On Friday, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) introduced a new world ranking system for 2020, which will act as a match-based account instead of tournaments for a "better reflection of current performances".The new system will be in effect from January 1 next year. FIH said the new world ranking system was launched after 12 months of comprehensive research, analysis, and testing.The FIH rankings have been in place since 2003 and were originally designed to assign teams to different groups. The old model allowed countries to earn rating points two or three times a year.The FIH cited "numerous restrictions" for the championship-based system for change.This includes limited opportunities for the lower-ranked teams to earn points and the "subjectivity" required to determine the strengths of the five continents to calculate continental rating points. The fact that more than 60 percent of international hockey games have not made any qualifying points has made an increasingly strong case for changing focus," said the federation said in a statement.The match-based world ranking system includes the exchange of points between two teams competing in every match permitted by FIH.The number of points exchanged depends on three factors: the outcome of the match, the relative classification of teams and the importance of the match.FIH said that the new model eliminates much of the subjectivity surrounding continental weighting by creating a fair system for all.The decision to introduce a new global ranking system was taken after a one-year trial period.“By using all the official international matches that have been played since the end of the Rio 2016 Olympics, a working model for the new system has been created, which allows continuous monitoring, evaluation and adjustment throughout 2019."The results of the testing phase indicate that the new system was more dynamic and immediately reflected the current form of the current global ranking system and was subsequently approved by the FIH Executive Board," said the world body.The implementation of the new system for calculating the global FIH rankings will not affect existing placements: each country will start in 2020 in the same arrangement and with the same number of ranking points that ended in 2019.Commenting on the decision, FIH Development and Sports Director John Wyatt said, "As a sport, we are constantly striving to innovate and provide opportunities for our member countries."As with any launch of a new system and introduction of changes, it will take some time for everyone to amend, and we will constantly monitor the rating to ensure that it is accurate and fair to everyone.Read More: Test Events for Hockey (Sr. Men) in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo
Remembering Balbir Singh Sr, who died on Monday at the age of 96, 1975 World Cup India hockey team Ajit Pal Singh spoke about the influence Balbir Singh had on the team as manager.It will be difficult to follow the impact of the three-time Olympic gold medal victory by Balbir Singh Senior on the hockey legend against Indian hockey. Sometimes he did, even without raising a hockey stick. Balbir Singh was the director of the Indian hockey team that beat Pakistan 2-1 in an exciting competition to win the first World Cup in 1975. India's only success at the world championship remains to this day. Recalling the legend of hockey, who died on Monday at the age of 96, Indian hockey captain Ajit Pal Singh spoke of Balbir Singh's influence on the team.In an exclusive telephone interview with the Hindustan Times, Ajit Pal expressed his condolences for the disappearance of Balbir Singh and described him as an ideal man."It is really sad news that we lost an excellent Indian hockey column. Balbir Singh was a great player, a great coach and a great coach. We were lucky because he was with us during the Cup from the world of 1975 and that he managed to win. He was perfect in all aspects of life: a balanced man. "In addition, he spoke of the dynamics he shared with the manager at the 1975 World Cup in Malaysia. "In 1975, our team got the perfect match, with everything in the right place. When the team (manager, players, coach, captain) clicks, it can only succeed. Winning the 1975 World Cup was a team effort. ""My relationship with Balbir was very friendly, off the pitch and on the pitch. He was an older player and was a father figure. We admire him for his advice." It was a perfect mix. "In the league, India suffered a terrible 2-1 loss in the group stage match against a weak Argentine team. The defeat forced India to beat West Germany in its next game to advance to the semifinals. Ajit Pal recalls how Balbir Singh motivated the whole team to break the fast."The Argentinian team was not good. They had a casual coincidence and they scored. We tried to get many chances, but we couldn't find a draw. It was disappointing for the players. The team was disappointed and frustrated. "The next morning, Albert Ji called us for a meeting. He said at the meeting, "Look, guys, whatever happened yesterday, forget it. Now, today and tomorrow, we have these two days to prepare for Germany. Today, we have to focus, we need to eat well, relax well, and chat. Ajith Pal said, "You can, God willing. Losing in Argentina doesn't mean you can't beat Germany. "India comfortably beat West Germany 3-1 to book a ticket to the semi-finals, while Malaysia beat 3-2 to reach the final match against Pakistan. "Being a great hockey player, his essence was how to motivate and discover the need of the hour, what are the kids talking about?" Ajit Pal said: "He was a very bright man, because he was a great player himself."The former Indian hockey superstar recovered from the last game against Pakistan, which was a very tense relationship. Pakistan got off to a good start, scoring an early goal. India rebounded strongly in the second period, then defeated its rivals 2-1 to lift the cup."The team was great and (Balbir Singh) seated at the side of the field, we were really motivated. Ajit Pal said:" I was very lucky because I am the team leader and we won the cup. "Balbir Singh Ji wanted the team to move forward together. It was a truly unforgettable experience in 1975, and we were very successful. We celebrated the World Cup victory across India, and it was a great time for hockey. "Article Source: hindustantimes.comRead More: India May Tour South Africa In August For Three-Match T20I Series
