Azlan Shah Hockey

[Nadeem]

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IPOH, Malaysia: Pakistan achieved their second consecutive victory in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament when they outplayed New Zealand 6-3 here on Friday.

On the second day of the tournament, Pakistan displayed brilliant performance against New Zealand.

They were leading by 4-2 in the first half.

Former captain Rehan Butt’s hat-trick played an important role in Pakistan’s victory as he scored four goals while Shakeel Abbasi and Muhammad Saqlain netted one goal each.

From New Zealand, Hayden Shah made two goals while Phillip Burrows scored one.

In their first match, Pakistan had defeated Malaysia.

Saturday will be the rest day in the tournament and Pakistan will meet Argentina on Sunday.

[Nadeem]

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IPOH: The match between Pakistan and Argentine ended in 3-3 draw in Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament on Sunday.

The match between the two teams attracted and excited the spectators from the very beginning and was equal with one goal by each side by the end of first half.

In the second half, Argentine possessed the ball most of the time and prevailed over the match. However, the match was drawn 3-3, when the final whistle rang.

Mohammed Zubair, Mohammed Saqlain and Waqas scored one goal each from Pakistan’s side.

Earlier, Pakistan clinched victories against Malaysia and New Zealand.

In other matches, India routed Canada 1-3 and Malaysia beat New Zealand 0-2.

[Nadeem]

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IPOH: Pakistan bagged third victory in Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament as it routed Canada on Monday.

In the first half, Canada was 1-0 ahead of Pakistan in today’s match; however, seven minutes before the match came to an end, Rehan Butt scored a goal and soon two minutes later, Mohammed Saqlain won victory for Pakistan by scoring the other goal.

After this victory, Pakistan tops with ten points after playing four matches in the tournament.

Talking to Geo News, Team Manager Naveed Alam said Pakistan needs only one point from two matches to qualify for the final.

Tomorrow is rest day in the tournament. Pakistan is scheduled to play fifth match against Belgium on Wednesday.

[Nadeem]

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IPOH: Pakistan bagged third victory in Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament as it routed Canada on Monday.

In the first half, Canada was 1-0 ahead of Pakistan in today’s match; however, seven minutes before the match came to an end, Rehan Butt scored a goal and soon two minutes later, Mohammed Saqlain won victory for Pakistan by scoring the other goal.

After this victory, Pakistan tops with ten points after playing four matches in the tournament.

Talking to Geo News, Team Manager Naveed Alam said Pakistan needs only one point from two matches to qualify for the final.

Tomorrow is rest day in the tournament. Pakistan is scheduled to play fifth match against Belgium on Wednesday.

[Nadeem]

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IPOH: Three-time champions Pakistan were defeated 3-5 by Belgium in a
thrilling match of the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament here on Wednesday.

This is the first defeat Pakistan tasted in the tournament and the team failed to display an impressive game.

The first half ended 3-3 but Belgium scored two more goals in the second half towinthe match 5-3.

With the defeat, Pakistan have 10 points from five matches and they need a win over India in their last match to seal a place in the final.

For Belgium Thomas Briels scored the first goal in the 2nd minute after the match started. John-john Dohmen in 18th minute, Charles Vandeweghe (24th), Jerome Dekeyser (37th) and Loic Vandeweghe (69th) while for Pakistan, Shakeel Abbasi netted goal in the 4th minute, Rehan Butt (23rd) and Muhammad Ateeq (35th).

[Nadeem]

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IPOH: India defeated Pakistan by 2-1 in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament here today.

Indian drag-flickers Sandeep Singh (6th minute) and Diwakar Ram (20th) scored one goal each, while mid-fielder Mohammad Saqlain (58th) netted the lone goal for Pakistan.


In the sixth minute, Sandeep unleashed a shot to convert India`s first penalty corner and give his side 1-0 lead.

Banking on the third short corner, Diwakar Ram brought the second goal for India.

[Nadeem]

IPOH, Malaysia: A young Indian team edged Malaysia 2-1 on Saturday to qualify for the final of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup field hockey tournament.

India, with 12 points from four wins and two defeats, is ranked second in the seven-nation standing. The junior team will meet Argentina in Sunday's final.

Argentina had thrashed India 5-1 in the preliminary rounds of the tournament. In Saturday's game, they drew 2-2 with Canada but still topped the charts with 14 points from four earlier wins and two draws.

Hosts Malaysia finished last in the standings with four points from six matches. They will not feature in the playoff match.

