Indian Hockey team qualifies for Olympics

[Bhaijaan]

Just thrashed the French 8-1 in the final of qualifying tournament

New Delhi: hockey returned to its roots, the Olympics, on a Super Sunday in an emotionally charged up atmosphere at the most appropriate venue for a historic moment – the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. http://youtu.be/x1jG1bity2EThe eight-time former Olympic champions beat France 8-1 to replace the tears of 2008 with smiles of 2012.

Sandeep ‘Singh’ once again turned out to be the ‘King’ with five goals that took life out of the France’s effort that was distant second by a mile. Sandeep’s goals in the 19th, 26th, 37th, 49th and 51st minute of the match perched him on top of the goal-scorers’ list with a whopping 16 goals.

Simon Martin at one stage made it 2-1 in the 24th minute, but it was at best a lucky goal against the run of play.

Other than Sandeep’s jaw-dropping goal spree off breathtaking drag-flicks, Birender Lakra opened scoring in the 17th minute while Sunil made it 5-1 in the 43rd and VR Raghunath 8-1 in the 56th.

India had missed out on an Olympic berth in 2008 when they failed to make it through the qualifying tournament in Chile.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

People still follow hockey in India?

 

[Bhaijaan]

People still follow hockey in India?

Nope.
Only fake support on facebook. Nobody cares about Hockey

 

[DHONI183]

People still follow hockey in India?

Nope.
Only fake support on facebook. Nobody cares about Hockey

Harsha Bhogle was quite active and animated about it on Twitter (if I am not wrong). Effects of losses in cricket maybe.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Harsha Bhogle was quite active and animated about it on Twitter (if I am not wrong). Effects of losses in cricket maybe.

Wohi to chakkar hai yar, people support everything on facebook, twitter. But actual scene is very dry

 

[IgnitedMind]

Last time I saw India-pak hockey game..turn out was quite good..

but yaa...people follow it when there is a big game..like olympics or pakistan...but generally No!!

Such a shame considering it is our national game!!

But congrats..hopefully we will get a medal...

Would like to see India perform better than before in olympics....everytime we get only 1 or 2 medals..

 

[ahamedirshad123]

over 15000 spectators watched the game tonite.

Respect for our new coach, Michael Nobbs.

 

[IgnitedMind]

over 15000 spectators watched the game tonite.

Respect for our new coach, Michael Nobbs.

not bad then I guess!!!!

 

[Muhammad Waleed]

How many teams so far have qualified for Olympics?

 

[Bhaijaan]

How many teams so far have qualified for Olympics?

Britain
Pakistan
Germany
Nertherlands
Argentina
Australia
New Zealand
Belgium
Spain
India

 

[Muhammad Waleed]

Britain
Pakistan
Germany
Nertherlands
Argentina
Australia
New Zealand
Belgium
Spain
India

Thanks

I guess, Netherlands is one of the strongest team in the world of hockey and Pakistan as far as i remember We gave them a tough time in some tournament. Maybe It was Australia. And the tournament was Azlan shah tournament. We were going perfect in the first half of the final but unfortunately we lost in 2nd half. Seems like Both Pakistan and India teams have improved.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Not expecting any medal. Germany, Netherlands and Aussies are too good. Would be cool if beat'em Pakistanis though

 

[shahrukh619]

lol, is the hockey team also a home ground bulley?

 

[Bhaijaan]

^ Very much. They do great at home

 

[Shaddy]

I'm definitely going to watch a Pakistan game at the olympics!

 

[WithLoveFromCanada]

Hockey is a much bigger sport country wise as compared to Cricket. Wish it got the right focus internationally.

My aussie mate told me that where he came from, all the schools had field hockey team. Its pretty big in Australia as big as cricket is on local level. However its surprising to see it remain as an amateur sport rather than professional.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Watched it live. What a fantastic sport to follow. Especially when both the teams play fast paced attacking hockey.

For a change, happy to see our hockey players looking in top fitness and not lowering the guard in the last few minutes as they run out of steam. The new coach has helped them get fitter and got them back to play attacking hockey which is theor natural style. Unlike some of the previous coaches who wanted this team to play the European or the Australian way.

 

[ahamedirshad123]

^ Fragile defense is our main worry.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Yea i must say the fitness looked top standard. These guys just need to get better at finishing. They create man y chances but bottle it at the last move.

