SYDNEY: Coach Ric Charlesworth said on Monday that he was hopeful the Australian men’s field hockey team would receive a fairer draw at the London Olympics after lodging an official protest.
Charlesworth was furious last week when his world number one “Kookaburras” were handed three early morning starts in their group matches, while main rivals Germany avoided the early timeslot altogether in the opposite group.
Hockey Australia fired in an official protest, along with recommendations, to the organising committee of the London Games and the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Charlesworth said he was optimistic of a positive outcome and expected a decision to be made this week.
“There are 10 early starts, there are 12 teams in the tournament and we got three of them. That doesn’t make any sense and I suspect there will be an adjustment,” Charlesworth told reporters in Perth.
“I wouldn’t have been so keen to be vociferous if I didn’t think we could change it.
“We expect to play early games. We expect to play one or two, but we don’t expect to play three spaced over the tournament like they are.
“That doesn’t make any sense and it’s unfair.”
Charlesworth said the 8.30am timeslot would require players to wake up at 5am in a major disruption to their daily tournament routine.
Australia have dominated international men’s field hockey since Charlesworth took charge of the national team in 2009 and are strongly fancied for the gold medal in London.
Dawn
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Jason Lee furious..
Not happy: following the defeat to Argentina head coach Jason Lee said: "If we play like that in the Olympic Games we will finish in the minor placings." Photo: PAUL GROVER
"GB will face Argentina in their opening match of the Olympics".
Great Britain coach Jason Lee criticised an "appalling performance" as his side lost 3-2 to Argentina in their third match of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
Lee suggested such form at this summer's Olympics would leave the team well short of the medal places. Ironically Team GB will face Argentina in their opening match of the Games.
"Quite simply it was an appalling performance," he said on Monday, three days after his team had let slip a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with lowly Malaysia. "If we play like that in the Olympic Games we will finish in the minor placings."
Enrique Paredes put Argentina – whose world ranking of nine is five positions below fourth-placed GB's – ahead after just eight minutes and although East Grinstead midfielder Ashley Jackson equalised just after half-time Paredes restored the South Americans' lead within two minutes.
Lucas Cammareri swept home Argentina's third from the middle of the circle and although Jackson's late penalty corner gave GB hope, even replacing goalkeeper James Fair with an outfield player for the remaining four minutes could not force an equaliser.
Great Britain face New Zealand, who have won all three matches, on Wednesday without the services of James Tindall as the Surbiton forward was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after turning an ankle in Sunday's win over India.
The Telegraph
Shakeel and Rehan fined one million rupees
The Pakistan Hockey Federation received instructions regarding Sanctioned and Unsanctioned events being staged all over the world in hockey playing countries, which were ultimately circulated to all affiliated units for strict compliance in Pakistan. Following Pakistani players have contractual obligations with M/s. NIMBUS who organised World Hockey Series in India, which was declared by the FIH as “Unsanctioned”:-
M/s. Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Zeeshan Ashraf, Shakeel Abbasi, Imran Warsi, Adnan Maqsood, Tariq Aziz and Mudassar Ali Khan.
It was very alarming for the PHF and PHF immediately informed FIH about these players. Over and above, PHF forwarded this case to PHF Disciplinary Committee to probe and investigate into the matter and forward recommendations for President PHF. In the meantime, PHF issue Show Cause Notices to all the players who took part in the unsanctioned event. The replies to the Show Cause Notices are still awaited.
PHF Discipline Committee called all the players on 7th May 2012. The players appeared before the Committee are Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Zeeshan Ashraf, Shakeel Abbasi and Tariq Aziz. Imran Warsi, Adnan Maqsood and Mudassar Ali Khan did not appear before the Committee for unknown reasons.
The Committee demanded from the players their original contract/documents with the NIMBUS and record of first payment received. All of them provided the required record except Imran Warsi being out of country.
The recommendations of the PHF Discipline Committee have been received and President PHF has approved the recommendations as under:-
1. M/s. Shakeel Abbasi and Rehan Butt have been fined one million rupees (US$10 711 / GB£6 825 / €8 521) each as they preferred money over the PHF and national cause, as both of them were earmarked for the national team, which is preparing to take part in the London Olympics. They not only violated PHF Constitution/FIH Bye-Laws but have brought embarrassment to the nation.
2. Rest of the players who participated has been fined Rs. 2.5 lakhs (UD$2 677 / GB£1 706 / €2 130) each.
3. If the players do not pay the fine imposed will be banned to participate for a period of one year in national/international hockey activities.
According to PHF Constitution, the players have the right to appeal to President PHF within seven days from date of issue of this letter
PHF MEDIA DEPARTMENT:
M/s. Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Zeeshan Ashraf, Shakeel Abbasi, Imran Warsi, Adnan Maqsood, Tariq Aziz and Mudassar Ali Khan.
It was very alarming for the PHF and PHF immediately informed FIH about these players. Over and above, PHF forwarded this case to PHF Disciplinary Committee to probe and investigate into the matter and forward recommendations for President PHF. In the meantime, PHF issue Show Cause Notices to all the players who took part in the unsanctioned event. The replies to the Show Cause Notices are still awaited.