Across the international community, the past few months have been challenging for individuals, families, institutions, and companies. Emotionally, socially and economically, these are unprecedented times, with an uncertain future.This is why it is important that, as an international federation, we now plan a strong and safe return for the entire global hockey community - players, coaches, officials, partners, and fans alike, when it's safe to do so. We know that only a few things are under our control, but with so many uncertainties, the best way to feel that we can move forward as a global hockey family is to look at where we are, think about where we came from, and strive To build on our plans to build a structure. Sustainable fit for all.If we are to research the positives of the current situation, working from home has given us the opportunity to step back from day-to-day operations and take a long and targeted look at our strategies and how you can adapt and innovate. Even hockey is a sport that has a sustainable future around the world.One of the many things we have worked on is our exciting schedule of events, adapting it to the changes imposed by the Coronavirus, and the rescheduling of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Future prospects for the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Belgium in February next year is an event that fills the hearts of all hockey fans with joy. The fast-paced action and the opportunity to see some of the world's best indoor players in action is something that will brighten the sports calendar and put hockey in the spotlight.We communicate regularly with the National Federations and Confederations to discuss organizational issues around the FIH 2021 Junior Hockey World Cup along with hosts South Africa (women) and India (men), the host nation of the Women's Hockey World Cup 2022 Netherlands / Spain Hockey World Cup 2023 Men, India.Qualifying for the FIH 2022/23 Hockey World Cup was the focus of a major debate between FIFA officials and the confederations. Final details will be released in June once the format has been approved by the Executive Board.Future FIH Hockey Pro seasons have also been the subject of much discussion between FIH and 11 participating countries. As reported on the FIH website, the Executive Board approved the proposal, agreed upon between the participating National Federations and the FIH Team, to extend the current season until June 2021, ensuring that all competing countries can complete your calendar.In addition to planning future events, FIH also works with partners and stakeholders to develop and implement innovative strategies and new technologies to raise awareness of hockey and increase participation, but at the same time while considering the challenges of post-Covid19. In this sense, one of the interesting initiatives that sprung from the FIH Academy team was the launch of online courses. At a time when it is difficult for athletes, coaches, and referees to gain practical experience and practical learning opportunities, this is an exceptionally useful development tool. Most training sessions are booked on the spot, which proves their relevance to our hockey workforce. Also Read: Did You Know About Underwater HockeyThe courses proved to be an immediate success with 22 workshops and training courses held throughout April and attracted more than 200 participants from 35 countries.We've also launched a new membership plan: FIH World Hockey Membership. This is part of the Hockey Invites initiative and aims to attract more people to join our sport and take an active role. This paid membership system has several different classes: coaches, referees, and members, and each category has personal benefits, including discounts on FIH Hockey Academy courses.With the Olympics moving into 2021, the next 18 months promise to be very busy. We are in constant discussions with our stakeholders to ensure that plans are in place to ensure all events run as smoothly as possible. We are also working hard with both the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee to support them in the rescheduling.Of course, athletes and their well-being are central to everything we do, so the participation of the Athletes Committee in any decision-making process was of the utmost importance.Although live hockey was not possible, it was great to see athletes from around the world sharing their training advice on social media using the hashtag #StayHomeStayStrong After removing geoblock restrictions on our FIH.live OTT platform, we also produced All-new programs that are now available for the world hockey family to enjoy. At the same time, our broadcast partners have made sure that hockey stays on our screens by allowing some images to be played back.Play hockey games on TV and online in more than 200 countries. To both of our broadcast partners and our other business partners, we are very grateful for the support they have shown at this difficult time.