 

[velu]

Only sardarji's play hockey in india and no one else

 

[nish_mate]

Only sardarji's play hockey in india and no one else

Madrasis unfortunately dont have the physical attributes or inclination to play hockey

Them lot only good to be the waterboys

 

[velu]

Madrasis unfortunately dont have the physical attributes or inclination to play hockey

Them lot only good to be the waterboys

whats there is running in the pitch for 90 minutes , even ganguly can do it easily :rana

 

[IgnitedMind]

Madrasis unfortunately dont have the physical attributes or inclination to play hockey

Them lot only good to be the waterboys

Dhanraj Pillay says hi.....

*I am not a tamilian..just remembered pillay as soon as I saw the post...you can continue trolling Velu *

 

[nish_mate]

whats there is running in the pitch for 90 minutes , even ganguly can do it easily :rana

70 minutes

with a bent back


Aint a Rajnikanth movie ya know

 

[IgnitedMind]

whats there is running in the pitch for 90 minutes , even ganguly can do it easily :rana

Dont bring Dada into Delhi Vs Madras fight


otherwise be read for

 

[nish_mate]

Dhanraj Pillay says hi.....

*I am not a tamilian..just remembered pillay as soon as I saw the post...you can continue trolling Velu *

Some Punjabi oats must have gone into his lineage- that's the Singh inside a Pillay showing

 

[Bhaijaan]

Ganguly wouldn't do 2 minutes of running )

 

[velu]

Ganguly is the real prince , even when he fields sometime he dont chase the ball and let others to do that. .

But IIRC hockey revenues are 1/50th of what cricket generates.

 

[nish_mate]

Ganguly wouldn't do 2 minutes of running )

ganguly would only do the drag flick in a penalty corner and then sub himself


Dravid would be the flying goalie who keeps the goals and also scores

 

[IgnitedMind]

Ganguly need no bat, he kicks the ball...True bengali...You haters!!!!

 

[velu]

It will be awesome if Chennai Cheetahs/Karnataka Lions gets the trophy.

Just checked chennai is captained by some random aussie ( Brent Livermore ) , never heard this name before.

 

[nish_mate]

It will be awesome if Chennai Cheetahs/Karnataka Lions gets the trophy.

Just checked chennai is captained by some random aussie ( Brent Livermore ) , never heard this name before.

Dude those names just sound damn wrong

Sound more like titles of a Mallu Adult movies

 

[IgnitedMind]

It will be awesome if Chennai Cheetahs/Karnataka Lions gets the trophy.

Just checked chennai is captained by some random aussie ( Brent Livermore ) , never heard this name before.

Random Aussie is captaining Chennai? I hope Whippy captains a side too..or are Poms being neglected in India because they are jealous of us :Shastri:

 

[ahamedirshad123]

Sports Ministry raises the salary of India Men’s Hockey coach Michael Jack Nobbs from 10000/- AUD pm to 11000/- AUD.

 

[velu]

Dude those names just sound damn wrong

Sound more like titles of a Mallu Adult movies

what about "Daredevils"

 

[nish_mate]

what about "Daredevils"

Goes with the rough tough image

a white dhoti clad pitch black Madrasi chomping dosa and cheetah dont go hand in hand ya know

 

[Phool]

Congratulations for such a great achievement!

 

[Bhaijaan]

I used to follow PHL, it was rather cool.

 

[velu]

Goes with the rough tough image

a white dhoti clad pitch black Madrasi chomping dosa and cheetah dont go hand in hand ya know

cheethas are black and orange right ??

anyway they got the name wrong , cheethas can run faster for a minute or two and then it needs 30min rest )

but i never seen 10mins of hockey continuously even in TVs

 

[praveen]

Watched it live. What a fantastic sport to follow. Especially when both the teams play fast paced attacking hockey.

For a change, happy to see our hockey players looking in top fitness and not lowering the guard in the last few minutes as they run out of steam. The new coach has helped them get fitter and got them back to play attacking hockey which is theor natural style. Unlike some of the previous coaches who wanted this team to play the European or the Australian way.

You're wrong. Read the Coach Michael Nobbs's interview in today's TOI.

 

[Looney]

Congratulations lekin apna khail tou cricket hai

 

[Bhaijaan]

We are in the Olympics semifinals after 41 years!!!

Well done Hockey India!!!

The women are also playing QF tomorrow. Good luck to them.

What a turnaround it's been in Hockey

 

[Ab Fan]

Great news for Indian fans. The last few days has been extremely fruitful for India in the Olympics.

 

[Saj]

Played well India. Better side even when they went down to 10 men.

Tactics were spot on and really pressed GB.

 

[OldWarHorse]

From not qualifying in 2008 and the disgraceful last place in 2012, we are now top 3 ranked with a serious shot for a medal. Thats some comeback

 

[Bhaijaan]

Hope the guys can keep it going for at least one more match. As good as it is already, you don't want to be playing for bronze now.

