Hockey

The most important rule change is that a field goal will be counted as two to encourage more skilful and tactical hockey.

Gurbaj Singh, who successfully took legal route to get his ninth-month ban overturned, has hit out at Hockey India again for not giving him an opportunity to play in the fourth season of Hockey India League (HIL) next year.

World champions Australia lived up to their reputation as they bested Belgium 2-1 in the final to become the champions of the Hero Hockey World League Final on Sunday.

India prevailed 3-2 (5-5) in a penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands to clinch the bronze medal in the Hockey World League Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium.

VR Raghunath and Talwinder Singh scored crucial goals as India, who were winless in the tournament, stun the Group A toppers to reach the last four.

VR Raghunath scored twice as the first match in the three-match Test series between India and Australia ended in a 2-2 draw at Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

Roelant Oltmans said the three-match hockey Test series against Australia that starts on Thursday will give them a good platform to be in good stead ahead of the Hockey World League (HWL) Final.

India will play Japan in the opening match of the eighth junior men's Asia Cup hockey tournament.

Former chief coach Neil Hawgood was supposed to join the Indian women's hockey team as an assistant to Matthias Ahrens this time but in a sudden turn of events.

Asian Games 2014 champions India lost the first match but won the next two and drew the final match to claim the series 2-1.

Dhanraj Pillay batted for the participation of Pakistani players in HIL and suggested the league authorities to siphon off some money for setting up academies to develop and improve the quality of the sport in India.

The New Zealand hockey team beat India 2-0 in the first of the four Test matches being played as part of the bilateral series here on Tuesday.

Ace German striker Fuerste had never expected to become the costliest player of Hockey India League and the star playmaker, who was sold for USD 105000, is more than excited to be a part of the Kalinga Lancers squad.

"That (Champions Trophy) incident, as far as FIH is concerned, is in the past. We took what we believe was the appropriate action," said Kelly Fairweather.

It was a tug of war between Delhi and Mumbai, but Kalinga Lancers, who entered late in the bidding battle, sealed the deal at a record price of $105,000.

Coaches in Indian hockey are treated as 'marionettes' and lack of of freedom and interference are the main reasons behind the controversial exits of foreign experts, feels Brasa.