“These are tough times for everyone, and our primary concern at FIFA is for everyone in the global hockey community to remain safe and healthy at this time,” says International Hockey Federation Executive Director Thierry Weil.“When we finally come out on the other side of this colossal challenge to humanity, the work of FIH staff, combined with the support of our partners and stakeholders, will ensure that we are all in the strongest position possible and ready to restart hockey. When it is safe to do so.”The 47th FIH Statutory Congress is taking place from 19 May to 23 May 2021 at the Lalit Hotel in Delhi, India. More information coming soon.Also Read: International Hockey Federation unveils new match-based world ranking system for 2020
The Indian women's hockey team left the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi for Argentina on Sunday. This will be the first round of the national team in almost a year. India Hockey Company also selected the 25-member Indian Hockey Team for the tour. The Indian team is scheduled to play two games against Argentina (Junior) on January 17 and 19, two games against Argentina B on January 22 and 24, and four matches against Argentina on January 26, 28, 30, and 31. Indian hockey and the host national league have created a biological bubble in Argentina for both the Argentina women's team and the Indian women's team. The Indian women hockey team will be staying in a hotel where separate team rooms have been provided for all meals, team meetings, sessions, etc.“It feels great to be on the road again. We have worked hard on our game for the past few months and it is time to put our skills to live in an international match. Playing in international matches will be a bit different at this point.” Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal said in at Statement: "We will be in a biological bubble, and the team is excited to return to the field in the best possible way at this time."The entire Indian group underwent a Covid-19 RT-PCR test 72 hours before leaving New Delhi. Although there are no quarantine requirements upon arrival in Argentina, the team will continue to comply with all health and safety measures recommended by the governments of India and Argentina, according to Hockey India in an official statement.The deputy captain and goalkeeper of the Indian women's hockey team, Savita, thanked Hockey India and SAI for organizing the tour of Argentina.We desperately need to return to a competitive situation where there is not much time left for the Olympics. We have been doing well in the training sessions, but the international match is always the real test for any athlete. Therefore, we would like to thank Savita: “India Hockey and SAI for their efforts. In organizing a tour for us. We are looking forward to a great game and we hope to start playing with all our energy from the first match. "The 25-member Indian Women's Hockey squad: Rani (Captain), Savita (Vice-Captain), Rajani Etimarpu, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Gurjit Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka, Rashmita Minz, Manpreet Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Monika, Nikki Pradhan, Vandana Katariya, Navneet Kaur, Navjot Kaur, Jyoti, Udita, Rajwinder Kaur, Salima Tete, Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lilima Minz, Neha Goyal, Namita Toppo, Lalremsiami, Sharmila Devi.Also Read: THE 47TH FIH STATUTORY CONGRESS WILL HAPPEN IN DELHI
Indian hockey striker Dilpreet Singh, who was training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Center in Bangalore as part of the potential major-male group, plans to make the cut in the Round of 16 final that he will represent to India in the prestigious Tokyo Olympics, set to begin in July.The 21-year-old striker said that since there are no major competitions in 2020 affected by the epidemic, he takes every training session as an opportunity to make a strong case for a place on the Olympic team. We don't want to worry about factors that are not under our control. I don't want to wait for the chance to play a match for India to defend myself but to make the most of the opportunity here in the camp to show my skills and prove myself. "We give 100 percent of each training session," Dilpreet said in a statement.Speaking of his development and the opportunity for him to train with senior players again in the camp, the youngster added: "I've been working on my technical game. I improved my end. Watching the older players playing and spending time with them helps the younger players gain confidence and of course improve." We ask our veteran players for advice and guidance, and they have been of great help to us at all times. "Dilpreet, who was part of the teams that won the silver and bronze medals at the Breda Hockey Champions Cup 2018 and Asian Games 2018, respectively, returned to the junior starting group after the 2018 World Cup.Speaking of the omission, the boy from Amritsar said, “I was very upset with myself because I was a part of almost every major tournament and I was looking forward to appearing in the Olympics as well. But the omission of the senior core group affected me so much and made me realize that I had squandered the golden opportunity and I had to work harder. "However, a year later, after doing well in potential youth basics, Dilpreet was called up for the FIH Pro League match against World Champion Belgium."I started from scratch. I trained hard in the junior camp to at least get a place in the first team. He used to follow every first-team training exercise. I was in constant contact with the top players for that and asked them for guidance, and finally, in 2020, I'm back." "To the main group of the FIH Hockey Pro League. The postponement of the Olympic Games gave players like me the opportunity to improve the situation and make the most of it. The choice of teams is not in my hands, I focus on giving 100 percent on the field and improving day after day."Also Read: The 47th FIH Statutory Congress will happen in Delhi
