Hockey

Akashdeep Singh, Ramandeep Singh and Nikkin Thimmiah scored a goal apiece as Indian men's hockey team started their tour of New Zealand with a convincing 3-1 victory on Friday.

Fans and friends of the Indian midfielder have formed a community on Facebook by the name 'Justice for Gurbaj', claiming that the nine-month ban on Gurbaj is unjustified.

At $58,000, Sardar didn't feature among top 10 Indian buys at the auction, which could now be a case of sour grapes for the five teams that, maybe, let it slip.

The group's three-year contract with HIL ended after the 2015 season, but there has been no further development as Hockey India has floated an offer for a five-year contract.

India hockey coach Roelant Oltmans said that a well-organised defence will hold the key for the team's fortunes in next year's Rio Olympic Games.

Indian captain Sardar Singh on Sunday said that hockey has certainly developed a bigger player pool with the future of the national sport looking bright.

Following their 2-0 win in their first outing, the Indian hockey team is geared to take on France at the Wattignies Sports Centre here on Wednesday in their second and last match before they head to Spain.

"I would like to meet the Special Committee or Hockey India President to know on what basis I have been reported for groupism," Gurbaj, who was dropped from the team on Monday, said.

"I have played with Gurbaj for more than five years but not even once I found him indisciplined. In today's team he is one of the best," the former captain said refuting allegations against the midfielder.

Batra responded to criticism from van Ass, who had called the Hockey India boss as an "autocratic administrator".

The mails Van Ass has shared with IBNLive are addressed to SAI Executive Director (Teams), Sudhir Setia, and were sent by him on July 21 and 22.

After drawing level with Germany in their last game, India U-21 women's team went down fighting against China 2-4 in the Volvo Invitational U-21 hockey Tournament.

The Paul Van Ass saga deepened on Tuesday evening when Hockey India president Narinder Batra claimed that the disgruntled India coach had the air ticket to return to India from vacations but chose not to.

Koshy as Member Women in Hockey Committee, R.P. Singh as Member Athlete Committee and Norman as Member Competition Committee will serve for three years effective from March 28.

"We're a bit weak at the penalty corners at the moment, Rupinder has not been fit and we did not play him in these two games", said Van Ass.

Sardar Singh on Tuesday had a word of caution for his teammates on the goal scoring front as he feels that their conversion rate needs to improve in the Hockey World League semi-finals.