BHUBANESWAR: Hockey remains one the cleanest sport in the world with just eight players being suspended for dope-related offences in the last five years, and the international hockey federation (FIH) wants to keep it that way by remaining vigilant. Since January 2017, only 14 dope violations (adverse analytical findings) have been reported, of which eight have been sanctioned. Almost all the cases related to recreational drugs and not performance-enhancing substances. According to FIH, there was just one “potential anti-doping rule violation (ADRV)” in 2021 but no sanction was imposed. “In line with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) aims and ambitions, FIH takes its commitment to running a clean sport extremely seriously and works to ensure that it stays abreast of any developments in doping, testing and education around the subject,” FIH senior communications manager Nicolas Maingot told PTI. The number of dope tests conducted in a year is, however, very low as compared to other sports like athletics, swimming, weightlifting and even a team sport like football. Due to the low number of positive cases over the years in hockey, there may not be the need to test a lot of samples.  Around 20 samples had been collected in the ongoing World Cup till the end of crossover matches, which is very low for a global showpiece. Twenty-eight matches out of a total 44 had been played till the crossovers stage. Compared to this, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar saw more than 1,600 dope samples being collected. The FIH, however, said that “more samples may be collected” in the remaining matches (16 matches). It also said that the participating players have already been tested earlier. The samples were collected by the officers of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).  “All the teams were already tested. Players to be tested are drawn and this is conducted by NADO (National Anti-Doping Organisation),” Maingot said. “The process is managed by ITA (International Testing Agency) but the Indian NADO is the one responsible for the sample collection.” In 2021, 200 samples from 177 players were collected, out of which 127 were in-competition and 73 out-of-competition. Urine samples numbered 183, while 17 were blood samples. Fifty-one per cent of the samples were of male players. The players from whom samples were collected in 2021 belonged to 32 countries. India was among 10 countries whose players were tested the most in 2021. In 2020, the FIH contractually delegated the management and implementation of parts of its anti-doping programme to Switzerland-based ITA. The FIH said that since 2016, the number of tests per year has been increasing in order to maintain its status as one of the cleanest sports in the world. Every athlete who competes in an FIH event must have completed an Anti-Doping online educational course within the previous two years and this was included in tournament regulations. “Since July 2015, the FIH has made it a requirement that all players must have completed an approved anti-doping education programme to be able to compete in FIH events. Any players who do not hold a valid Anti-Doping Certificate (valid for 2 years) will not be allowed to play in the competition until they have done so.” On-site anti-doping education booths were to be set up at events like the FIH Men’s World Cup 2023, but it could not be implemented this time in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. “Not for this event due to the complexity of the travels and time limitations. However, all athletes had to pass through an anti-doping education course to participate in this event,” Maingot said. Despite the low number of positive and sanctioned cases, there was a famous doping case in world hockey more than a decade ago and the Spanish women’s team was on the verge of missing the 2008 Olympic Games after winning the qualifying event in Baku, Azerbaijan. Two of their players had tested positive for party drug MDMA (methylenedioxy methamphetamine) also known as ‘Ecstasy’ or ‘Molly’. Spain alleged sabotage in Baku. According to FIH rules at the time, if more than one member tested positive, the whole team could be disqualified. However, the FIH disciplinary commission found that only one player was guilty of doping violation. Azerbaijan appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), but Spain won the case. In India, Jarmanpreet Singh, who is in the India team for the ongoing World Cup, was handed a two-year suspension after failing a random dope test in 2015 when he was playing in the Hockey India League. Former India goalkeeper Akash Chikte was suspended for two years in 2018 but the ban period was reduced to 13 months later after the appeal panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency concluded that he did not take the prohibited substance intentionally.   Source: TIMESOFINDIA.COM | January 27, 2023

