Inaugural World Hockey League(WHL) in India

Inaugural World Hockey League in India

Hockey the national game has long been neglected by youth and to this day has been confined to government employees. If more youth opt for the game, we could take the game to towering peaks.


At last on Wednesday, ending the long dilemma the International Hockey Federation (FIH) President Leandro Negro announced that India will host final of the inaugural World Hockey League that will now serve as a qualifying tournament for both the World Cup and Olympics. Adding, the FIH World League would kick-off a month after the 2012 London Olympics. The tourney will carry on for over 2 years. The final round of the women’s event will be hosted by Argentina in December, 2013 and India will host the men’s final round in January, 2014.


The FIH President came stern on the rebel league World Series Hockey (WSH), has not been recognized by the association. And anyone opting to participate will face sanctions. WSH is being jointly promoted by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus Sports. “Our stand is very clear. Players and officials are free to join any league, but we have sanctions in place. The WSH is a very good idea and profitable for players, but will only recognize tournaments that are held under the aegis of Hockey India,” said Kelly Fairweather, FIH chief executive officer.


The FIH World league is mostly based on the cricket format. 80 men-teams and 52 women-teams are going to participate in this mammoth event stretched for a little over two years. Six to seven teams each will qualify in both sections and they will join the five continental champions and host nation to form the line-up for the World Cup and the Olympic Games.   
[ With inputs from internet ]


Tags : Hockey, inaugural World Hockey League, Leandro Negro, International Hockey Federation, Indian Hockey, latest sport updates,latest sport news.

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Jammu recognized as a international Cricket stadium

Jammu to have Intl Cricket stadium

Jammu the land of snow and sumptuous apples had inspired many, but due to the various controversies surrounding, many have less dared.


The land of mystique beauty is going to be a not to miss destination for cricket fans as the Jammu and Kashmir government finally announced the formal launch of construction. The six year old proposal has finally got nod from the Sports ministry and an international cricket stadium is to be constructed in Jammu. The foundation stone for the 75 Cr stadium will be laid on March 18.  Union New and Renewable Energy Minister and Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) President Farooq Abdullah spoke to media in this regards on Wednesday, at Jammu. The Minister spoke on the sidelines of a Talent hunt programme organized by the BCCI under the banner of the National Cricket Academy.


Dr Farooq informed that,`We are trying our level best to improve cricket in Jammu and Kashmir and the cricket stadium of exclusively for cricket of international level would come up in both Jammu and Kashmir.’ `The foundation stone would be laid on March 18 at the site finalized for the stadium at Bajalta on the city outskirts,’ he added. Former Indian Cricketer Sandip Patil was also participating in the Talent Hunt. [ With inputs from internet ]


Tags : International Cricket Stadium, Jammu Stadium, Foundation Stone of J&K stadium, Foundation Stone of J&K stadium, Farooq Abdullah, J&K tourism, J&K mystic lands, latest sports news, latest sports updates, ipl, international cricket venue.

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Indian hockey teams start preparations for London Olympics

Indian hockey teams spruced up for London

Indians are getting back into perfect rhythm for the London Olympics by both the Men and the Women winning Olympic qualifiers at New Delhi.


The Indian hockey teams have marked their way into the London Olympics by winning over their rivals at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Tuesday. The Men team beats its rival France 6-2, while women team beats Poland 3-0.


But due honors go to ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh for his scintillating goals by scoring two out of three penalty corners. Sandeep was also the leading goal scorer in the tournament. He scored seven goals from three matches. Eight time Olympic champions India were in complete control of the match with their pace and aggression and their defense caved in under relentless attack from the Indian forwards.


In the women game in the beginning Indians were a bit sluggish. But later they pulled up together as a team and defeated their rivals. All the three Ranis in the team saw the Indian squad post a convenient win over their 28th ranked rival Poland. The three Rani’s in the lime light were Ritu Rani, Rani Rampaul and Poonam Rani.  [ With inputs from internet ]


Tags : Indian Hockey, Olympic, Eight time Olympic champions, London Olympics, latest sport update, latest sport news.

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Rumors of dissent emerges against Dhoni

Rumors of dissent emerges against Dhoni

The other day it was senior player Gautam Gambhir who vented out his ire on the Indian captain M S Dhoni and yesterday it was another senior player Virendra Sehwag. As per an early decision of Dhoni three senior players, along with Sachin Tendulkar were given rest, in the ODI to pack the squad with more juniors. This was spelt as a preparation strategy for a better squad for the forthcoming world cup. Initially it was a team decision. But later Dhoni is rumored to have commented that the three seniors cost the team a minimum of twenty runs due to fielding lapses, to the team in its fight. T6his comment was ridiculed by two seniors, while Sachin kept silent as susal and never let out his feelings on the comment. Dhoni is further added to have said that henceforth the three will not play in a match together.