PHF Discipline Committee called all the players on 7th May 2012. The players appeared before the Committee are Rehan Butt, Waseem Ahmed, Zeeshan Ashraf, Shakeel Abbasi and Tariq Aziz. Imran Warsi, Adnan Maqsood and Mudassar Ali Khan did not appear before the Committee for unknown reasons.
The Committee demanded from the players their original contract/documents with the NIMBUS and record of first payment received. All of them provided the required record except Imran Warsi being out of country.
The recommendations of the PHF Discipline Committee have been received and President PHF has approved the recommendations as under:-
1. M/s. Shakeel Abbasi and Rehan Butt have been fined one million rupees (US$10 711 / GB£6 825 / €8 521) each as they preferred money over the PHF and national cause, as both of them were earmarked for the national team, which is preparing to take part in the London Olympics. They not only violated PHF Constitution/FIH Bye-Laws but have brought embarrassment to the nation.
2. Rest of the players who participated has been fined Rs. 2.5 lakhs (UD$2 677 / GB£1 706 / €2 130) each.
3. If the players do not pay the fine imposed will be banned to participate for a period of one year in national/international hockey activities.
According to PHF Constitution, the players have the right to appeal to President PHF within seven days from date of issue of this letter
PHF MEDIA DEPARTMENT:
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Aussie Goss in charge
AUSTRALIAN Oliver Goss set the pace with a four-under 68 at the 25th MPI-Saujana Amateur Championship, three shots ahead of Malaysian Amateur Open Champion Gavin Kyle Green and national player Chan Tuck Soon.
The 18-year-old from Royal Freemantle GC, Perth, notched up 6 birdies at holes 3, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 18 but suffered a double bogey at the uphill 446-yard par-four when his tee shot took a bad kick into a thick stand of trees.
“I putted well. I made some long putts but missed some short ones too,” said Oliver whose drive averages 300+ yards. “I made birdies from 18 and 21 feet at holes 11 and 12 and at the par five, 13th my second shot with an eight-iron went past the pin by 18 feet where I two-putted for birdie. If you hit a bad shot in this course, you’ve lost the hole.”
As for defending champion Gavin, it was an up and down day after posting six birdies and giving five back through bogeys. “I was grinding today, the course was playing harder,” said Gavin who is back for a short visit from the US.
Gavin ended the last two holes with memorable birdies. At the 17th par-four, he drove well over 360 yards, about 35 yards past the green, but managed to chip to within seven feet for a birdie. At the final par five hole, he used a two-iron after driving 350 yards but ended up at the greenside bunker. He got up and down for another birdie.
Tuck Soon posted four birdies against three bogeys for his 71 to share the second spot with Gavin.
RESULTS (Malaysia unless stated):
68 Oliver Goss (Aus); 71 Gavin Green, Chan Tuck Soon; 72 Ryan Peake (Aus), Dulal Hossain (Bang), Chieh-Po Lee (Tai), Shinichi Mizuno (HK); Afif Razif;, Arie Irawan.
73 Lucius Toh (Sing), Jean Baptiste Chaumont; 75 Marc Ong (Sing), Sajib Ali (Bang), Jonar Austria (Phil), Sean Niven, Tan Wei Chean;
76 John Kier Abdon (Phil), N. Thangaraja (S Lanka), Jerome Ng (Sing);
77 Mohamad Diab Alnoaimi (Baharin), Dennis Lim (Sing), Allan Yap.
The 18-year-old from Royal Freemantle GC, Perth, notched up 6 birdies at holes 3, 7, 11, 12, 13 and 18 but suffered a double bogey at the uphill 446-yard par-four when his tee shot took a bad kick into a thick stand of trees.
“I putted well. I made some long putts but missed some short ones too,” said Oliver whose drive averages 300+ yards. “I made birdies from 18 and 21 feet at holes 11 and 12 and at the par five, 13th my second shot with an eight-iron went past the pin by 18 feet where I two-putted for birdie. If you hit a bad shot in this course, you’ve lost the hole.”
As for defending champion Gavin, it was an up and down day after posting six birdies and giving five back through bogeys. “I was grinding today, the course was playing harder,” said Gavin who is back for a short visit from the US.
Gavin ended the last two holes with memorable birdies. At the 17th par-four, he drove well over 360 yards, about 35 yards past the green, but managed to chip to within seven feet for a birdie. At the final par five hole, he used a two-iron after driving 350 yards but ended up at the greenside bunker. He got up and down for another birdie.
Tuck Soon posted four birdies against three bogeys for his 71 to share the second spot with Gavin.
RESULTS (Malaysia unless stated):
68 Oliver Goss (Aus); 71 Gavin Green, Chan Tuck Soon; 72 Ryan Peake (Aus), Dulal Hossain (Bang), Chieh-Po Lee (Tai), Shinichi Mizuno (HK); Afif Razif;, Arie Irawan.