BHUBANESWAR: Star drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat struck a second-half hat-trick as Germany made a sensational comeback after being two goals down to beat Australia 4-3 and enter the FIH Men’s World Cup final for the fifth time on Friday. Peillat scored from penalty corners in the 43rd, 52nd and 59th minutes, while ‘Player of the Match’ Niklas Wellen (60th) struck with just a few seconds left in the game to stun Australia, who squandered a 2-0 half-time lead in the semi-final at the Kalinga Stadium. Jeremy Hayward (12th), Nathan Ephraums (27th) and Blake Govers (58th) scored for Australia, who will now play for the bronze medal on Sunday. This was Germany’s second comeback win after being 0-2 down against England as well in the quarter-final match. They had scored twice in the last three minutes to equalise and then beat England in penalty shootout to enter the semi-finals. Two-time champions Germany recorded their first entry into the final after the 2010 edition in New Delhi, where they had finished runners-up. They had won the silver medal in 1982 as well before winning the titles in 2002 and 2006. Germany also took revenge for their 1-3 loss to Australia in the Tokyo Olympics semi-finals. For three-time champions Australia, this was their second consecutive failure to enter the final. They had lost to the Netherlands at the same stage in 2018, finishing with a bronze after consecutive titles in 2010 and 2014. Australia were leading 2-0 till the 42nd minute and it looked like they would run away with the match but the three drag-flick goals from Peillat, who has played more than 100 matches for Argentina and won the 2016 Rio Olympics gold for the Las Leonas but is now a German citizen, changed the complexion of the game. Australia took the lead in the 12th minute from the second penalty corner they earned with Jeremy Hayward cementing his position at the top of the goal-scoring chart. He sounded the board by sending the ball to the left of goalkeeper Alexander Stadler. A few seconds later, Stadler made a miraculous save by blocking a shot from Tim Brand. Australia goalkeeper Andrew Charter too was tested in the second quarter as he palmed away a stinging drag-flick from Tom Grambusch off a penalty corner. Germany exerted more pressure in the second quarter and entered the Australian ‘D’ several times but they could not create a clear opening. The Australians also won three video referrals against penalty corner decisions. It was the Germans who were attacking all along but Australia needed just one counter attack to double their lead three minutes from half time. Lachlan Sharp found acres of space inside the German circle after a long ball from Australia’s deep defence searched him out. He sent a cross for Nathan Ephraums to make a one touch before pushing it past Stadler, who was doing a fantastic job under the German goal. Misfortune for Germany continued as a penalty stroke awarded to them in the third minute of the third quarter was overturned after Australia took a video referral. Australia got a golden chance to increase their lead in the 42nd minute but Jake Whetton’s push from the middle of the striking circle went wide. Germany were not to be denied for long after they earned five back-to-back PCs. Gonzalo Peillat finally sounded the board to pull one back for the European side. The German siege of the Australian citadel continued and Flynn Ogilvie made a goal-line save in the 53rd minute before goalkeeper Charter did the same with a few seconds left in the quarter. The German onslaught continued as Peillat scored his second goal of the match from their 12th PC of the day, sending a high flick into the goal. Drama unfolded towards the end of the match as Blake Govers gave Australia a 3-2 lead in the 58th minute from his drag-flick. But Germany responded the next minute with Peillat completing his hat-trick from a penalty corner as the scores were level at 3-3. With less than 20 seconds left in the match, Niklas Wellen, the lynchpin of the German attack, fired the ball home to seal a famous win for the Die Honamas.   Source: TIMESOFINDIA.COM | January 27, 2023

BHUBANESWAR: India’s silent guns finally found some ammunition to fire as fans in Rourkela put the disappointment of team’s failure to reach the Men’s Hockey World Cup quarterfinals behind them to once again pack the stands at the gigantic Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. And the Indian team responded in style to hammer the 2018 Asian Games champions Japan 8-0. It was a game of many firsts for the home team that was pushed out of the title race by New Zealand in the crossovers. As it happened: India vs Japan Five of India’s eight goals came off penalty corners (PC), including skipper Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flick managing to beat a goalkeeper on a PC for the first time in the tournament. India’s PC conversion rate was the best in five matches — 5/11. Abhishek (36th and 44th minute) and Harmanpreet (46th and 59th) pumped in two goals each, while Vivek Sagar Prasad (40th), Manpreet Singh (59th) and Sukhjeet Singh (60th) joined Mandeep to score one goal apiece. The team played like a giant woken up from its sleep, pounding Japan with a flurry of counter-attacks for the majority of 60 minutes, which had all: PCs, variations on PCs, fluid midfield and goals. India finishes it off in style as they beat Japan. Here are some moments from the game. 