Page 10 - Indian Hockey Team

FIH chief Ikram said they will resume Indo-Pak bilateral hockey if possible

International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Tayyab Ikram on Tuesday said they will resume bilateral contests between India and Pakistan "tomorrow" if given a choice, as the storied rivalry makes the sport stronger. It has been 18 years since arch-rivals India and Pakistan have locked horns in a bilateral hockey Test series. "There are certain different ways to approach it. Bilateral series is beyond the control of FIH. It's a decision by federations after taking into considerations government and political understandings and as an FIH representative, I do respect their decisions," FIH president Tayyab Ikram told PTI in an exclusive interview. "For us, given a choice, we want to start tomorrow with a bilateral hockey series between India and Pakistan. It is good for both India and Pakistan, and world hockey," added the Pakistan-born administrator, who is now a citizen of Macau. The last bilateral series between the two neighbours took place in 2006, which Pakistan won 3-1. Since

Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 HIGHLIGHTS: IND beat JPN 5-1 to secure second successive win

Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Pakistan draw Korea 2-2 to drop points in their second successive game.

Asian Champions Trophy 2024: India vs Japan live time, streaming

India started their campaign with a comfortable win over China, while Japan played a high-scoring draw with Korea.

Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 HIGHLIGHTS: India beat China 3-0 to start their title defense

Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Malaysia held Pakistan to a 2-2 draw after going 0-2 down in 2nd quarter.

Asian Champions Trophy 2024: India vs China live time, streaming

Harmanpreet Singh's side will be looking to make a winning start as they begin their title defense on Sunday. Hosts China will be eager to put their best foot forward in front of their fans.

Asian hockey champions trophy 2024: India full schedule, timings and squads

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh will aim to lead from the front, just as he did in Paris, and write another chapter in Indian hockey history.

Indian hockey team can aim for gold in LA 2028 Olympics: PR Sreejesh

Riding high on the success of winning a bronze medal in Paris ending a four-decade-long dry spell the Indian hockey team now aims to build on this momentum with hopes of clinching gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, ace goalkeeper P R Sreejesh said on Friday. The former national team captain, who announced his retirement after the Paris Olympics, told journalists in the Bihar capital that he saw the state as the future "sports hub". "I see many positive developments in Bihar, particularly at the sports complex in Rajgir, which now features an astro turf and will host the women's Asian Cup Trophy tournament later this year," Sreejesh remarked. He added, "I see no reason why Bihar cannot emerge as the country's next sports hub. I have met sports department officials here and found many initiatives, like establishment of a sports university, quite impressive". Sreejesh, who has taken up a new assignment as the coach for the junior men's hockey team, said he had set his eyes on

Harmanpreet Singh wants to start fresh with ACT title defense in China

Indian men's hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh said it's time to move on from the euphoria of a second successive Olympic bronze medal if the side desires to retain its Asian Champions Trophy title in Hulunbuir, China this month. Under Harmanpreet's leadership, India won a second successive bronze medal for the first time in over half-a-century at the Olympics in Paris recently. But Harmanpreet said it's time to move and start afresh after a deserving break for the Asian showpiece to be held from September 8 to 17. "With a brief break after the Paris Olympics, the team is ready to take on the best hockey playing nations in Asia and prove its mettle. "We had a good outing in Paris but hockey is a very close game, we cannot rest on our laurels," the skipper said before leaving for China in the early hours on Tuesday. "The aim will be to play high-octane hockey and retain our title." Besides India, the Asian Champions Trophy will feature Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and hosts

Asian Champions Trophy 2024 full schedule, IND vs PAK live time, streaming

The India vs Pakistan hockey match will be played on September 14 at 1:15 PM IST. The live streaming of the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy will be available on the Sony LIV app and website

We feel proud of every player, no matter which state: UP CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday he feels proud of every Hockey player no matter which state he is from, noting that every athlete is first an Indian and a representative of the whole country. According to an official statement, the chief minister interacted with the officials of Hockey India at his official residence at 5 Kalidas Marg on the eve of the 14th Hockey India Congress. Welcoming the officials of Hockey India, the chief minister said that it was very important for the 14th Hockey India Congress to be held in Uttar Pradesh. "We feel proud of every player, no matter which state he is from. The player is first of all an Indian and he represents the whole country," he said. He expected that the officials of Hockey India prepare the best hockey team for the country in accordance with global standards, according to the statement. "The best facilities should be provided to the players. We have to create a sense of belongingness in the minds of the

If I can maintain my fitness, I hope to play LA Olympics: Manpreet Singh

He will be on the wrong side of 30s and maintaining fitness would be no stroll in the park but veteran Indian hockey mid-fielder Manpreet Singh foresees an unprecedented fifth Olympic appearance for himself in the 2028 Los Angeles Games before he calls time on his career. The 32-year-old is a two-time Olympic medallist. He captained the side that ended a 41-year-old Olympic medal drought in Tokyo 2020, before remaining a part of the squad under Harmanpreet Singh for an encore in Paris 2024. "My target is till Los Angeles but it all depends upon my fitness. If I can maintain my fitness and game, I will surely be there in LA," the ace mid-fielder told PTI in an exclusive interview. "In today's hockey fitness is very important so at the end everything will boil down to my fitness," added the player, who has rarely faced any fitness issues in his career. Former greats Udham Singh, Leslie Claudius, and Dhanraj Pillai along with Manpreet's recently-retired contemporary P R Sreejesh also