Odisha Chief Minister Naveenn Patnaik announced his sponsorship of Indian hockey for another 10 years after the teams' impressive performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Each player has been awarded 10 lakh and each supporting staff 5 lakh by the state government. "You made us all so proud of your energetic fight in Tokyo. These are very emotional moments for India to witness the revival of Indian hockey. For nearly four decades, hockey fans have been eager to see India win a medal in the Olympic Games". Mr. Patnaik Congratulates to the hockey teams. "The way the whole country has been glued to the screens to watch team games, it's pretty clear that there is more to hockey than just sport. In this pandemic, it's remarkable that our teams have worked so hard despite all the challenges and come out victorious. " Noting that in these times of crisis, the teams have brought smiles on the faces of crores of Indian, Mr. Patnaik said: “We in Odisha are happy that our partnership with Hockey India has led to such a great achievement for the country. I believe Odisha and hockey are destined to become synonymous. Odisha will support hockey teams for another 10 years." After Sahara's sponsorship of Indian hockey ended, Odisha went through its public sector unit, Odisha Mining Corporation, to sponsor national teams (men / women, junior / old) in 2018. The sponsorship was 140 crore for a period of five years. Mr. Patnaik gave13 different awards. While Harmanpreet Singh won the player with the most goals scored, PR Sreejesh was awarded for saving the most goals. Each team presented a framed jersey signed by the players to CM. The government also awarded 50 lakh rupees to Hockey India. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Patnaik and the people of Odisha for showing their love and affection for the sport. With your continued support, Indian Hockey looks forward to building on the achievements of the Tokyo Olympics and continue this steady rise to take it back to the elite level where it belongs,” said Narinder Dhruv Batra, president of the Indian Olympic Association. Odisha Sports and Youth Services Minister Tusharkanti Behera, departmental Secretary R. Vineel Krishna and chairman of the Odisha Hockey promotion council Dilip Tirkey were present.Also Read- ICC T20 World Cup 2021 complete schedule: India to face Pakistan on October 24
Indian hockey touched a new peak on Wednesday, making a virtual clean sweep of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) awards, with drag-flick sensation Harmanpreet Singh being crowned the 'FIH Player of the Year' in the men's category, PR Sreejesh winning the 'Goalkeeper of the Year' award and the men's hockey chief coach Graham Reid getting the 'FIH Coach of the Year' award. Former Indian women's hockey chief coach Sjoerd Marijne got the 'FIH Coach of the Year' award in the women's category. The voting-based annual awards had six Indian players and two coaches in men's and women's categories. This is the first time that all nominees from India have won the prestigious awards in their respective categories. Drag-flick sensation Harmanpreet Singh was the top scorer in India's bronze medal-winning performance at the Tokyo Olympic Games. He was nominated for the award along with Belgium's Arthur Van Doren and Alexander Hendrickx as well as Australia's Jake Whetton, Tim Brand and Aran Zalewski. Drag-flicker Gurjit Kaur won the 'FIH Player of The Year' award in the women's category. She was nominated alongside Argentina's Agustina Gorzelany and Agustina Albertarrio. The other nominees for the award were Netherlands' Eva De Goede, Frederique Matla and Maria Verschoor. Sreejesh, who won the 'Goalkeeper of the Year' award, had come up with a career-best performance at the Olympic Games. The other nominees in this category were Belgium's Vincent Vanasch and Australia's Andrew Charter. Goalkeeper Savita won the award for the best goalkeeper in the female category. Savita, who was also the joint-vice captain of the women's team at the Olympics, was outstanding in guarding India's post and played an instrumental role in the team finishing fourth in Tokyo. The other nominees in this category were Great Britain's Maddie Hinch and Argentina's Belen Succi. 2020-21 FIH #HockeyStarsAwards results announced! Olympic Success Wave continues for India with @TheHockeyIndia winning big.A record number of almost 300’000 fans casted their votes for this year's Awards.CONGRATULATIONS to all winners and nominees!— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) October 6, 2021In the FIH 'Rising Star of the Year' category for men, Vivek Sagar Prasad won the award for the second consecutive time. He was nominated along with South Africa's Mustaphaa Cassiem and Australia's Sean Findlay. In the 'FIH Rising Star of the Year' category for women, Sharmila Devi won the award with maximum votes ahead of Great Britain's Fiona Crackles and Argentina's Valentina Raposo. Graham Reid got the 'FIH Coach of the Year' award. He was nominated along with Australia's Colin Batch and Belgium's Shane McLeod. Congratulating the award winners, Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam said, "This is a great moment for Indian hockey as all our Indian nominees for the FIH Stars Awards have been announced winners. After the historic performances in Tokyo by both the Indian men`s and women`s hockey teams, the support from Indian fans from across the globe has been overwhelming. We thank everyone who supported the nominees by voting for them. "This is a big moment for us and these awards will definitely inspire future generations to take up the sport professionally. On behalf of Hockey India, I congratulate all the award winners and wish them success in their future endeavours."Also Read- Sagar Rana murder case: Delhi court denies bail to Olympic wrestler Sushil Kumar
India and Pakistan have increased their personal involvement from the reopening of the Kartalpur Pass to the reopening of hockey diplomacy three years later.For the first time since 2018, the Pakistani Youth Hockey Team arrived in Delhi for the Youth Hockey World Cup on Saturday. The World Cup will be held in Bhubaneswar from November 24th to December 5th.The Pakistani hockey team last came to India for the Senior World Cup in 2018. Prior to that, he participated in the Champions Cup in 2014. This year was the year that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wore it in contact with all SAARC leaders. , Includes all SAARC readers. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the oath ceremony.According to officials, Pakistani players did not get a visa for the 2016 Youth Hockey World Cup-Pattern Court Attacks (January 2016) and Uri (September 2016), followed by Surgical Strikes (September 2016) ).In 2019, the Pakistani shooting team was unable to compete in the World Cup final in Delhi for the same reason. The match in India remained largely isolated because no visa was issued. This happened in the light of a terrorist attack on Pulwama, where at least 40 guards were killed.However, after a harsh warning from the International Olympic Committee, the government has confirmed in writing that athletes from Pakistan will not stop coming to India.This time, Pakistan was invited to the competition because the Asian qualifying was not held due to the pandemic and visas were issued to athletes and officials, officials said.A senior diplomat from the Pakistan High Commission has welcomed members of the Pakistan Youth Hockey Team at IGI Airport in Delhi. Chargé d'Affaires Hassan Khan of the Embassy of Pakistan also hosted lunch on Saturday in honor of him.A Pakistani diplomat said, "They are completely ready, full of energy and ready to do their best during the tournament."Since February of this year, the backchannel between the two countries has been working overtime to keep the lines of control peaceful. However, in recent months, targeted killings in Kashmir have raised suspicions on the ground.India invited Pakistan's National Security Agency to the NSA's regional talks on Afghanistan, but Islamabad declined. However, both sides have agreed to move forward with the reopened Karuta Pool Corridor earlier this week.However, the relationship remains complicated as Islamabad has not yet allowed the Indian government to send wheat to Afghanistan over land via Pakistan. This was after Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan last week assured the Taliban delegation that his government would "actively consider" the proposal in exceptional humanitarian situations.For more live updates to visit here : - PITCHHIGH
Asian Champions Trophy Hockey: India lose 3-5 to Japan in semis, to play Pakistan in bronze medal clashDhaka: India, a defending champion and Olympic bronze medalist lost 3-5 to Japan in the second semi-final of the AFC Champions Cup men's hockey tournament on Tuesday.Japan was very different on Tuesday as they played Manpreet Singh's winger from the start.The Indians were nowhere near their final performance in the match against Japan, as their defense collapsed under relentless pressure from the lower-ranked opponent from the start of the match.This was in stark contrast to India's performance in their last game against Japan, where the Olympic medalists never recovered from their first goals.Japan led 2-0 in the first two minutes and it looks like the Indians took a hit and played hockey after that.Japan scored through Shota Yamada (first-minute penalty), Riki Fujishima (2), Yoshiki Kirishita (29), Kosei Kwabe (35), and Ryoma Oka (41).Hardik Singh (17, 58) and deputy captain Harmanpreet Singh (43) scored for India.India and Japan met 18 times, the host country won 16 matches, while Japan won once and ended in a draw.Japan will now face South Korea at the summit, while India will again face Pakistan in the bronze medal match on Wednesday.The tournament ended in a hostile climax for India after they topped the Round Robin stages with an undefeated record.In the second semifinal of the day, South Korea beat Pakistan 6-5 in a thrilling clash.The Indians were supposed to enter the game with confidence after their last quarterfinal game, but the scene was quite different on Tuesday.It was the Japanese who attacked from the beginning and took full control of the first quarter.Japan's dominance can be measured by the fact that it scored six penalties in the first six minutes, two of which were goals. He was awarded a penalty for the first time in the first minute, which resulted in a penalty and Yamada did not miss a