🇯🇵JPN 0-8 IND🇮🇳#IndiaKaGame #HockeyIndia #HWC2023 #StarsBecomeLegends #HockeyWorldCup #INDvsJAP @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/Vrw4iZrfQj — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) January 26, 2023 But the first 30 minutes were goal-less. Mandeep Singh’s off-the-ball running finally returned against the opposition he likes the most to score against. Mandeep’s name was the first on the list of goal-scorers , with his neat deflection on a set-piece in the 33rd minute. It opened the floodgates. The pattern of the game didn’t change thereafter — India attacked, Japan defended. It remained that way till the final whistle. Vivek Sagar Prasad, whose selection straight into a World Cup after a long injury layoff has been questioned, finally managed to add some fluidity to the midfield. He set up Abhishek nicely at the end of a counter-attack, and Abhishek’s reverse-hit deposited in the net for a 2-0 lead. Like Mandeep and Abhishek, Vivek also scored his first goal of this World Cup when a rebound off Harmanpreet’s drag-flick fell onto his stick, and Vivek’s crisp hit sounded the board. By now, the Indian team was having fun and almost had a hitting session in front of the Japanese post. In between, with the game being as open as a hockey match can be, Japan had their chances; but the Indian goalkeepers PR Sreejesh and Krishan Pathak managed to keep them at bay for a clean sheet. Abhishek’s reverse hit in the net then made it 4-0, while Harmanpreet heaved a sigh of relief when finally a drag-flick from his stick beat a goalkeeper. His first and previous PC goal came in the pool stage when the Welsh team had withdrawn their goalkeeper. Japan then replaced their goalkeeper Takashi Yoshikawa, who stood like a wall for 30 minutes before wilting under pressure in the third quarter, with Kisho Kuroda. The dying minutes of the game were played inside Japan’s 23-yard, with India scoring thrice inside two minutes. A field goal by Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet’s second goal off a PC and Sukhjeet making full use of another rebound off Kuroda’s pads on a PC to find the goal rounded off Japan’s misery. India will now take on South Africa on Saturday in the 9th-12th place playoff.   Source: TIMESOFINDIA.COM | January 26, 2023

The South African Hockey Men, ranked 15th in the world, took on the 10th ranked Malaysians in a match to decide which of the two sides would play in the 9-12th bracket and who would drop to 13-16 pool. The South Africans looked the better team from the start and almost had a lead with an early penalty corner. But they did get the lead their early dominance deserved. Sam Mvimbi received the ball in the circle, waited for the pass, and picked out Brad Sherwood who finished superbly. The South Africans could and probably should have made it 2 before the end of the quarter as they wasted several penalty corner opportunities. They did however make the penalty corner count in the second quarter. The initial shot was saved, in fact the second shot was saved too, but it fell to Guy Morgan, and he fired home for his first International goal for South Africa and doubled the lead. Captain Dayaan Cassiem almost made it 3 with an incredible piece of individual skill. But his shot was incredibly saved on the pad and trickled inches wide of the goal. The South Africans would get their third and deservingly so. The ball was fed inside and a halfhearted clearance from the Malaysians fell to Bli Ntuli who netted his second of the tournament and gave the team a convincing lead at the half time break. Despite the superb showing in the first half the South Africans saw their lead cut down by one as Razie Rahim finished from a penalty corner to re-ignite the Malaysian challenge. The Malaysians were visibly buoyed by their goal and raised their momentum, but the likes of Eustice and Bell were frustrating the attacking attempts regularly. Tevin Kok and Ryan Julius combined sensationally to create an opportunity, but Tevin Koks shot was saved well by Othman on his glove side. Brad Sherwood came incredibly close to double his tally with a snap reverse shot but it went agonizingly wide. The goal felt like it was coming and that’s exactly what happened. Keenan Horne reacted to a great run from Sam Mvimbi and smashed it home. It improved even further for the African champions when Sam Mvimib was taken down and a stroke was awarded. Mustapha Cassiem got his first World Cup goal finishing with a super strike. Malaysia was given a lifeline themselves when they were given a stroke after a clumsy challenge by Lembethe, and Rahim doubled his and Malaysia’s tally. South Africa leading 5-2 with a quarter remaining. Malaysia was pushing in the final quarter, but South Africa held them off before striking a sensational counter attacking goal that saw Brad Sherwood net from a wonderful cross from Dayaan Cassiem. Malaysia immediately pulled a goal back, but the South Africans always looked more likely to add to the scoreline rather than concede. As a result, the South Africans will have the opportunity to finish in the top 10 when they play their final game at the World Cup in two days. This already is the teams highest finish in a 16-team world cup tournament, but they will look to finish in the top 10, a great achievement considering the ranking of 15. Source: SAhockey.co.za