Sreejesh ranks Tokyo Bronze above Paris, feels they should have won Gold

A proud owner of two consecutive Olympic medals, Indian hockey star P R Sreejesh says the bronze claimed in Tokyo three years ago is closer to his heart than the one fetched in Paris as the former was like a mythical tale coming true after decades of merely hearing about it. The 36-year-old goalkeeper, who bid adieu to his international career at the end of India's Paris campaign, was, in fact, a shade disappointed with the colour of the medal this time as he felt the team should have done better. "Tokyo for sure because we won an Olympic medal after a long time. Earlier we used to hear what an Olympic medal means as hockey has a rich history of gold, silver and bronze medals. But it never came in our hands. So when we got it for the first time, that was a moment," Sreejesh told PTI editors at its headquarters when asked to make the difficult choice here on Tuesday. "That time we were not sure about winning a medal but this time we were in top six and capable of beating any team. Bu

Hockey India names PR Sreejesh junior coach; retires his No 16 jersey

Hockey India on Wednesday decided to retire the jersey number of goalkeeping stalwart P R Sreejesh at the senior level after he bid adieu to the game following his starring role in the country's second consecutive Olympic bronze at the just-concluded Paris Games. Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said going forward no senior team player will be given the number 16 jersey although it will remain in circulation at the junior level. He also announced that the affable 36-year-old, who competed for nearly two decades, will take up the role of the junior national coach. "Sreejesh is now going to be the junior team coach and we are retiring the No. 16 jersey for the senior team. We are not retiring No. 16 for the junior team," said Singh at a felicitation function for the veteran and other members of the team. "Sreejesh dusra Sreejesh ko paida karega in junior team (Sreejesh will groom someone like him in the junior team who will wear the No.16 jersey)," he added. The playe

Like Dravid, I want coach juniors before gradual progression: PR Sreejesh

Legendary PR Sreejesh is a big fan of former India head coach Rahul Dravid's coaching philosophy and would similarly like to mentor the talented juniors with an aim to create a solid feeder system for national hockey team. Just like Dravid worked his way up the ranks, first working with India's U-19 boys, followed by rising stars in A team and subsequently the senior team, the 'Custodian of India's dreams' won't mind working in the pathways system before being the chief national coach during the 2032 edition in Brisbane. "I want to become a coach. That was always my plan but now there is a question of when. After retirement, family comes first. I need to talk with them if they are OK with this. Now you have to listen to your wife a little bit," Sreejesh told PTI editors at its headquarters here on Tuesday. If he decides to take up coaching, Sreejesh is clear in his mind how to go about in the new role. "The way I wanted is start with the juniors, and Rahul Dravid is an example. It'

Indian hockey team returns home from Paris Olympics amid much fanfare

The Olympic bronze medal winning Indian men's hockey team including captain Harmanpreet Singh arrived from Paris here on Saturday morning. The Indian team extended its record medal haul to 13 with a 2-1 victory over Spain in the third place match in Paris on Thursday. However, not all members of the bronze medal winning team made their way back home as a few vital cogs remained in the French capital for the closing ceremony of the Games. India's Wall', goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was named as the joint flag bearer for the closing ceremony along with Paris Games' double medallist Manu Bhaker and remained in Paris. Along with Sreejesh, Amit Rohidas, Raj Kumar Pal, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh and Sanjay are slated to return after the closing ceremony. Harmanpreet and team members were greeted with garlands and celebratory dhol as they made their way out of the arrivals at the Indira Gandhi Airport in the morning. "We have received all the support, and all our requirements were fulfilled. I

Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights Day 13: Neeraj secures silver; Aman to aim for Bronze on Aug 9

India at Paris Olympics 2024: Indian men's hockey team def Spain 2-1 to secure India's fourth bronze in Paris. Check the Paris Olympics 2024 highlights here

Olympics 2024 Hockey: Harmanpreet's heroics help India secure bronze medal

Indian skipper led from the front to ensure India's podium finish at 2024 Paris Olympics.

It has been nothing short of extraordinary: Sreejesh ahead of farewell tie

Hours before his last hurrah, celebrated India hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh described his international career as "nothing short of extraordinary" and expressed his gratitude to the countrymen for believing in him. The 36-year-old from Kerala will hope to end his illustrious 18-year-long career with a medal when he steps on to the field for one last time along with his teammates in the bronze playoff against Spain in the Paris Olympics. "As I stand between the posts for the final time, my heart swells with gratitude and pride. This journey, from a young boy with a dream to the man defending India's honour, has been nothing short of extraordinary," he wrote on 'X'. "Today, I play my last match for India. Every save, every dive, every roar of the crowd will forever echo in my soul. Thank you, India, for believing in me, for standing by me. This is not the end, but the beginning of cherished memories. "Forever a custodian of dreams." Sreejesh had announced his retirement plans ahead

Olympics Hockey Bronze medal match: India vs Spain live timings, streaming

India vs Spain: The live match for the bronze medal will begin at 5:30 PM IST. India has won the men's hockey gold eight times, with their last gold medal coming in 1980.

Paris Olympics 2024: India schedule on August 8, live time (IST), streaming

India at Olympics: Neeraj Chopra to men's hockey team- check India's schedule, live match timings on Day 13 of the Olympics 2024