penalty.The Asian Games gold medalists continued to pressure the Indian defense, scoring five more corner kicks in a minute and a half, one of which resulted in another goal from Raiki Fujishima.Japan completely dominated the first 15 minutes as they launched attack after attack at the Indian goal to surprise the Olympic bronze medalists.It was a completely disappointing performance from India as they failed to score a single goal in the first 15 minutes.Prepared by captain Manpreet Singh and Dilpreet Singh, losing by two goals, the Indians came out more objectively in the second quarter and reduced the gap in the 17th minute with a field goal from Hardik.India kept pushing and got their first penalty in the 19th minute, but Japanese goalkeeper Neelam Sanjeev Ziss saved.But Japan did not hold back and relied on their swift counterattacks, which trapped the Indian defense several times during the match.From one of these counterattacks, Japan got another penalty that was missed by India's teacher Krishna Bahadur Pathak and this time Kirishita got up and opened his breath to advance 3-1.After swapping ends, Japan again surprised India when Kwabe fired an impromptu shot at the open goal and the Indian defense stopped believing they were taking a penalty. But the referee seized the opportunity.Oka scored from close range in the 41st minute off some great left flank action by Kenta Tanaka.Two minutes later, Harmanpreet converted India's second penalty.After trailing 2-5, India was chasing goals and soon received two more penalties, but both missed.With just over a minute to go, India secured their fifth penalty, and this time Hardik scored his second goal of the day from another.The captain of India, Manpreet Singh, was very upset with the result.He said: "It is not the result we wanted. We were a bit lazy at the beginning, we lost two opening goals. The biggest lesson for us is that we cannot underestimate any team, we have to prepare for tomorrow's game. We need to stay."Also read - Why are you, captain?' Ricky Ponting slams Joe Root comments
Below is a list of the major sporting calendar, events calendar for 2022 (were you looking for the 2022 calendar?) Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many major sporting events have been cancelled or postponed, and changes are happening regularly. Also note that not all sporting events can be included here, although we have tried to include all major sporting events from major sports, especially high-profile international competitions.Major sports events for 2022, Sports Calendar 2022 include the World Masters Games, Winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Rugby League World Cup, the World Games, FIFA World Cup, South American Games, Rugby World Cup (Women), Winter Paralympics, Summer Universiade, as well as the usual annual events. Championship Sports second European will also be held.Date(s)SportEventLocationJan 13–31HandballWorld Championships (men)EgyptJan 29-31Extreme SportsWinter X Games 25Aspen, Colorado, USAFeb 4-11Football (Soccer)2020 FIFA Club World CupDoha, QatarFeb 6-12 (postponed until 2022)Multi-sportsSpecial Olympics World Winter GamesJämtland County, SwedenFeb 6 - Mar 20RugbySix NationsUK, Ireland, France & ItalyFeb 7Gridiron/FootballSuper BowlRaymond James Stadium, Tampa, FloridaFeb 8-21TennisAustralia OpenMelbourne, AustraliaFeb 8-21SkiingWorld Alpine Ski ChampionshipsCortina d'Ampezzo, ItalyFeb 23-Mar 7Skiing (Nordic)Nordic World Ski ChampionshipsOberstdorf, GermanyMar 6-21SailingAmerica's CupWaitemata Harbour, New ZealandMar 9-23 (cancelled, maybe played in 2023)BaseballWorld Baseball ClassicJapan, Taiwan, USAMar 23-28 (postponed until next winter)Multi-sportsWinter Military World GamesBerchtesgaden and Ruhpolding, GermanyApril 2-10 (postponed again, new date unknown)Multi-sportsAsian Beach GamesSanya, ChinaApr 8-11GolfMastersAugusta, Georgia, USAApr 10Horse RacingGrand NationalAintree Racecourse in LiverpoolApr 17 - May 3SnookerWorld Snooker ChampionshipCrucible Theatre in Sheffield, EnglandMay 1Horse RacingKentucky DerbyLouisville, Kentucky, USMay 14-22 (postponed until 2023)Multi-sportsArafura GamesDarwin, AustraliaMay 14-30 (postponed until May 2022)Multi-sportsWorld Masters Games (Summer)Kansai, JapanMay 15Football (Soccer)FA Cup finalWembley Stadium, LondonMay 20-23GolfUS PGAKiawah Island Golf Resort, Ocean Course, Kiawah Island, SCMay 21 - June 6Ice HockeyIIHF World ChampionshipRiga, LatviaMay 29Football (Soccer)UEFA Champions League FinalAtatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, TurkeyMay 29 - Jun 5 (postponed again to 2023)Multi-sportsInvictus GamesThe Hague, The Netherlands May 30Auto RacingIndianapolis 500Indianapolis, USAMay 30 - Jun 13TennisFrench OpenParis, FranceJun 11 - Jul 11 (postponed from 2020)Football (Soccer)Euro 2020the tournament played across Europe, the final in London UK.Jun 13 - Jul 10 (postponed from 2020)Football (Soccer)47th Copa AméricaArgentina, Colombia BrazilJun 17-20GolfUS OpenTorrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, CaliforniaJun 26 - Jul 18CyclingTour de FranceFranceJun 28 - July 7Ice HockeyStanley Cup finalsMontreal & TampaJun 28 - July 11TennisWimbledonLondon, EnglandJuly 6–20BasketballNBA FinalsMilwaukee & PhoenixJuly 14-18Extreme SportsSummer X GamesSouthern CaliforniaJul 15-21 (postponed to 2022)Multi-sportsWorld GamesBirmingham, Alabama, USAJul 15–18GolfBritish OpenRoyal St George's Golf Club Sandwich Kent EnglandJul 16-Aug 1 (postponed to 2022)SwimmingWorld Aquatics ChampionshipsFukuoka, JapanJul 23 - Aug 8Multi-sportsSummer OlympicsTokyo, JapanJul 30-Aug 8 (postponed until July 