Rio Olympics 2016 - The History Book of Indian Hockey

Rio Olympics Hockey: Indian Women’s Team lose 0-3 to USA

Indian Hockey Admin — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 07:24:06 +0000

The Indian women’s hockey team were outclassed 3-0 by group leaders USA in their clash on Friday. The Indians, playing in the Olympics after a gap of 36 years, were simply outplayed by their opponents, who exposed their defensive frailties with a comprehensive win in a lop-sided match.

Kathleen Bam scored two goals for USA, with Melissa Gonzalez slotting in the third. India’s Rani Rampal hit the boards with a reverse hit during the first quarter, but the umpire declared it dangerous play and disallowed the goal. India are yet to register a win at Rio and face Argentina next on Saturday. However, they are not out of the quarterfinal contention yet. They have to beat Argentina next and hope that Australia beat or draw with Japan.
After an inspiring performance against Japan and a reasonable show against Great Britain, the Indian women’s hockey team fell by the wayside against Australia. They suffered a 1-6 defeat to a rampaging Australia and this heavy loss against USA must have stung as well.

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India lost 1-2 against Germany with a 59th minute goal – Rio Olympics 2016

Indian Hockey Admin — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 06:21:24 +0000

Hockey coach Roelant Oltmans’ assertion that there were no grey areas in his team fell flat on Monday as Indian hockey team once again lost nerves in the closing moments of the game and conceded a goal just three seconds from the hooter to lose 1-2 to Germany in their second Pool B game.
Christopher Ruhr made full use of the chaos that prevailed in the Indian defence as he deflected the ball home to give the defending champions their second straight win at the Rio Olympic Games.
It was Niklas Wellen who put Germany ahead in the 18th minute but the lead lasted barely five minutes as Rupinder Pal Singh drew parity, scoring off a penalty corner.
Germany counter followed and they broke the deadlock when Linus Butt set up Wellen near the goal. Wellen made no mistake and dribbled past defender Surender Kumar to slam the ball in India’s net beating goalkeeper PR Sreejesh in the 18th minute.
India rallied back strongly with SV Sunil’s cross found the body of Martin Haner, resulting in a penalty corner. Rupinder provided the equaliser by firing low to German goalkeeper Jacobi’s right.
India had equal share of ball and attack till the end of the second quarter in which they muffed a few chances. Raghunath’s brilliant through ball was well intercepted by Nikkin but he could not beat Jacobi.
In the third quarter, Indians dictated the terms with Danish Mujtaba and Akashdeep Singh proving threatening from the left. They created many chances but their finishing was not up to mark.
Raghunath’s diagonal ball was defended poorly, earning India a penalty corner. This time, Rupinder’s flick was cleared by Jacobi, who then saved the rebound in the 38th minute.

Christopher Ruhr of Germany celebrates the winning goal against India with his teammates (Source Reuters)

Germany fought back in the first couple of minutes in the final quarter, after Timur Oruz’s free-hit was defended messily. It resulted in a penalty corner but Furste’s flick was dismissed by defender Surender.
India increased the pressure when Sunil was brought down just away from the circle, resulting in a penalty corner. Rupinder again stepped up, only to be denied by the rival defence. Germany mounted several counter attacks but failed to translate them into goals.
However, India lost the match they should not have when in the dying moments they conceded a goal that came as a free-hit from the halfway line. Ruhr, the two-time World Young Player of the Year, deflected the ball home to get his team three full points.
It was the fourth loss for India against Germany in 11 Olympic matches. Overall, it was the 51st loss for eight-time Olympic champions India against the European side in 94 matches.
India will next play Argentina on Tuesday.
With two wins from as many games, Germany lead Pool B with six points, followed by Netherlands (4) and India (3).

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India Women’s Hockey Team Face Tougher Task Against Britain: Rio Olympics 2016

Indian Hockey Admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 05:23:05 +0000

After a come-from-behind draw against Japan, India will face last edition’s bronze medallists Great Britain in their second Pool B women’s hockey match at the Rio Olympics on Monday.
The India women’s team staged a brilliant comeback to draw 2-2 with Japan on Sunday.
Trailing 0-2 after the end of the second quarter, India hit back with goals from Rani Rampal and Lilima Minz.
It was an inspiring start by India in the first ten minutes of the first quarter but Japan took control of proceedings and moved ahead with two goals towards the end of the first and second quarter.

India were found playing catch-up as Japan made some aggressive moves and created plenty of scoring opportunities.
India, however, turned the tables in the third quarter as they scored two goals to level the scoring at 2-2.
Coach Neil Hawgood said they were nervous initially on the big stage.
“We didn’t handle the ball well and I think they (Japan) deserved to be 2-0 up. I think in the second half we started to play what I know we can actually play.”
The women’s team have qualified for the Summer Games after a 36-year absence and coach was confident they will make a mark in Rio.
England on the other hand started their campaign with a 2-1 win over Australia after Lily Owsley scored in the second quarter.
Georgina Morgan equalised from a penalty corner but Alex Danson grabbed the winner with a reverse-stick shot late in the third quarter.

