Aymar, Amat win world hockey awards

CHENNAI: Argentina’s Luciana Aymar and Spain’s Pol Amat were crowned as women and men’s World Hockey Player of the Year 2008 at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Congress in Los Angeles.

Dutch Maartje Paumen and Australian Eddie Ockenden received the Young Player of the Year 2008 awards. All four hockey stars were present in Los Angeles Saturday to receive their awards, according to a FIH press release.

The awards were presented by FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman (who subsequently lost the elections) during the special ‘Emmy Awards’ type of show. All players who participated at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing last August were able to vote for their favourites.

Aymar grabbed her fifth Player of the Year award as she won the title in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007. The 31-year-old was in the team that won bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics.

Amat became the first Spaniard to win the Player of the Year Award. For the silver medallist from Beijing, it is a recognition for all the years that he was among the best hockey players in the world. Amat took over the title from Australian Jamie Dwyer, who was again one of the nominees for the award this year.

Dutch striker Paumen was awarded as women’s Young Player of the Year. Paumen won with Netherlands the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics and became the top scorer of the tournament with 11 goals, a record in Olympic history.

Ockenden took over the title of men’s WorldHockey Young Player of the Year from teammate Mark Knowles. He was in excellent form both at the Olympic Games and the Champions Trophy in 2008.