"I did not know what he (Dhoni) said and what's going on in media. He told us he wanted to give chance to youngsters who had come here and play the next World Cup. That's what he told us," said Sehwag. "Have you seen my catch?" Sehwag snapped back in response, adding "we have been fielding the same way for the last 10 years."


Asked if he would clear the air with Dhoni, Sehwag retorted, "Why should I have chat with him? He is the captain and leader. If he and coach think they need to give break to top order, I am okay with it, I have no problem with it."


"I am available for all the matches. It depends on the captain and coach what 11 they pick. If they give me a reason that we are giving chance to youngsters and we take a break, I am happy with that," he said. And he also denied of any rift with the captain over any issue. In addition, he blamed himself of his poor performance as a batsman, "Obviously, we are not giving good starts. I couldn't score runs. I have to look at my own shot selection. I need to give little more time to myself and then I can play my shots. I am hitting well but not converting. I am getting out in funny way, like flicking to point. I am hoping to leave (deliveries) early and then take on the bowlers," he said.  [ With inputs from internet ]


Tags : Gautam Gambhir, Indian cricket team, M S Dhoni, Virendra Sehwag, Fielding lapses, rotation policy, latest sport updates, latest sport news.

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Tendulkar and Bracewell take top awards for the year 2011

Tendulkar and Bracewell take top awards for the year 2011

Sachin Tendulkar and Doug Bracewell have won the Test batting and bowling awards in the fifth annual ESPNcricinfo Awards, announced today.


Tendulkar's 146 in Cape Town early in 2011 came in testing conditions and in the face of some sublime swing bowling by Dale Steyn. Bracewell won in his debut year in international cricket, for his 6 for 40 in New Zealand's historic seven-run win against Australia in Hobart.


Another first for the awards was the victory of an Associate player - Kevin O'Brien, who got votes from 13 out of the panel of 16 jurors, for his nerveless century in Ireland's historic win over England in the World Cup . The ODI bowling award didn't emerge from the global tournament, though there were five World Cup performances among the nominees. Mitchell Johnson won it for his six-wicket haul in Pallekele during Australia's tour to Sri Lanka.


The awards were decided by a 16-member jury that included former players Ian Chappell, Ian Bishop, Ramiz Raja, Kepler Wessels, Geoff Boycott, Martin Crowe, Sanjay Manjrekar and Russel Arnold, and ESPNcricinfo's senior writers. The jurors were asked to pick their top three performances in each category from a shortlist of nominees.


The Test and ODI bowling performances were closely fought. Stuart Broad was the loser by a just a point in both categories - for his 4 for 15 in the World Cup match against South Africa and his six-for, which included a hat-trick, in the Trent Bridge Test* against India. However, he beat Steyn, 2010's Test bowling winner, by six points in Tests and four points in ODIs.


The Test batting category had the widest gap between the winner and No. 2 - six points separated Tendulkar's innings and Michael Clarke's 151, also scored in Cape Town, in the Test in which Australia dismissed South Africa for 96 and were then bowled out in their second innings for 47.


Tendulkar was the No. 1 choice of seven jurors out of the 11 who had him in their top three. O'Brien's figures were the next best, with six No. 1 votes.


Bishop, the former West Indies bowler, said O' Brien's innings was exceptional. "The manner in which it was scored when his team was in the situation that it was… the type of power-hitting showed, the type of fearlessness he showed augurs well for him and his team."


While it was Tendulkar's second ESPNcricinfo Award - he won the ODI Batting performance in 2009 for his 175 against Australia in Hyderabad - it was a first for the rest.


Chappell, a former Australia captain, said Tendulkar showed true class during his 146. "He faced 314 balls which is not Tendulkar-like, the strike rate, but these were precious runs. This was another side of Tendulkar, just showing his greatness - his ability to make runs when things were really tough, and he really had to battle."


ESPNcricinfo's readers agreed with the jury's assessment of the Test batting performance but picked Virender Sehwag, Junaid Khan and Shahid Afridi in the other three categories. [ from ESPN Cricinfo ]


Tags : Sachin Tendulkar, Day of the titans, Test bowling: Doug Bracewell, Doug Bracewell, dale steyn, latest sport news, cape town.

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