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India Men’s Hockey team won 3-2 against Ireland in opening encounter: Rio Olympics 2016

Indian Hockey Admin — Sun, 07 Aug 2016 05:08:53 +0000

India, ranked fifth in the world made its presence felt in Rio de Janerio with a 3-2 win over Ireland in their opening encounter at the 2016 Summer Games.
It was a rematch of their fixture from the recently-concluded Six Nations Tournament which had seen the Men in Blue clinch a 2-1 win courtesy goals from Talwinder Singh and Sardar Singh. Going up against an upbeat Irish side who has qualified for the first time since 1908, the Indians had everything to play for as they took the field.
The hunger was apparent in Rupinder Pal Singh and VR Raghunath as India earned four penalty corners in the first quarter. Although they missed the first three shots, ace drag-flicker Raghunath started the proceedings after he found the back of the net in the 15th minute.

Goals from VR Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh helped India clinch a convincing 3-2 win over Ireland.

The second quarter saw the Indians raising their game to execute a flurry of onslaughts on the Irish goal. Rupinder Pal Singh eventually made it 2-0 in the 27th minute from another penalty corner. An eventful second quarter led to the scoreline reading 2-0 at half-time.
India dominated the field left, right and center in the third quarter as Ireland failed to take control of the game. The midfield was stretched to its fullest where the well-experienced talisman Sardar Singh, who completed 250 caps along with fellow central pivot Manpreet rose many notches. The ‘Green Machine’ bounced back with a goal in the 45th minute, John Jermyn scoring for Ireland.
But the PR Sreejesh-led India regained their shape as the crucial third goal from Rupinder gave them a 3-1 lead. Conor Harte scored Ireland’s second goal in the final quarter to give them a glimmer of hope in the dying stage, but India held on to register a convincing 3-2 win.
Two wins from five games will be enough to see the ‘Men in Blue’ out of a tough ‘Group B’ which includes Canada, Germany, Netherlands, and Argentina.
India will be playing Germany in the next game on August 8.

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Rio 2016: India Beat Spain 2-1 in Men’s Hockey Warm-Up

Indian Hockey Admin — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 10:19:28 +0000

Akashdeep Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh scored as the Indian men’s hockey team defeated Spain 2-1 in a practice match ahead of the Olympic Games here.
Incidentally, the Indians had lost two practice games to Spain in Madrid before coming here, but on Sunday evening they played at a good pace and the goals came to boost Indian spirits.
While forward Akashdeep showed his finishing skills, Rupinder sounded the board via a penalty corner.
Skipper PR Sreejesh said: “The weather was very hot in Spain. We were coming from very good weather in Bengaluru and it was very hot and humid, almost 40 degrees in Madrid. So it was good to get a game in Rio against Spain and we played well.”
There will be another training session or two and then a second practice match against another team.
The Indians are looking at their first medal in hockey since 1980, when they won a gold. Earlier India have won eighth gold medals from 1928 onwards. They also won a silver medal in 1960 and bronze in 1968 and 1972.
India will open their Rio 2016 campaign against Ireland on August 6.
Meanwhile, Australia were much improved in their second practice match, coming out 5-2 winners over arch-rivals Germany thanks to a double from Blake Govers and strikes from Jake Whetton, Eddie Ockenden and reserve Jeremy Hayward.
The performance was a marked improvement on their 0-3 defeat to Argentina 24 hours earlier, played at a higher tempo with more energy and a customary Australia-Germany intensity.
The men in green and gold raced to a two-goal lead, only to be pegged back by a typically resolute Germany before the first break. A goalless second period had the game delicately poised going into the final quarter of an hour, before three strikes in a feisty final period earned Australia victory.
“We want to get better every day,” said midfielder Eddie Ockenden, playing in his third Olympic Games. “It was a big improvement in attitude and also our skills. That was pleasing.
“We’ve never travelled 11 hours time difference, so we didn’t really know how we’d be feeling. We want to get better every day, get over the jet lag, start training better and harder. And we’ll be looking for further improvement in our final practice game against Ireland on Wednesday.”

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Indian Men’s Hockey Team lose to Spain in opening encounter of two-match preparatory camp

Indian Hockey Admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 12:25:22 +0000

The Indian Men Hockey team lost to Spain 4-1 in the opening game of the two-match preparatory camp for the Rio Olympics 2016 in Spain.
The hosts started quickly off the blocks and had the opening goal in the 10th minute via Xavi Lleonart. It took India until the second quarter and the 21st minute to win an equaliser via a stroke scored by Rupinder Pal Singh from the spot.
Spain took the lead in the final minute of the second quarter, via Pau Quemada to go into half-time in the lead. In the third quarter the hosts scored two goals, via Lleonart (31’) and Quemada (42’) to take a 4-1 lead.
India came into the final quarter looking to give a quick run to even the score, however they were only able to hold defensively in the last quarter to ensure that Spain didnât further increase the scoreline.
India next play Spain on 28 July 2016 at 21.30 IST.

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