THE Malaysian juniors romped away with a fantastic 8-2 win over Poland juniors in their preparation for the Junior World Cup in New Delhi at the end of the year.
Coach K. Dharmaraj’s boys are on a nine-match Tour of Europe, and had beaten the Polish juniors 7-0 in the first match.
The lost the second match 3-0 to the Polish senior side, who are in training for the European Championships, and bounced back in style again yesterday in Poznan.
Haziq Syamsol gave Malaysia the lead but Poland equalised an minute before the breather.
And after the break, Azwar Rahman scored two field goals in the 40th and 41st minutes to give Malaysia some breathing space, but the Poles hit back to make it 3-2 in the 43rd minute.
But the players kept up the pressure, and the goals came of Syamin Yusof (45th), Nor Aqmal Ghaffar (58th, 63rd) and Dangerous Lee (61st, 65th).
“Poland fielded their full squad, as they brought in five under-21 players from heir senior squad, and it did make a difference in the first half.
“But it was Malaysia’s best performance in the three matches here, as we scored seven field goals and only one off a penalty corner,” said team manager Mirnawan Nawawi.
However, even in the euphoria, Mirnawan lamented: “The dark side was that we won seven penalty corners, and only converted one.”
Malaysia will next move to Belgium where they will play three more matches in Antwerp on from Saturday, and wrap up their fixtures with three matches against England.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
German player sets up base in Rajasthan
Swati Vashishtha, CNN-IBN
Dausa (Rajasthan): A professional hockey player from Germany has taken it upon herself to teach the sport to children in Rajasthan's Dausa district. Andrea Thurmshirn is the hockey coach for children at Garh Himmat Singh, Dausa.
For Andrea the village was same as it was in a picture book but she had to face the language hurdle. "The village was like in a picture book... And I thought in Germany kids are so overloaded with activities and here there was nothing so I got them some hockey sticks just so they could have some fun with them... But they stood staring, they didn't know what to do with them. I couldn't speak their language and they couldn't understand English," she said.
She first met children when she came visiting here with her business partner as a tour operator in 2010. Since then she has come a long way and so have the children. Driven by children's enthusiasm, she has now set up a base here to work with them.
Besides teaching hockey, she also teaches English to children. "She teaches us doubling in the morning and tells us things like where to strike while playing. She also teaches us English. Before I began playing hockey I would do dishes at home after school and help my mother," said Shivani Sahu, one of the student.
But it has not been easy for her. Firstly, it was not easy to convince the parents to send their children to learn hockey and then she had to discipline them who would disappear without notice especially during the harvest season.
Andrea's family and friends also questioned her why is she doing all this and she said she is doing this for children. "My family and friends ask me everyday why the hell are you doing this but I do it for the kids. They're doing very well and that makes it worth it. They have a bright future! We'll grow a big hockey armada here," she said.
Her next hurdle now is to convince a neighbouring village to help mount an Astroturf that Germany has donated. But she is optimistic that with some funds they will be able to lease farm land to put it up.
Hockey in Prince Edward Island
On the East Coast of Canada, there is a small island called Prince Edward Island.
PEI is known for its potatoes, seafood, and Anne of Green Gables. Although, something you may not know, is that field hockey on the island is growing rapidly. Every year, more and more athletes are picking up field hockey sticks and giving it a try.
In Prince Edward Island, there is a junior high and high school league during the fall, and a successful summer and winter program.
Lately, there has been a boom in popularity of the sport among teenage athletes with over 250 students, 10 school teams and a lot of players keeping up their skills year round with the winter/summer programs.
June 15-16 this year, many field hockey players from across the Maritimes were given the opportunity to receive a clinic from Gene Muller. Gene is the General Manager of Field Hockey Canada High Performance and in the past, has coached multiple countries’ national teams.
The players learned many new techniques such as advanced ball and stick positioning, different hits, etc. Clinics have been few and far between for years, but with more island players, more opportunities are happening for field hockey athletes.
Island field hockey players have a lot to look forward to this summer. July 12-14 will be an exciting weekend here in PEI as they are hosting the U-18 Eastern Regional Tournament with teams from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI. This year, PEI is also fortunate enough to send two teams to national competitions this coming summer.
