On winless streak, India manage to reduce margin of defeat

The India men’s hockey team put up a brave fight before going down 1-2 against reigning Olympic champions Germany to slump to their third consecutive defeat in the four-nation test event ahead of the upcoming London Olympics in London on Saturday.

Erstwhile champions India kept the mighty Germans on their toes throughout the 70 minutes at the River Bank Arena, but conceded a late goal to return winless from the league stages.

Contrary to the result, it was India who took the lead in the 15th minute through a field goal from striker Shivendra Singh. Jolted by the goal, the Germans pressed hard and got the equaliser 12 minutes later through Christopher Wesley (27th) to go into the breather locked at 1-1.

In no mood to give an inch to the other team, both India and Germany played cautiously after the changeover but failed to break the deadlock till the 65th minute. It took a blinder of a goal from Florian Fuchs to pocket the win for his side and secure Germany’s place in Sunday’s final. India had earlier lost 0-3 to Australia and 2-4 to hosts Great Britain in their opening two games. The Indians will now face either Great Britain or Australia in the third-fourth place play-off game Sunday.

Pak WSH players summoned

Eight senior Pakistani players have been summoned by the Pakistan Hockey Federation for a disciplinary hearing on May 7 for participating in the unsanctioned World Series Hockey in India. The Pakistan Hockey Federation said that Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Shakeel Abbasi, Zeeshan Ashraf, Tariq Aziz, Imran Warsi, Adnan Maqsood, and Mudassar Ali Khan had violated the constitution of PHF and International Hockey Federation (FIH) by appearing in the WSH.”The World Series Hockey organised by the Nimbus Sport was neither sanctioned nor recognised by the FIH or PHF. The players have been issued show-cause notices to appear on May 7 before the disciplinary committee to explain their point of view,” a PHF official said.

Atleast four out of the eight players show-caused by the PHF stand a chance of being selected in the national squad for the London Olympics. “Rehan Butt, Abbasi, Waseem and Warsi could still be considered by the selectors but first they must be cleared to play by the PHF disciplinary committee,” a source in the federation said. Players found guilty could face either fines to bans.