Give everything in next match and let's give ourselves at the gold.

It's coming home!

 

[Bhaijaan]

From not qualifying in 2008 and the disgraceful last place in 2012, we are now top 3 ranked with a serious shot for a medal. Thats some comeback

A lot of credit must be given to PM Modi

 

[SpiritOf1903]

GB tied in knots

 

[Swashbuckler]

I don't think we can beat Belgium but improvement is visible. Well done to the players, coach, authorities. Now ranked world number 3 behind Australia and Belgium.

We play like European teams now, more effective and high intensity because of our much improved fitness. Relief to see our defence, grit, and last minute goals against us don't happen any more.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Hockey experts, what are the odds against Belgium.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Hockey experts, what are the odds against Belgium.

I'm a watched a three minute snippet expert but Belgium are favourites iirc. Looking for their first gold in this but India might have too much experience

 

[PakLFC]

They've done well to reach the semi's. Didn't think they had it in them to go this far. Credit where it's due to the Indian Hockey team here for performing so well. No hard feelings or jealousy here at all from the big hearted humsaaya.

 

[Bhaijaan]

They've done well to reach the semi's. Didn't think they had it in them to go this far. Credit where it's due to the Indian Hockey team here for performing so well. No hard feelings or jealousy here at all from the big hearted humsaaya.

Many thanks.

Hopefully as always Pakistan will use this as a burning inspiration to get better.

The psychic judwa relationship between the two brother nations is often understated.

 

[jusarrived]

Hockey experts, what are the odds against Belgium.

Pretty good though on paper Belgium are massive favs. Indias played well against them in last 2 years.
So I give us a 50% chance, If we play our best we can beat them imo

 

[jusarrived]

I'm a watched a three minute snippet expert but Belgium are favourites iirc. Looking for their first gold in this but India might have too much experience

Actually it's the Indian team which is inexperienced, most of the squad is from Junior WC we won

 

[jusarrived]

From not qualifying in 2008 and the disgraceful last place in 2012, we are now top 3 ranked with a serious shot for a medal. Thats some comeback

Even last Olympics we had a side which could win a medal with a bit of luck . Unfortunately ran into Belgium in quarters, even that match we could have won.
This team offcourse is a notch above

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Actually it's the Indian team which is inexperienced, most of the squad is from Junior WC we won

Hockey heritage

 

[Varun]

8 Gold
2 Silver
1 Bronze

What a legacy. However, we have become the West Indies of the sport since.

Here's hoping the men and women win a medal each and restart the engine this time!

Pretty good though on paper Belgium are massive favs. Indias played well against them in last 2 years.
So I give us a 50% chance, If we play our best we can beat them imo

Belgium are unbeaten in the tournament so far. How do you fancy our odds against Australia/Germany should the worst happen?

 

[cric_man]

Best of luck!

 

[street cricketer]

Both Belgium and Australia are really strong teams. So better to tone down our expectations a bit both for the men and the women.

 

[Varun]

Why isn't the Hockey India League (IPL style league) being held anymore?

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Probably the most agricultural sport there is; hence many players who'll have been from farmers

 

[jusarrived]

8 Gold
2 Silver
1 Bronze

What a legacy. However, we have become the West Indies of the sport since.

Here's hoping the men and women win a medal each and restart the engine this time!



Belgium are unbeaten in the tournament so far. How do you fancy our odds against Australia/Germany should the worst happen?

Two teams we generally don't do well against,so if we lose semis or chances remain at 50% against Germany though we are slightly better side than them atm and much much less against ozs . Of the three we play better against Belgium, so more confident about semis than the bronze medal match.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Indian women beat World #2 Aussies to reach semis in Hockey

This is historic!!!!

 

[Walawalkar]

Chak de India

 

[gani999]

Many thanks.

Hopefully as always Pakistan will use this as a burning inspiration to get better.

The psychic judwa relationship between the two brother nations is often understated.

Let's hope that the finals of the 2025 Olympics Hockey will be played between India and Pakistan. That will be one hell of a game.

 

[Varun]

Let's hope that the finals of the 2025 Olympics Hockey will be played between India and Pakistan. That will be one hell of a game.

Are the Olympics in 2025 and not 2024?

 

[gani999]

Are the Olympics in 2025 and not 2024?

2024. My bad.

 

[Giannis]

8 Gold
2 Silver
1 Bronze

What a legacy. However, we have become the West Indies of the sport since.

Here's hoping the men and women win a medal each and restart the engine this time!



