Press Releases Archives

Media Release – Stars Awards: Olympic success wave continues for India

6 October 2021 Lausanne, Switzerland: As a likely outcome of India Men’s first Olympic medal for 41 years, as well as the outstanding performance of the Indian Women’s team reaching the last four in Tokyo, India’s athletes and coaches dominate the FIH Hockey Stars Awards 2020-21. Athletes Gurjit Kaur (Best Player, Women), Harmanpreet Singh (Best Player, Men), Savita (Best Goalkeeper, Women), PR Sreejesh (Best Goalkeeper, Men), Sharmila Devi (Best Rising Star, Women) and Vivek Prasad (Best Rising Star, Men) as well as the coaches of India’s women’s team, Sjoerd Marijne (NED) and India’s men’s team, Graham Reid (AUS) grabbed the highest number of votes in their respective categories. 79 National Associations – represented by their respective national captains and coaches – have voted (Africa: 11 out of 25 Member Associations; Asia: 29 out of 33; Europe: 19 out of 42; Oceania: 3 out of 8; Pan America: 17 out of 30). And with a record number of almost 300’000 fans casting their votes, fan participation in the FIH Hockey Stars Awards has been exceptional. Tellingly, all winning athletes have topped the standings in each of the three voting groups (National Associations / Fans and Players / Media). Belgium (Men) and the Netherlands (Women), who were not only crowned Olympic Champions but also won the 2020-21 FIH Hockey Pro League, as well as the GBR/ENG Women’s team, were also given high recognition by the voting groups. Belgium’s Alexander Hendrickx and Arthur van Doren were voted second and third best Players respectively, with Vincent Vanasch named second best Goalkeeper and Shane McLeod (NZL) second best Coach. For the Netherlands, Eva de Goede and Frédérique Matla clinched the respective second and third places in the FIH Player of the Year Award while Alyson Annan (AUS) finished on the second spot of the FIH Coach of the Year Award. For Great Britain / England, Goalkeeper Maddie Hinch, Rising Star Fiona Crackles and Coach Mark Hager (AUS) all reached the third spot of their respective categories. Every continent is represented in the top three of at least one Award, with Belén Succi (ARG) named second best Goalkeeper and Valentina Raposo (ARG) as well as Mustaphaa Cassiem (RSA) clinching the second place of the FIH Rising Star of the Year Award, while Goalkeeper Andrew Charter (AUS), Rising Star Sean Findlay (NZL) and Coach Colin Batch (AUS) all finished on the third spot of their respective categories. With no FIH Hockey Stars Awards in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 global health pandemic on the international calendar, this year’s awards covered the period from January 2020 through to the conclusion of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The voting process started on 23 August and concluded on 15 September 2021. Votes from National Associations – represented by their respective national captains and coaches – counted for 50% of the overall result, while fans and players (25%) as well as media (25%) made the other half of the votes. RESULTS – WOMEN (Weighted scores) FIH Player of the Year: Gurjit Kaur (IND) – Score: 46,63 points (35,48% of the National Associations votes, 50,67% of the Media votes, 64,89% of the Fans/Players votes) Eva de Goede (NED) – Score: 19,80 pts (25,35% of the National Associations votes, 25,33% of the Media votes, 3,18% of the Fans/Players votes) Frédérique Matla (NED) – Score: 13,49 pts (15,67% of the National Associations votes, 20% of the Media votes, 2,64% of the Fans/Players votes) Agustina Albertarrio (ARG) – Score: 12,79 pts (14,75% of the National Associations votes, 1,33% of the Media votes, 20,31% of the Fans/Players votes) Agustina Gorzelany (ARG) – Score: 4,71 pts (5,07% of the National Associations votes, 1,33% of the Media votes, 7,35% of the Fans/Players votes) Maria Verschoor (NED) – Score: 2,58 pts (3,69% of the National Associations votes, 1,33% of the Media votes, 1,63% of the Fans/Players votes) FIH Goalkeeper of the Year: Savita (IND) – Score: 58.75 (51,38% of the National Associations votes, 63,16% of the Media votes, 69,08% of the Fans/Players votes) Belén Succi (ARG) – Score: 22 pts (24,31% of the National Associations votes, 13,16% of the Media votes, 26,22% of the Fans/Players votes) Maddie Hinch (GBR/ENG) – Score: 19,25 pts (24,31% of the National Associations votes, 23,68% of the Media votes, 4,70% of the Fans/Players votes) FIH Rising Star of the Year: Sharmila Devi (IND) – Score: 55,51 pts (48,39% of the National Associations votes, 58,67% of the Media votes, 66,60% of the Fans/Players votes) Valentina Raposo (ARG) – Score: 29,83 pts (36,41% of the National Associations votes, 17,33% of the Media votes, 29,19% of the Fans/Players votes) Fiona Crackles (GBR/ENG) – Score: 14,66 pts (15,21% of the National Associations votes, 24% of the Media votes, 4,21% of the Fans/Players votes) FIH Coach of the Year: Sjoerd Marijne (NED – Team IND) – Score: 56,33 pts (39,73% of the National Associations votes, 66,22% of the Media votes, 79,66% of the Fans/Players votes) Alyson Annan (AUS – Team NED) – Score: 35,37 pts (49,32% of the National Associations votes, 27,03% of the Media votes, 15,82% of the Fans/Players votes) Mark Hager (AUS – Team GBR/ENG) – Score: 8,30 pts (10,96% of the National Associations votes, 6,76% of the Media votes, 4,52% of the Fans/Players votes) RESULTS – MEN (Weighted scores) FIH Player of the Year: Harmanpreet Singh (IND) – Score: 52,11 pts (42,66% of the National Associations votes, 44% of the Media votes, 79,12% of the Fans/Players votes) Alexander Hendrickx (BEL) – Score: 24,88 pts (25,69% of the National Associations votes, 40% of the Media votes, 8,15% of the Fans/Players votes) Arthur van Doren (BEL) – Score: 12,84 pts (17,43% of the National Associations votes, 12% of the Media votes, 4,51% of the Fans/Players votes) Aran Zalewski (AUS) – Score: 4,46 pts (6,88% of the National Associations votes, 1,33% of the Media votes, 2,76% of the Fans/Players votes) Tim Brand (AUS) – Score: 4,04 pts (5,05% of the National Associations votes, 2,67% of the Media votes, 3,40% of the Fans/Players votes) Jake Whetton