Malaysia, who needed a win over India to play off for fifth place, had the chance to take the lead in the fifth minute.

Forward S. Selvaraju's hit from the left bounced off goalkeeper Adrian Dsouza's pads. However, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin failed to push the ball into the goal.

India snatched a 2-0 lead within three minutes in the first 15 minutes of the match. Defender Sandeep Singh's free hit from the right was well connected into the goal by Shivendra Singh in the 12th minute.

Three minutes later, India won a penalty stroke when defender Mohd Madzli Ikmar Mohd Noor stopped a penalty corner flick with his body.

The lanky Sandeep Singh then added to the Indian side's lead after goalkeeper S. Kumar's attempts to save the ball went the wrong way. It was his eighth goal in six matches.

Malaysian forward Ismail Abu had a chance to score in the 20th minute with just goalkeeper Dsouza to beat, but he failed.

Malaysia, who went all out to score, later earned a penalty corner with six seconds remaining on the clock. Defender Mohd Amin Rahim scored off a low flick.

Meanwhile, Argentina took a 2-0 lead with field goals by Facundo Callioni in the 47th minute and Martin Ezequiel Sosa in the 59th minute.

Canada fought back in the last nine minutes of the match to equalise.

Sukhwinder Singh scored off a penalty corner set piece in the 61st minute, and with one minute before time was up, Ravi Kahlon equalised from close range.

In the last game of the night, New Zealand defeated Belgium 3-1 to finish fourth and will face Pakistan in the playoff for the third placing.

Simon Child scored a brace in the 18th and 38th minutes for the Kiwis while Hayden Shaw scored the other goal in the seventh minute.

John-john Dohmen scored Belgium's consolation goal in the 63rd minute.

The last day of the tournament on Sunday will begin with the Belgium playing against Canada for the fifth placing.

[Nadeem]

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IPOH, Malaysia: Forward Nicolas Mario Almada scored a golden goal in the 73rd minute to steer Argentina to a hard fought 2-1 win over India in Sunday's final to lift their first Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament title here.

The match had to be decided in sudden death after both teams failed to break the 1-1 deadlock within regulation time.

Defender Sandeep Singh gave India the lead in the 11th minute off a penalty corner and four minutes later Nicolas Mario equalised off a penalty corner.

In the preliminary rounds, Argentina had outplayed India with 12 juniors in their squad, 5-1.

But in the final, India played exceptionally well with fine and fast counter attacks but just failed to get it right where it mattered in the scoring zone.

Argentina, who qualified for the final for the first time in the tournament, went on the offensive from the first whistle.

However it was India who took the lead through Sandeep Singh off their first penalty corner in the 11th minute when he scored from a high flick, which sailed past goalkeeper Manuel Juan Vivaldi.

It was his ninth goal and confirmed him as top scorer in the tournament.

Argentina equalised four minutes later off a penalty corner through Nicolas Mario Almada and received their second penalty corner in the 33rd minute but failed to score.

A free for all almost broke out between India and Argentina after an Argentinian player was pushed on top of the D but British umpire Ged Curran issued a verbal warning to both the skippers - India's Sardar Singh and Argentina's Manuel Juan Vivaldi.

India received two penalty corners in the 42nd and 53rd minute but Sandeep failed to get it right.

Argentina also failed to convert a penalty corner which they received in the last four minutes of the match and the match had to be decided in extra-time.

Just three minutes into the extra-time Nicolas deflected the ball into the goal off a free hit by Ignacio Juan Gilardi.

"We made our debut in 2006 and finished seventh and last year we came in fifth. But this time we want to use the meet to prepare for the Champions Trophy in Holland next month but we are returning with the trophy," said Argentina coach Jose Carlos Retegui.

New Zealand came back from a goal down to edge three-time champions Pakistan 2-1 to finish in third.

Forward Rehan Butt gave Pakistan the lead in the 17th minute from close range. But the Kiwis equalised three minutes later through Simon Child off a field goal.

Gareth Brooks was the toast of New Zealand for scoring the winning goal in the 50th minute off another field attempt.

Philip Wright, meanwhile, scored a golden goal in the 83rd minute to steer Canada to a 4-3 win over Belgium to finish in fifth.

The match went into extra time after both teams failed to break the 3-3 deadlock in normal time.

Canada goals in the regulation time was scored by Connor Grimes (5th), Ravi Kahlon (12th) and Bindi Kullar (46th) minutes.

Jerome Dekeyser (3rd, 8th) scored a brace for Belgium while the other goal was scored by Max Luycx (58th) minutes.