Sunday, January 27, 2013

Royal Hockeynesses: Kate and Pippa as teenagers...

PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: This candid photo shows the determination of two teenage sisters who would go on to be among the most famous faces on the planet. The photo was taken at Marlborough College in Wiltshire when the future Duchess of Cambridge was in her final year, aged about 18. Kate, now 31, has never lost her love for hockey and looked in her element last November when she opened a new pitch at her old prep school, St Andrew's in Pangbourne, Berkshire, pictured left. 

Still got it: The Duchess of Cambridge took part in an impromptu hockey game when she visited her old prep school St Andrew's in Berkshire last year


Unseen since it was taken 12 years ago, this candid picture shows the single-minded determination of two teenage sisters who would go on to be among the most famous faces on the planet.

Hockey sticks at the ready, Kate and Pippa Middleton have the steely, purposeful gaze of fearsome opponents who would let no one stand in their way. 

The photograph was taken at Marlborough College in Wiltshire, when the future Duchess of Cambridge was in her final year, aged about 18. 
   

http://www.dailymail.co.uk

Dharmaraj challenges JHL players...

THE NSC-Milo-MHC Junior Hockey League is at the mid- way stage, but still, the scouts are finding it difficult to  identify new talent.
   And that’s why Project 2013 coach K. Dharmaraj (pic) has  thrown the under-19 players a challenge -- play in the  Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) if you want to impress him.
   Right now, established players, who have been selected for  the Project 2013 and 2017 squads, are the ones who are  keeping the League alive in three Division One teams.
    Tengku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI), UniKL  Young Guns and Petaling Jaya City Council are involved in an  intense battle for the Division One League title as they have  the lions share of the project players.
    The other teams are struggling simply because their  players are still raw,
    “I have been watching the Division One matches and the  conclusion is that there are no new talent to join the national  juniors training. The present players from the 2013 and 2017  project squads are the one who are keeping their teams  afloat.
   “And my advise to those who want to make an impact, is to  try and impress the MHL clubs and play in the senior  league.
   “if they can survive, or even hold themselves well in the  MHL, then they warrant a call-up to the national juniors  training squad,” said Dharmaraj.
    The national juniors, 25-strong, are in training for the  Junior World Cup in India in December, and they commute  between JHL matches and training under Dharmaraj during  weekdays.
    “I am happy to release them for the JHL as they get match  practice, while I work on their physical and mental side when  they come to me,” said Dharmaraj.
     Citing and example, Dharmaraj said one of the btter  players in the JHL now is Shahril Saabah who is with SSTMI,  because he has seen action in the MHL with Tenaga Nasional  last season.
    “But even he found the going tough in TNB playing against  the big boys, bit he survived and is now holding court in  SSSTMI. That is what I want from those who aspire to break  into the Junior World Cup training squad from the outside.
    “I am willing to provide names to MHL clubs who are  looking for youth, as it will benefit the country in the long  run,” said Dharmaraj.