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FIH Tournament Announcements & AfHF Tournaments Revised Dates

Inaugural FIH World Hockey5s event in Lausanne to be staged in 2022

14 July 2021 Lausanne, Switzerland: Due to the ongoing uncertainties surrounding the evolution of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has decided to postpone its ‘FIH Hockey5s Lausanne 2021’ event, initially planned in September this year, to 2022. FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “Whilst it is of course disappointing to have to delay this event by one year, especially considering the role it is meant to play for the exposure of Hockey5s globally, we came to the conclusion that it was the best decision in order, precisely, to preserve the full promotion potential of this event. I’d like to extend sincere thanks to all stakeholders who have considerably helped us so far, and in particular the City of Lausanne, the canton of Vaud, the Fond du Sport Vaudois, the Swiss Hockey Association, our partners and all teams who had confirmed their participation. I look forward to pursuing our preparations together and invite all hockey fans to join us next year!” Next year’s event, which will be staged on the Place de la Navigation – an iconic location near the Lac Léman bordering the Olympic Capital -, will provide an exciting mix of intense competition, music entertainment and additional activities, such as an initiation to hockey for the public. Access will be free of charge and the tournaments, Men’s and Women’s, will be broadcasted live across the world on the Watch.Hockey platform. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

Spain to host inaugural FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup

8 July 2021 Lausanne, Switzerland: The Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed Spain as the host country for the inaugural FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup which will take place in Valencia from 10 to 17 December 2022. By doing so, the EB has followed the recommendation of the Task Force Events Bidding, which comprises of EB Members of all five Continental Federations. The aim of this new yearly event is to offer a top-level competition to the best-ranked teams not participating in the FIH Hockey Pro League and give the winning team the option to be promoted to the FIH Hockey Pro League the next season, precisely. Therefore, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup marks the start of the promotion-relegation principle for the FIH Hockey Pro League, with the winning team of the first FIH Hockey Nations Cup having the chance to be promoted to the 2023/24 FIH Hockey Pro League (provided they meet the necessary requirements for it). The following eight teams will participate in the very first edition, having qualified based on their position in the FIH World Rankings of 31 May 2021: Spain, Canada, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea and South Africa. FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “On behalf of FIH, I’d like to thank wholeheartedly the Royal Spanish Hockey Federation for hosting this inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup, a new competition in our portfolio which will bring further excitement to our sport. Nothing less than a place within the FIH Hockey Pro League is at stake. This promises to generate great and hard-fought matches between excellent teams! That is really good for the growth of our sport worldwide.” “We are very happy that the FIH has given us the organization of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup. Another great women’s hockey event that we will be able to organize in our country. We are proud to be the chosen ones and we are very grateful. It is an opportunity for the women’s team to qualify for the FIH Hockey Pro League and, like the men’s team, play this great hockey competition”, said Santiago Deó, President of the Royal Spanish Hockey Federation. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.

Malaysia and Chile to host 2023 Men’s and Women’s Junior World Cups

2 July 2021 Lausanne, Switzerland: Upon recommendation from the Task Force Events Bidding (comprising of EB Members of all five Continental Federations), the Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed Malaysia as the host country for the 2023 FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup and Chile for the 2023 FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup. The matches will be played in Kuala Lumpur and Santiago, respectively. The FIH Junior Hockey World Cup is the flagship event for under-21 players and involves 32 of the world’s best national teams (16 Men’s and 16 Women’s teams). FIH CEO Thierry Weil said: “The FIH Hockey Junior World Cup is the perfect platform for young players to unleash their skills onto the international hockey scene. It’s a stepping stone for athletes in their development to senior international hockey. Our thanks go to Malaysia and Chile. We’re privileged to rely on these experienced host countries and we’re looking forward to magnificent FIH Hockey Junior World Cups in 2 years time!”. “While hosting a tournament is always a big responsibility, in Chile we have always seen it also as a development opportunity to showcase world-class Hockey at the highest level at home in front of our fans, sponsors and media. Bringing Hockey’s global finest athletes to Chile will surely become an inspiration for many more young boys and girls to start trying hockey as their sport, making hockey actually bigger in Chile and our region of the Americas”, said Walter Krämer, President of the Chile Hockey Federation. “The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) is thrilled to have won the bid to host the 2023 FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup tournament. For Malaysia and this region in particular, the Junior World Cup will be a catalyst for the growth and development of the sport amongst youngsters. Over the next two years, MHC will invest in the necessary resources and work closely with all relevant parties including the Government of Malaysia, FIH and various stakeholders to ensure the event is an overwhelming success”, said Dato Seri Subahan Kamal, President of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation. For more information about FIH and hockey in general, please download the Watch.Hockey app or follow the FIH social media channels – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – and website.