Bharat Chetri the new captain for Indian Hockey team..

Bharat Chetri, India's goalkeeper, was announced the captain of the Indian hockey team which tours Australia next month.

The squad that was announced on Thursday also includes tainted duo Sandeep Singh and Sardara Singh.

In an attempt to rotate players and provide equal opportunities, the squad has been shuffled to accommodate fit players and divide responsibilities.

This will be 27-year-old Chetri's first stint as captain. Experienced midfielder Ignace Tirkey has been appointed as the vice-captain.

Former skipper Rajpal will continue to be part of the forward line which includes youngsters like Yuvraj Walimiki, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Danish Mujtaba and Sarvanjit Singh who impressed tremendously with their performance in the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy in China.

Arjun Halappa, Tushar Khandker and Bharat Chikara make a comeback after injuries forced them out of action in the recent past.

Also in the side are Sandeep and Sardara who will look to make most of the opportunity after HI decided to revoke the two-year ban they were handed for indiscipline.

PR Sreejesh will be the second goalkeeper in the 22-member squad.

On the tour to Australia, the Indian team is scheduled to play a four-nation nine-a-side International Super Series and a tri-series with Pakistan and Australia.

Mukesh Kumar lands hockey coach job

Olympian Mukesh Kumar has been appointed coach of the Indian national hockey team and will be a part of head coach Michael Nobb's team, Hockey India announced on Wednesday.

Kumar, who was recently in news for walking out of a national camp after being denied charge of the junior team will take over his duties from Thursday, HI secretary general Narinder Batra said.

"Mukesh has been appointed as a coach of the senior men's team. He will be a part of the coach's set-up engaged with the team under chief coach Nobbs," Batra said.

Batra also said the duration of the Padma Bhushan recipient has not been worked out.

"It has not yet been finalised. It depends on the chief coach's wish because as per Nobbs' contract he also has to train our Indian coaches."

Kumar had recently walked out of the national camp in Bangalore after realizing that he was to work under then senior team coach Harendra Singh.

The 41-year-old had earlier expressed his willingness to assist a foreign coach with the national team or be given complete charge of the junior side.

"I always wanted to work under a foreign coach as his assistant. I was offered the coach's post of the women's team but I refused because I wanted to be a part of the men's set- up," he said.

Mukesh represented India in three consecutive Olympics starting from 1992 Barcelona Games and scored 80 goals in 307 international appearances.

If Hockey India cares about players it should support World Series

The World Hockey Federation (FIH) might be crying foul, Hockey India might have been issuing warnings, but the players, it seems, are having none of it.

The whole lot - both current and not-so-current, including the side that just won the Asian Champions Trophy in China recently - is believed to have signed on the dotted lines for the World Series Hockey (WSH), the inaugural edition of which is scheduled to run from December 15 to January 22.

And why not? After all, they stand to gain in lakhs, not in thousands, considering the paltry Rs 25,000 that was offered to them by Hockey India for their title-winning effort in China.

"A performing player can earn up to Rs 40 lakh per WSH season, including incentives and prize money. Our aim is to make hockey a lucrative career option. Rs 40 lakh for playing just two months in a year isn't bad, is it?" asks Yannick Colaco, COO, Nimbus Sport, who are the joint promoters of the event along with the Indian Hockey Federation.

The WSH will be a franchise-based multi-city event with players to be acquired through the draft system, like in the NBA. "The players will be graded as per current reputation and form, but there will be no difference in pay between Indian and foreign players. All players will get equal opportunities, the incentives are the same for all, but star players will obviously earn more," said Colaco .

On the FIH's ban threat, he said all the players had signed the contracts before March 31, which was the deadline set by the world body. "We don't believe that the FIH has the right to ban any player for playing in WSH, whether they sign with us before or after March 31. However, given that all players have signed with us before March, the ban threat is anyway irrelevant," Colaco added.

He, however, expressed surprise over the stand taken by HI. "If they really care about the well-being of players, they should support WSH. More than anyone, it's the players who stand to gain the maximum. It's about their financial security. I see no reason why Hockey India should see red," he said.
Times of India

India beat Pakistan on penalties (4-2) to win Asian Champions Trophy 2011

Continuing unbeaten streak at the tournament, India beat arch-rivals Pakistan 4-2 on penalties in the Final of the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy (Men’s) in Ordos, China. Both teams played an attacking game but failed to find the target in stipulated time of 70 minutes and extra time of 15 minute, and result of the match had to be decided by penalties. Pakistan reached the final after drawing with India in the final round robin match and were leaders in the final points table with 10 point while unbeaten India were second 9 points. In the tie breaker, Rajpal Singh, Danish Mujtaba, Yuvraj Walmiki and Sarvanjit Singh, while Gurvinder Singh Chandi could not score in his attempt on Pakistan’s Goalie Imran Shah. The tie-breaker was a one on one between the striker and the goalkeeper, Striker had to starts from the 23 meter line and was given only eight seconds to score. This way of tie-breaker is known as Penalty Shoot-out and it is in testing phase by FIH.

WSH now has a International Tournament Director....

Dennis Meredith, former director of competitions in the FIH, has been nominated as the Technical Director for the World Series of Hockey (WSH) to be held from December 15 to January 22.

Adelaide based Dennis, a former player, umpire, and administrator, was the technical director in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, and played a leading role in the conduct of the World Cup earlier. He has also been advisor on technical matters in various competitions, including the Olympic Games, Champions Trophy and World Cup.

In the WSH, Dennis Meredith will be responsible planning and structuring of all the technical aspects in conformity with the international regulations and rules. He will also be in charge of staffing and a liaison with the technical committee.

“I am proud to be associated with World Series Hockey and am looking forward to the inaugural multi city franchise-based League. My association with India has been ongoing since I first visited as an umpire in 1982 and since then have worked and overseen multiple large scale hockey projects here. The League has a lot to offer to the players and the hockey enthusiasts and I am extremely confident of its success” said Dennis.

Yannick Colaco, COO Nimbus Sport said, “World Series Hockey has already signed on the worlds best players and we are now pleased to welcome on board one of the most accomplished tournament official, Dennis Meredith. The proven expertise that Dennis brings to the table is unparalleled and his appointment is in keeping with our commitment of delivering a world class event to hockey fans across the globe.”