73 Lucius Toh (Sing), Jean Baptiste Chaumont; 75 Marc Ong (Sing), Sajib Ali (Bang), Jonar Austria (Phil), Sean Niven, Tan Wei Chean;
76 John Kier Abdon (Phil), N. Thangaraja (S Lanka), Jerome Ng (Sing);
77 Mohamad Diab Alnoaimi (Baharin), Dennis Lim (Sing), Allan Yap.
Stuck on unlucky 13th...
MALAYSIA'S world ranking does not reflect their true strength, as the unlucky 13th came about after a string of misfortunes and near-misses at the world stage.
Defeats in the Invercargill World Cup Qualifier to New Zealand (2-1) and against Pakistan (2-0) in the Asian Games sealed the seniors fate.
And it was further compounded when they failed at the Dublin Olympic Qualifier as they handed the final ticket to South Korea on a 3-2 defeat.
New Zealand advanced to the World Cup, Pakistan to the Olympics and South Korea also to the Olympics -- courtesy of Malaysia's well known hospitality on the artificial pitch.
As a result, Malaysia will be stuck at the unlucky 13th, as only teams who play in the World Cup, Olympics and Champions Trophy can break into the top-10 ranking.
At the ongoing Azlan Shah Cup, Malaysia against showed that they have the stomach to challenge the best, but it is of no use, as the tournament does not offer International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings as it is an Invitational which has survived 21 Editions.
Britain, fourth, are followed by sixth-ranked South Korea, New Zealand (7th), Pakistan (8th), Argentina, (9th) and India (10th) as all of them have qualified for the Olympics and are assured of no lower than 12th after the July 27th tournament ends.
That is why, the 1-1 draw against South Korea, and the 3-3 comeback against Britain should not be taken lightly, but as a positive sign that Malaysia are on the rise.
The 3-2 defeat to India was also riddled with a tale of near-misses, as Faizal Saari was on his off day.
The 20-year-old, who helped Malaysia win the Junior Asia Cup by scoring six goals, has placed more established strikers like Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Marhan jalil and Hafifi Hafiz in the shadows.
And his brother Fitri is also showing signs in Ipoh that he will be the next Malaysian player to watch.
Malaysia still have matches against Pakistan, New Zealand and Argentina where nine points can be harvested if they continue playing like they did against India.
The unlucky 13th might just turn out to be their lucky charm in the Azlan Shah Cup, if the three remaining foes believe too much in rankings.
WEDNESDAY: Argentina v India (4pm), Britain v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan v Malaysia (8pm).
MAY 31: Britain v South Korea (4pm), Pakistan v India (6pm), New Zealand v Malaysia (8pm).
JUNE 2: South Korea v New Zealand (4pm), Britain v Pakistan (6pm), Argentina v Malaysia (8pm).
Defeats in the Invercargill World Cup Qualifier to New Zealand (2-1) and against Pakistan (2-0) in the Asian Games sealed the seniors fate.
And it was further compounded when they failed at the Dublin Olympic Qualifier as they handed the final ticket to South Korea on a 3-2 defeat.
New Zealand advanced to the World Cup, Pakistan to the Olympics and South Korea also to the Olympics -- courtesy of Malaysia's well known hospitality on the artificial pitch.
As a result, Malaysia will be stuck at the unlucky 13th, as only teams who play in the World Cup, Olympics and Champions Trophy can break into the top-10 ranking.
At the ongoing Azlan Shah Cup, Malaysia against showed that they have the stomach to challenge the best, but it is of no use, as the tournament does not offer International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings as it is an Invitational which has survived 21 Editions.
Britain, fourth, are followed by sixth-ranked South Korea, New Zealand (7th), Pakistan (8th), Argentina, (9th) and India (10th) as all of them have qualified for the Olympics and are assured of no lower than 12th after the July 27th tournament ends.
That is why, the 1-1 draw against South Korea, and the 3-3 comeback against Britain should not be taken lightly, but as a positive sign that Malaysia are on the rise.
The 3-2 defeat to India was also riddled with a tale of near-misses, as Faizal Saari was on his off day.
The 20-year-old, who helped Malaysia win the Junior Asia Cup by scoring six goals, has placed more established strikers like Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Marhan jalil and Hafifi Hafiz in the shadows.
And his brother Fitri is also showing signs in Ipoh that he will be the next Malaysian player to watch.
Malaysia still have matches against Pakistan, New Zealand and Argentina where nine points can be harvested if they continue playing like they did against India.
The unlucky 13th might just turn out to be their lucky charm in the Azlan Shah Cup, if the three remaining foes believe too much in rankings.
WEDNESDAY: Argentina v India (4pm), Britain v New Zealand (6pm), Pakistan v Malaysia (8pm).
MAY 31: Britain v South Korea (4pm), Pakistan v India (6pm), New Zealand v Malaysia (8pm).
JUNE 2: South Korea v New Zealand (4pm), Britain v Pakistan (6pm), Argentina v Malaysia (8pm).
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