An U-18 team will be representing PEI in Vancouver, British Columbia, and an U-16 team will be competing in Brampton, Ontario.
Last year, was the first in a long time (more than 5 years) for PEI to send a young team to a national tournament. They came 6th out of 9that the U18 tournament in Calgary, Alberta, in July 2012.
Field Hockey PEI’s President and General Manager of the University of Prince Edward Island field hockey team; Barb Carmichael was asked about field hockey growth in PEI. Her thoughts were: “True field hockey in PEI is growing very quickly once again. It has been an up and down road over the last 40 years. In the 1980’s and 90’s field hockey was very strong in PEI.
Our Senior Provincial Team placed 4th at Senior Nationals in 1983, two players from that team went on to be National and Olympic players (Donna Phillips and Kathryn MacDougall). The Canada Games team placed 6th in 1993, and even though the sport was slowly dying, our Canada Games Team placed 5th in 2005 (the highest placing of any Island team at those games).
Our field hockey pride and joy lately, has been Katie Baker as she has played/captained the National Women’s Team until 2012.”
She reassures that “Although our sport was on the down slide after 1999 and being dropped from Canada Games in 2009 (which PEI was hosting) we survived! We survived because we had a small group of players and former players that were determined to be at the top once again. One thing is for sure; we are growing and climbing up that curve!”
Field Hockey Canada media release
Shakeel Abbasi removed from camp for fasting
LAHORE: Shakeel Abbasi was called off from training on Wednesday at Hockey Camp owing to the fact that he was fasting, Express News reported.
Abbasi plays center-forward for the Pakistan’s hockey team.
“The hockey coach said that missing a fast can be made up for but not training,” reported Express News correspondent Yusuf Anjum.
Hockey coach Akhtar Rasool said that he had forbidden players from fasting while they were supposed to be training.
Earlier, Pakistan’s failure at the Hockey World League (HWL) had triggered calls for the removal of Rasool as head coach.
One of the players Shahnaz Sheikh had warned that even though the team’s performance was disappointing, the coaches should be retained so that the players don’t lose focus.
“Both the new coaches and the outgoing officials will not admit failure in case Pakistan does not qualify for the World Cup,” Sheikh had said.
The girls behind the Miss Malaysia World controversy
By VICTORIA BROWN
Kathrina Binti Ridzuan
Miera Sheikh
Sara Amelia Bernard
Wafa de Korte
PETALING JAYA: The four Muslim contestants who were disqualified from the Miss Malaysia World pageant have been subject to media scrutiny after their dropping due to the ruling that states Muslim girls are not allowed to compete in beauty pageants.
The Star Online spoke to three of the four girls who told us they joined the competition to give them a chance to show Malaysia who they are and why they are proud to be Malaysians.
The fourth finalist, Kathrina Ridzuan could not be contacted for an interview
Wafa de Korte
City girl Wafa de Korte is 19-years-old and grew up in Kuala Lumpur. Her father is Dutch and her mother is Malay.
Wafa says that her mother is her role model. “She's been through a lot and she is a very strong woman. She's my best friend and she has supported me in whatever I've done in my life,” she said.
“I joined the Miss Malaysia World Pageant because I wanted to represent my country and to showcase how beautiful Malaysian woman can be. I would be honoured to represent my country. To showcase my intelligence, poise and inner beauty,” said Wafa.
Wafa admires how we as Malaysians “still stand together” through the ups and downs. She also loves the diversity of our cultures and how Malaysians come from different races and backgrounds.
“Everyone lives peacefully and it's amazing to see us living in harmony,” she added.
Sara Amelia Bernard
20-year-old Sara Amelia Bernard was born and raised in Ipoh and attended convent schools for her primary and secondary education.
Sara had a later start to modelling, beginning her career only when she started college in Kuala Lumpur where she studied at Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas.
Sara looks up to iconic model and actress Michelle Yeoh. “She has proved that a girl from a small town like myself can be so successful. She's not only a great actress, but has a very loving and kind personality,” said Sara.
Sara said that she joined to show the world what true Malaysian beauty is.
“I saw it as an opportunity to promote intellectual women as well as participate in various charities worldwide and help the underprivileged,” she added.
“In school, I had friends of every race and had the opportunity to learn about their customs and beliefs. I also love the variety of food in Malaysia, my favourites being popiah, banana leaf and ayam masak merah!” she said.