2022)Multi-sportsWorld Police and Fire GamesRotterdam, South Holland, NetherlandsAug 21-22 (postponed from Jun 12-13)Auto Racing89th 24 Hours of Le MansCircuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, FranceAug 24 - Sep 5Multi-sportsParalympic GamesTokyo, JapanAug 30 - Sep 12TennisUS OpenNew York, USASep 4-6GolfSolheim CupToledo, Ohio, USASep 10-19 (postponed to 2022)Multi-sportsIslamic Solidarity GamesKonya, TurkeySep 18 – Oct 16 (postponed to 2022)RugbyWorld Cup (women)New ZealandSep 19-26CyclingUCI Road World ChampionshipsBruges and Leuven, BelgiumSep 24-26 (postponed from 2020)GolfRyder CupWhistling Straits (Haven, Wisconsin)Sept 25AFLGrand FinalPerth, WAOct 3Rugby LeagueNRL Grand FinalSydney Cricket Ground, AustraliaOct 17 - Nov 14CricketICC World T20 (men)UAE and OmanOct 17-24 (cancelled)RowingWorld Rowing ChampionshipsShanghai, ChinaOct 20-24CyclingWorld Track ChampionshipsAchgabat, Turkmenistan Roubaix, FranceOct 23 - Nov 27 (postponed to Nov 2022)Rugby LeagueWorld CupEnglandOct 26 - Nov 2BaseballWorld SeriesTrust Park (Atlanta), Minute Maid Park (Houston)Oct 26 - Nov 6BoxingAIBA World Championships (men)Belgrade, SerbiaNov 2Horse RacingMelbourne CupVictoria, AustraliaNov 21-Dec 2 (postponed to 2022)Multi-sportsSouth-East Asian GamesHanoi, VietnamNov 23-29Table TennisWorld ChampionshipHouston, United StatesDec 2-19HandballWorld Championships (women)SpainDec 7-17WeightliftingWorld ChampionshipsTashkent, UzbekistanDec 11-21 (postponed from January, then cancelled)Multi-sportsWinter UniversiadeLucerne, SwitzerlandDec 16-21 (postponed from Dec 2020)SwimmingFINA World Swimming Championships (25m)Abu Dhabi, UAEFor Daily Sports Updates, News Events to Visit Here - PITCHHIGH
For some of India’s top stars, 2023 was the year when they had to pause, reflect and reboot. In some cases, to recover from injuries; in a few others, to rediscover lost form. All in the hope that when the big day comes, they’ll be ready and recharged for the challengeIn Odisha at the World Cup in January, after India lost the shootout against New Zealand to fall short of the quarterfinals, Manpreet Singh was on his knees, staring down at the turf in disbelief. It wasn’t supposed to end this way, for the team that won bronze at Tokyo Olympics. It was, to put it mildly, a disaster to go out that early.In Hangzhou at the Asian Games in October, when the final was deadlocked 0-0 against Japan with five minutes left to go in the first half, India were getting a bit desperate for the opening goal. As a rebound fell to him at the edge of the circle, Manpreet Singh unleashed a powerful reverse flick that flew into the roof of the net. He was on his knees again. Only this time, his teammates were mobbing him as he celebrated a rare and significant goal. India would go on to win the match 5-1.“Kya bolein yaar, I score only rarely,” Manpreet tells with a big smile. “When the ball came to me, I was only thinking of hitting the target. The coach tells me when I get into the circle, ‘you don’t shoot enough. So when you get a chance, go for it, your reverse hit is brilliant.’ That’s all I had in mind. And it flew well off my stick.”Indeed, 2023 was one of two halves for the Indian men’s hockey team. At a home World Cup, a chance to end the 48-year-old wait for a medal went begging. But as the year drew to a close, they clinched the title at the Asian Champions Trophy and the gold medal at Hangzhou Asian Games, which also sealed their place at the Paris Olympics.And Manpreet personified that arc better than any.The 2012 Olympic Games campaign was a nadir in Indian hockey as they lost all six matches to finish last, but for a 20-year-old Manpreet it was personally harrowing too. There were reports of cliques in the squad and of Manpreet being targeted. So when Manpreet says the disappointment of the 2023 World Cup was alongside that of London 2012 for him, it says a whole lot.“We were all quite disappointed. In the match against New Zealand, we didn’t play well at all. In a crucial match, we were not able to do our best. We will forever remember that we didn’t step up that day,” the 31-year-old says.But if 2012 was a campaign of chaos, 2023 hurt because there was a general sentiment that this team was really good and capable of a podium finish. “Handling the pressure of crucial matches, dealing with the presence of home crowd… that match against NZ, we should have done better, because there was confidence in us from the nation. We were confident too, but it will always remain hurtful that we couldn’t deliver,” Manpreet says.Siddharth Pandey, hockey commentator and FIH Level 2 certified coach is someone who has kept a close eye on this Indian team in recent years as a broadcaster. “What happened with Manpreet at the World Cup was in line with what happened with the rest of the team, where multiple things went wrong,” Pandey tells this daily. “Crucially, Hardik Singh’s injury had a huge impact on the team and Manpreet lost a crucial supporting act in the midfield. Then there was the pressure of playing in front of family and thousands of fans. We are usually good away from home these days.”For someone who has achieved quite a lot in Indian hockey, as a player and leader, the World Cup disaster could potentially have been seen as a stopping point. But Manpreet went back to the drawing board. After a few Pro League matches, the team got a break and Manpreet was driven to bounce back. As Rohit Sharma said after the men’s cricket team’s home World Cup heartbreak, it wasn’t easy to move on but athletes have to find a way.