Maharashtra, flattered to deceive against a strong Army unit.Army was the better side throughout the match, be it in attack, defense, or midfield. Tamil Nadu will rue its chances in the fourth quarter. Trailing 1-3 in the fourth quarter, the host had four back-to-back penalty corners but wasted each one of them.

The Indian men's hockey team, fresh off their historic bronze medal performance at the Tokyo Olympics, will face off against hockey powerhouse Germany in a two-match bilateral series at the iconic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on October 23 and 24.The last time these two hockey giants clashed was in the semi-finals of the Paris Olympics, where Germany emerged victorious with a narrow 3-2 margin. India, however, went on to secure the bronze medal by defeating Spain in the third-place play-offs.Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed his excitement for the upcoming series, stating, "This bilateral series against Germany will be a remarkable showcase of world-class hockey. Both India and Germany have a rich history in the sport, and this series will give fans an opportunity to witness an intense competition between two of the most formidable teams in the world.""We are honored to host this event, which will not only promote the spirit of hockey but also strengthen the bond between the two nations," added Tirkey, a former India captain.Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh echoed Tirkey's sentiments, saying, "The India-Germany hockey rivalry has always been a thrilling contest. Our players are eager to compete against such a good side, and I believe this series will offer both teams a chance to fine-tune their skills and strategies ahead of future international tournaments.""We are proud to be part of this Indo-German collaboration, which brings together not just business and diplomacy but also the love of sport," Singh added.German Hockey Federation President Henning Fastrich expressed the national team's anticipation for the challenge. "India has always been a special place for hockey, and our team is excited to play in front of passionate Indian hockey fans. This series will be a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the sporting ties between Germany and India while offering both teams a competitive platform to prepare for upcoming global events.""We look forward to the challenge and the experience of playing at the historic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium," Fastrich concluded.The India-Germany bilateral series promises to be an exciting spectacle for hockey enthusiasts, showcasing the skills and strategies of two of the world's top hockey nations.

Karnataka's performance in the ongoing MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament has been a far cry from their impressive run in the previous edition, where they reached the final. In the 95th edition of the tournament, Karnataka has struggled to assert its dominance, failing to replicate the robust display and penalty corner prowess that characterized their previous campaign.On Monday, Karnataka managed to eke out a hard-fought 4-3 victory over NCOE (Bhopal) in a Pool-B encounter, thanks to a brace each from Abharan Sudev and C. J. Rahul. However, the win came after two disappointing losses, highlighting Karnataka's current struggles.NCOE, which entered the tournament with a reputation to defend after winning the Lakshmi Ammal memorial tournament in June, has also failed to live up to expectations. The team has lost two of its three matches so far, including the defeat to Karnataka.The match between Karnataka and NCOE was a closely contested affair. NCOE opened the scoring early on through their captain Faraz Md., who converted a penalty corner in the seventh minute. Karnataka responded quickly with goals from Abharan Sudev and Rahul, taking a 2-1 lead. Rahul extended Karnataka's advantage to 3-1 with a back-push from close range.NCOE came close to equalizing in the closing stages of the third quarter and the start of the fourth quarter through penalty corners. However, Karnataka's goalkeeper A. C. Subramani came up with some timely saves to preserve his team's lead.In another Pool-A contest, defending champion Indian Railways defeated Maharashtra 3-2. Yuvraj Walmiki, Simranjot Singh, and Shivam Anand scored for Indian Railways, while Rohan Patil and Venkatesh Kenche netted for Maharashtra.

Odisha has emerged as a formidable force in the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament, showcasing exceptional skill and tactical prowess. Composed primarily of young players, the team has displayed an attractive and effective brand of hockey that has captivated spectators.In a thrilling Pool-B encounter, Odisha faced a stern test against the National Centre of Excellence (NCOE, Bhopal). Despite dominating the first quarter with six penalty corners, it was NCOE that drew first blood through Sathish. Odisha responded swiftly, equalizing within minutes.The third quarter witnessed a resurgence from NCOE, who gained possession and scored a penalty corner goal through their captain, Faraz Md. However, Odisha's resilience shone through in the fourth quarter. With their exceptional dribbling skills, speed, and 1-2 passes, they mounted a relentless attack, scoring twice through Satish Kangadi, Sudeep Minz, and Prasad Kujjur to seal a 3-2 victory.In another Pool-B match, former champion IOCL displayed their dominance with a resounding 7-0 thrashing of Central Secretariat. Gujinder Singh, Sumit Kumar, Talwinder Singh, Md. Zaid Khan, and Aarman Qureshi were among the goal scorers for IOCL.With seven points from three matches, Odisha is well-positioned to advance to the semifinals from its group. Their impressive performance has been a testament to the team's talent and determination.

Maharashtra displayed remarkable resilience and fighting spirit to secure a thrilling 5-4 victory over former champion BPCL in the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament held in Chennai on Friday, September 20, 2024.Despite trailing 0-2 and then 1-3, Maharashtra staged a stunning comeback in the third and fourth quarters. Aditya Lalage, a current junior world cupper, and Stephen Swamy each scored a brace, while Mayur Dhanavde added another goal to propel Maharashtra to victory.BPCL had taken an early lead through Tejas Chavan and Rajinder Singh, but Maharashtra's Mayur Dhanavde reduced the deficit in the 22nd minute. However, Sunil Somwarpet restored BPCL's two-goal advantage in the 40th minute.Undeterred, Maharashtra fought back with determination. Aditya Lalage and Stephen Swamy scored in quick succession in the 45th and 46th minutes to level the match. Lalage then completed his brace in the 51st minute, giving Maharashtra the lead for the first time.BPCL managed to equalize through Varun Kumar's stroke in the 53rd minute, but Maharashtra refused to be denied. Stephen Swamy scored his second goal in the 51st minute, securing the victory for his team.In another match, Odisha registered an easy 4-1 victory over last year's finalist, Karnataka. Ekka Rahul, Tirkey Rajat Akash, Kangadi Satish, and Chetan Mallappa scored for Odisha and Karnataka, respectively.National Centre of Excellence (NCOE, Bhopal) also emerged victorious, defeating Central Secretariat 3-2. Rajat Minz, Parmod, and Hassan Basha scored for NCOE and Central Secretariat, respectively.

Hockey: Selvam Karthi's Brace Earns Central Secretariat a Draw Against Hockey OdishaIn a thrilling encounter at the 95th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All-India hockey tournament, India discard Selvam Karthi scored a brace to help Central Secretariat salvage a 2-2 draw against Hockey Odisha on Thursday, September 19, 2024.The match started with Hockey Odisha taking an early lead through Prasad Kujur's goal in the first quarter. Central Secretariat responded with a series of attacks but failed to convert any of their chances. However, Karthi, a former international, came to the rescue in the third quarter with a stinging backhander that equalized the score.Hockey Odisha regained the lead through Sudeep Minz's corner conversion, but Karthi once again proved his worth with a powerful backhander on the run, securing a share of the spoils for Central Secretariat.In the second match of the day, former champion BPCL edged out Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu (HUTN) 2-1. Vishwas Girish and Tejas Chavan scored for BPCL, while B. P. Somanna netted the lone goal for HUTN.