Miera Sheikh
Miera Sheikh will turn 19 in a couple of weeks. She spent her younger years in Singapore before moving back to Malaysia with her parents.
Miera shared how she dived into modelling when she was in Form 3. She sees her father as a role model.
“He is a father with strong will, strength, perseverance and endurance to patiently see me pass through what I want in life,” she says.
“He supports me as my father, friend and advisor and consultant. He has sacrificed his time and attention just to see that I am okay,” Miera adds.
Miera says that Miss Malaysia World is not the first pageant she has taken part in.
“Last year I won the Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2012 (1st runner up) and then followed by Miss Malaysia Tourism 2013 (where I was one of the finalist),” she said.
She shares how through pageants, she has learnt the important lessons of being punctual, committed, sincere and working towards a mission.
Meira appreciates the gift of being a Malaysian citizen.
“Malaysia has gifted me the most expensive gift of being a citizen of Malaysia and being a Bumi Malaysian,” she said.
“I am trying and hoping someday I could be a role model to the youngsters not only in Malaysia but the whole world,” she adds.
Wafa de Korte
PETALING JAYA: The four Muslim contestants who were disqualified from the Miss Malaysia World pageant have been subject to media scrutiny after their dropping due to the ruling that states Muslim girls are not allowed to compete in beauty pageants.
The Star Online spoke to three of the four girls who told us they joined the competition to give them a chance to show Malaysia who they are and why they are proud to be Malaysians.
The fourth finalist, Kathrina Ridzuan could not be contacted for an interview
Wafa de Korte
City girl Wafa de Korte is 19-years-old and grew up in Kuala Lumpur. Her father is Dutch and her mother is Malay.
Wafa says that her mother is her role model. “She's been through a lot and she is a very strong woman. She's my best friend and she has supported me in whatever I've done in my life,” she said.
“I joined the Miss Malaysia World Pageant because I wanted to represent my country and to showcase how beautiful Malaysian woman can be. I would be honoured to represent my country. To showcase my intelligence, poise and inner beauty,” said Wafa.
Wafa admires how we as Malaysians “still stand together” through the ups and downs. She also loves the diversity of our cultures and how Malaysians come from different races and backgrounds.
“Everyone lives peacefully and it's amazing to see us living in harmony,” she added.
Sara Amelia Bernard
20-year-old Sara Amelia Bernard was born and raised in Ipoh and attended convent schools for her primary and secondary education.
Sara had a later start to modelling, beginning her career only when she started college in Kuala Lumpur where she studied at Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas.
Sara looks up to iconic model and actress Michelle Yeoh. “She has proved that a girl from a small town like myself can be so successful. She's not only a great actress, but has a very loving and kind personality,” said Sara.
Sara said that she joined to show the world what true Malaysian beauty is.
“I saw it as an opportunity to promote intellectual women as well as participate in various charities worldwide and help the underprivileged,” she added.
“In school, I had friends of every race and had the opportunity to learn about their customs and beliefs. I also love the variety of food in Malaysia, my favourites being popiah, banana leaf and ayam masak merah!” she said.
Miera Sheikh
Miera Sheikh will turn 19 in a couple of weeks. She spent her younger years in Singapore before moving back to Malaysia with her parents.
Miera shared how she dived into modelling when she was in Form 3. She sees her father as a role model.
“He is a father with strong will, strength, perseverance and endurance to patiently see me pass through what I want in life,” she says.
“He supports me as my father, friend and advisor and consultant. He has sacrificed his time and attention just to see that I am okay,” Miera adds.
Miera says that Miss Malaysia World is not the first pageant she has taken part in.
“Last year I won the Miss Malaysia Kebaya 2012 (1st runner up) and then followed by Miss Malaysia Tourism 2013 (where I was one of the finalist),” she said.
She shares how through pageants, she has learnt the important lessons of being punctual, committed, sincere and working towards a mission.
Meira appreciates the gift of being a Malaysian citizen.
“Malaysia has gifted me the most expensive gift of being a citizen of Malaysia and being a Bumi Malaysian,” she said.
“I am trying and hoping someday I could be a role model to the youngsters not only in Malaysia but the whole world,” she adds.
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