Hockey Yearender: Women, juniors outshine men; administration sees overhaul



The Indian ladies’s hockey staff had a prolific 12 months because it gained the historic third Commonwealth Games medal, which was the primary one since 2006. The staff led by Savita Punia gained bronze in Asia Cup as effectively. The juniors fell within the footsteps of the senior staff and completed fourth within the Junior World Cup.


For the Indian males’s hockey staff, the 12 months was not so good. They did handle to get a medal in Commonwealth Games after lacking out on one in 2018, however misplaced badly to Australia within the last. There was a change of guard within the administration of Hockey India too.


Here are the foremost happenings of the 12 months 2022 in Indian hockey


Women get themselves again in FIH Pro League


It was in the long run of the 12 months that the Indian Women’s hockey staff registered its largest win, remaining unbeaten within the FIH Nations Cup to complete on the high and regain its spot within the FIH Pro League. Indian staff aspect beat hosts Spain 1-0 within the last held on December 17, in Valencia.


The win helped India transfer to the Pro League 2023-24. India, which completed third within the 2021-22 version, missed out on a spot within the following version.


Historic bronze in Commonwealth Games


But earlier than the Nations Cup victory, the Indian ladies’s hockey staff had achieved a powerful consequence by beating New Zealand 2-1 in a pulsating Bronze-medal match that led to shoot-out within the Commonwealth Games in August.


Earlier, India needed to endure a heart-breaking 0-3 shoot-out defeat within the semi-final towards Australia.


Asia Cup and World Cup: Major drawbacks for the Women’s staff


It was not a clean crusing all over the place for the Indian ladies’s hockey staff because it had two unhealthy tournaments at Asia Cup and World Cup. In the Asia Cup, India completed second in its group behind Japan after which misplaced to South Korea within the semi-final. However, a bronze medal end courtesy of a win towards China was a saving grace.


But the identical didn’t occur within the World Cup the place the Indian ladies couldn’t attain the quarter finals regardless of being in a gaggle that included New Zealand, England, and China.


Indian drew with China and England however misplaced narrowly to New Zealand 3-4. It had a shot on the quarterfinal, however misplaced to hosts Spain 0-1 and needed to accept a ninth-place end after beating Canada and Japan within the classification matches.


Junior India ladies end fourth within the World Cup


After failing to qualify for the Junior World Cup in 2016, the India Women’s staff discovered its method again within the 2022 version and repeated the efficiency of 2013 so far as reaching the semi-finals was involved.


They misplaced to the Netherlands once more within the semis. However, the Indian eves misplaced to England 0-3 within the penalty shoot-out after the match ended 2-2 in full time.


Before reaching the semis, Indian ladies beat Germany within the group stage to complete high of their group after which beat Spain within the quarter-final.


Dilip Tirkey was elected as the brand new Hockey India president


On the executive entrance, Hockey India (HI) needed to bear one other storm. Former India participant Aslam Sher Khan challenged Indian Olympic Association Chief Narinder Batra’s appointment as a life member of HI. The case reached Delhi High Court and it positioned the nationwide physique beneath the Committee of Administrators till recent elections have been held.


International Hockey Federation additionally threatened the Indian physique of cancelling the subsequent Men’s World Cup, if the home was not put so as. All this occurred in May and by September 23, former India captain Dilip Tirkey was elected as HIC President unopposed. Tirkey took over from Gyanendro Ningombam.


Men’s hockey staff gained CWG silver after many disappointments


For the Indian Men’s hockey staff, it was a mixed-bag 12 months. While the senior staff gained bronze and silver in Asia Cup and Commonwealth Games respectively, the victories weren’t resounding or reassuring in any respect. They have been relatively losses that led to a medal.


In the Asia Cup, the Olympic bronze medalists have been shocked by Japan 2-5 and needed to end with a 1-1 draw towards arch-rivals Pakistan. It was a 16-0 thrashing of hosts Indonesia that took India to tremendous 4 stage.


In the Super Four, India did beat Japan, however attracts towards Korea and Malaysia meant that it couldn’t qualify for the ultimate and needed to accept the bronze, for which it once more beat Japan 1-0.


In the Commonwealth Games, the Manpreet Singh-led unit began in a terrific vogue, beating Ghana 11-0. But they blew up a 3-1 lead towards England to attract 4-4 in the long run. An 8-0 win towards Canada, nevertheless, secured a numero uno place for Team India within the group. Winning the semis unconvincingly 3-2 towards South Africa, the Indian staff reached the ultimate the place it was thrashed brutally by Australia 0-7.


The performances within the Mern’s Hockey Pro League weren’t spectacular both because the Indian staff completed third within the 2021-22 league. In the 2022-23 league, they’re presently ranked second behind Great Britain.


The solely excessive level of Men’s hockey this 12 months was the victory of the Under 21 staff within the Sultan of Johar cup. While it misplaced to South Africa within the group stage, the staff managed to complete second on the factors desk with two wins, two attracts and a loss to qualify for the ultimate.


In the ultimate, the Indian staff downed the mighty Aussies 5-4 within the shoot-out after the sport completed 1-1 in full-time.



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