Belgium are unbeaten in the tournament so far. How do you fancy our odds against Australia/Germany should the worst happen?

5* gold , you can't just claim pre-partition glory

 

[Bhaijaan]

5* gold , you can't just claim pre-partition glory

Actually we can we are the mother nation.

 

[Mesozoic]

5* gold , you can't just claim pre-partition glory

Interesting.

Can Pakistan claim the 9 medals they won between '47 and '71?

I mean they too were 'partitioned'.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Interesting.

Can Pakistan claim the 9 medals they won between '47 and '71?

I mean they too were 'partitioned'.

How many medals Bangladesh won?

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

How many medals Bangladesh won?

0

 

[Giannis]

Interesting.

Can Pakistan claim the 9 medals they won between '47 and '71?

I mean they too were 'partitioned'.

Islamic Republic of Pakistan then is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan now, so yes the medals are all Pakistan's. In 1971 only one new country was made, while in 1947 two new countries were made out of British-India on August 14 & 15 respectively.

Also if that isn't enough, the flag Pakistan played under from '47-'71 is the same as today while British India played under a completely different flag from the Republic of India. Check mate.

 

[OldWarHorse]

5* gold , you can't just claim pre-partition glory

Its how IOC sees it as well. All of the medals pre partition are still classified to India, as it been registered as a member with IOC since the 1920s. Indian Olympic Association existing from then and still continuing

 

[Giannis]

Its how IOC sees it as well. All of the medals pre partition are still classified to India, as it been registered as a member with IOC since the 1920s. Indian Olympic Association existing from then and still continuing

I'm aware of that but if we're being real it shouldn't be counted in India's post partition tally, Russia and Serbia are considered the heirs of all of the records of the USSR & Yugoslavia but if we're being real it isn't fair for them to claim the entire success so we should only look at their record post the Soviet and Yugoslavia break up.

 

[King_Kohli]

A lot of credit must be given to PM Modi

Odisha govt led by CM Naveen Patnaik has been the sponsor of the Indian Hockey team, both men and women since 2018.

Infact, Odisha hosted the Hockey World Cup in 2018.

Now, Odisha is building the world's largest Hockey stadium in Rourkela for the Hockey World Cup 2023.

We must thank to Naveen Patnaik

 

[Mesozoic]

Islamic Republic of Pakistan then is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan now, so yes the medals are all Pakistan's. In 1971 only one new country was made, while in 1947 two new countries were made out of British-India on August 14 & 15 respectively.

Also if that isn't enough, the flag Pakistan played under from '47-'71 is the same as today while British India played under a completely different flag from the Republic of India. Check mate.

Names and flags are subject to changes. Japan changed it's flag in the late 90s. Doesn't mean they can't claim the medals they won before. Even if in case China changes their name from People's republic of China to Communist republic of China in the future, they'll still the holders of all their previous achievements. It's the same reason why Russia inherited all of Soviet Union's medals and honors.

And besides, as [MENTION=152007]OldWarHorse[/MENTION] mentioned above, at the Olympics, athletes represent their nation's Olympic federation/council and the Indian Olympic association was established in 1927.

So not really a check mate and more of a self goal tbh

 

[Giannis]

Names and flags are subject to changes. Japan changed it's flag in the late 90s. Doesn't mean they can't claim the medals they won before. Even if in case China changes their name from People's republic of China to Communist republic of China in the future, they'll still the holders of all their previous achievements. It's the same reason why Russia inherited all of Soviet Union's medals and honors.

And besides, as [MENTION=152007]OldWarHorse[/MENTION] mentioned above, at the Olympics, athletes represent their nation's Olympic federation/council and the Indian Olympic association was established in 1927.

So not really a check mate and more of a self goal tbh

British India and the Republic of India are two different entities, so it wasn't just a mere name or flag change, it was literally the formation of a new country. British India was partitioned by the British, China changing their name by themselves isn't comparable since it'd be the same country - it's no difference to how a post-partition India changed its official name from the Dominion of India to the Republic of India a few years latter.

Some of the players of the British Indian hockey team were from present-day Pakistan, in fact one of the captains, Lal Shah Bokhari was from Faisalabad and went on to serve as a Pakistani diplomat

 

[MP2011]

Some of the players of the British Indian hockey team were from present-day Pakistan, in fact one of the captains, Lal Shah Bokhari was from Faisalabad and went on to serve as a Pakistani diplomat

Not that I want to get into this silly India-Pakistan thing but there was one player to whom we owe all the gold medals we won pre-partition, it was Major Dhyanchand!