“Spending time with the family definitely helped,” Manpreet, a doting father to a girl now, says. “Like Rohit said about how even going out and meeting people was difficult, such a disappointment is huge. We athletes put in all our efforts for years and years, for that one big day in a tournament. When you don’t succeed, you feel despondent. It takes a while to heal. But then you have to start thinking… what next? We can only change what happens in the future.”It started with fitness. Though he was on a break, Manpreet told his family that he’d not be indulging in his diet. One of the fittest athletes there is, Manpreet went about focussing on staying in the best shape possible. “I definitely had to reboot. And when we returned to the camp, the senior players got together and said ‘Whatever has happened, we can’t change. But we can learn. The mistakes we made at the World Cup shouldn’t be repeated’.”Adding a new dimensionWhile he is no longer the team captain, Manpreet – unsurprisingly – doesn’t add much weightage to it, insisting that the likes of himself and PR Sreejesh are there to share the burden with Harmanpreet Singh. Pandey goes to the extent of saying that being a leader without being the captain has liberated him.“He’s a father now, he’s in a good space personally. The Manpreet of 6-7 years ago was still very disciplined on the pitch every time he played, but was quite outgoing,” Pandey says, adding he saw a version of Manpreet at ACT who was enjoying his game, and took up attacking responsibilities that weren’t quite his forte earlier.New head coach Craig Fulton came in and initially had Manpreet playing in the defence. But it wasn’t new to him, he started his national journey as a defender on the left side. “His fundamentals were sensational, that’s why we had the nickname ‘Korean’ for him,” Pandey recalls. “Then he transitioned into being a wonderful central defensive midfielder across coaches. And now he has added a dimension that not a lot of people thought he had, which is shining as a central attacking midfielder.”Graham Reid’s era saw Manpreet evolve into one of the best guarding midfielders in the game, who was terrific at ball retrieval and starting transitions by receiving the ball into space. Fulton, after the initial shift, brought him back to midfield and gave him the freedom to go forward too. It was evident in Chennai, where Manpreet was player of the match in two of India’s matches, driving masterfully through the midfield.“He can now be the extra man creating overloads in the circle as he was when he scored the opening goal in the Asian Games final. You can see the number of aerials he receives at the baseline, making runs from deep. Under Reid, he was a ball retriever and he was the guard responsible for counter control, and was brilliant at it. Now Fulton has entrusted something new with him, and he is delivering. He is now a 3-dimensional hockey player, and to do that at 31 is quite impressive, and to add to that he is supremely fit,” Pandey says.At the Asian Games, one of the standout features of India’s play was assists for players at the second post and the number of 1-2 passes they made to open up scoring opportunities. Fulton’s philosophy is built on control and a defend-to-win mantra but within that, he is enabling the attackers to dovetail with each other, something the Manpreet-Hardik-Vivek axis is crucial for.“I found joy in going forward, I have a lot of freedom. My understanding has gotten better with other players, when Hardik goes forward I know I have to focus on counter control. And vice versa. Craig also believes that whenever we get the chance we have to use our Indian skills. Our ability to beat players is one of the best in the world, so whenever we can, we must use that ‘Indian masala’,” he adds with a smile.As Indian hockey looks ahead to 2024, Manpreet might not be the captain, but he is leading the way by evolving and setting high benchmarks that youngsters must aspire to. As Pandey says, “For him to have started his journey at a damaging event like London 2012 to now be months away from a fourth Olympics appearance, that’s an incredible career graph. Whatever happens in Paris, Manpreet goes down as an all-time great.”What 2023 taught, what 2024 meansFor someone who has seen many highs and lows in the constantly dramatic world of Indian hockey, Manpreet – and the rest of the Indian team – got a rude reality check at the Odisha World Cup. The defeat against New Zealand was a tough pill to swallow and outgoing coach Graham Reid called for the need to have a mental conditioning coach.In came Paddy Upton, to join new head coach Craig Fulton, who has plenty of experience working with Indian athletes. While Manpreet was aware of the need to reboot personally, there was an acknowledgment that India needed help in handling high-pressure situations.“When Paddy came in, the conversations were about focussing on the controllables. You can’t control the weather, you can’t control the fans turning up at a venue… don’t worry about the result, focus on the steps to get there. To remain stable ahead of a big match, when the pressure is on,” Manpreet says, about moving on from the World Cup heartbreak.Unlike in 2018, the qualification for Paris 2024 has been taken care of early and the Indian men’s team can now fully focus on fine-tuning their game. It would involve using the Pro League matches to full effect. Their dominance at the Asian level is not in doubt still, but there are bigger targets to check off for Fulton, Harmanpreet, Manpreet, and Co. Lessons must be learned from Odisha 2023 as they look ahead. Also Read: Upcoming games 2024 for console and PC
