Hockey Rules

The Game:

·        Two halves 20 – 25 minutes each with a 5 minute half time.

·        11 players per side, including the goalkeeper.

·        The ball must be passed or dribbled down the field with the flat side of the stick.

·        A goal is scored when an attacker strikes the ball into the goal from within the striking circle.

Fouls:

A player may not:

• Shield or obstruct the ball from an opponent with the body or stick.  All players must have an equal chance to gain control of the ball as it is dribbled or passed down the field.
• Play the ball with the rounded side of the stick.
• Charge, hit, shove or trip an opponent.
• Play the ball in a potentially dangerous way.
• Raise the stick above the waist in a dangerous manner while attempting to play or stop the ball.
• Advance the ball by any means other than with the stick.
• Stop or deflect the ball in the air or on the ground with any part of the body.
• Hit, hook, hold or interfere with and opponents stick.

Penalty Corner:

• In a penalty corner, the ball is placed on the goal line at least 10 yards from the nearest goal post.  One attacking player hits the ball to a teammate just outside the striking circle line.  No shot on goal may be taken until the ball is stopped or comes to rest on the ground outside the circle.  All attackers must be outside the circle before the hit is taken.  On defense, a maximum of five defenders may be behind the goal line while the remaining defenders must be positioned beyond the center line.
• Typically, the attacking player taking the free hit passes the ball to her teammate positioned outside the striking circle.  An offensive player will stop the ball with the stick while another player will strike the ball at the goal. 
• A penalty corner is awarderd for the following offenses:
  • Any breach of the rule by a defender within the circle that would have resulted in a free hit to the attacking team if the breach had occurred outside the circle.
  • An intentional hit over the goal line by a defender from any part of the field.

16 – Yard Hits:

• When the attacking team plays the ball over the backline, the defense receives a 16-yard hit.  The free hit is taken 16 yards from the spot where the ball crossed the backline.

The Push-In/Hit In

·        A push-in or hit-in is awarded to the opposition if a player hits the ball over the sideline.  All players and their sticks must be at least 5 yards away from the spot where the ball is put into play.

BWF Junior Rankings

Women's singles
Rank			Country	Player		Member ID	Points
1			THA	Busanan ONGBUMRUNGPAN		58271	34911
2			JPN	Aya OHORI		95189	34531
3	3		CHN	HE Bing Jiao		87434	29148
4	1		SIN	Xiaoyu LIANG		47646	25534
5	1		JPN	Akane YAMAGUCHI		96312	25450
6	2		KOR	KIM Hyo Min		91598	25120
7	2		BUL	Stefani STOEVA		46169	24447
8	1		IND	G. Ruthvika Shivani		69619	24005
9			INA	Hana RAMADHINI		97207	23175
10			THA	Ratchanok INTANON		35642	21442

BWF World Rankings

Women's singles
Rank			Country	Player		Member ID	Points	Tournaments	Confederation	Country
1			CHN	LI Xuerui		64643	87199.9715	13	Asia	China
2			THA	Ratchanok INTANON		35642	80688.1795	13	Asia	Thailand
3			CHN	WANG Yihan		53938	69968.4749	12	Asia	China
4			CHN	WANG Shixian		83064	69650.0000	13	Asia	China
5			KOR	SUNG Ji Hyun		76594	67987.5837	17	Asia	Korea
6			GER	Juliane SCHENK		13475	63613.5663	13	Europe	Germany
7			IND	Saina NEHWAL		52748	62010.0000	14	Asia	India
8	1		KOR	BAE Yeon Ju		22455	59600.0000	16	Asia	Korea
9	1		TPE	TAI Tzu Ying		61427	58309.3326	16	Asia	Chinese Taipei
10			IND	P. V. Sindhu		73173	52352.0000	15	Asia	India

India Wins Silver Medal At The 3rd Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2013

The Indian Women Hockey Team won the Silver Medal, losing 0-1 to the hosts Japan in the final of the 3rd Women Asian Champions Trophy played at Kakamigahara in Japan today.

Japan scored an early goal in the 2nd minute when Otsuka Shiho made no mistake in converting a penalty corner. India had an opportunity to level the score with a penalty corner in the 8th minute but failed to convert it.  Japan received three penalty corners opportunities in the next ten minutes but the Indian defence and goalkeeper denied any scoring chance to the opponents.

Japan went into the half time break with a 1-0 lead.

Japan got another penalty corner opportunity in the 50th minute but Indian goalkeeper Savita once again made a good save. The Indian women fought hard till the end of the game.

Indian goalkeeper Rajni Etimarpu was adjudged Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Indian Women Team won Fairplay Award in the tournament.

sachin farewell Quote

Thousands of Tendulkar's disciples turn out in Mumbai to bid farewell to the Little Master

At 3.32pm local time on Thursday, Sachin Tendulkar trotted down the steps of the Mumbai Cricket Association Pavilion, breathed in a scene of near-bedlam, and embarked on the most eagerly awaited innings in the history of cricket.
Forty years old and playing his 200th Test, there is little left to surprise him. But this was something else — a wall of sound, a West Indian guard of honour and a sense of expectation that few sporting events can have witnessed.
For once, the cliche about shouldering the hopes of a billion people sounded like an understatement. The Australian all-rounder Keith Miller declared that pressure was a ‘Messerschmitt up your a***’. Had he been alive to witness this, he might have been tempted to add a caveat.

Waiting in line: A huge number of fans turn up for Sachin Tendulkar final Test match

Show of support: Fans and supporters of Indian cricketer Tendulkar queue to witness his last test match

The Daily Mail is not using live pictures from India’s Test matches because of a dispute with the Board of Control for Cricket in India. We have commissioned a series of drawings by legendary master of movement Paul Trevillion to mark Sachin Tendulkar’s final Test.

Ever since the first Test at Kolkata finished with a three-day victory for India and one innings from Tendulkar that produced just 10 runs, a famously religious nation has been joined in prayer.
It’s not always been clear what exactly they have been praying for. Some of the crueller observations about Tendulkar’s recent run in Test cricket suggested it might have been for a miracle.
But by smearing the third delivery he faced for a leg-side single, he at least avoided the fate of Don Bradman, whose last Test, at The Oval in 1948, produced a second-ball duck. Tendulkar finished the day on 38.Whether this proves to be his final innings remains to be seen.
After being put in to bat by MS Dhoni, West Indies folded hopelessly to 182, like party guests determined not to offend their hosts. And with India closing the first day of this second Test on 157 for two, they could easily replicate their innings win at Eden Gardens.

Sand star: Tendulkar is immortalised in a sand sculpture with two hundred cricket bats with a message 'The God of Cricket'

Building their tribute: Indian students of Allahabad University and make the sand sculpture of Tendulkar

Super fan: One of Tendulkar's many fans holds up a placard he made of the cricket legend

The thought that this really could be Tendulkar’s 329th and final Test knock hardly dared breathe its name. Yet there it was, the Indian elephant in the room.
The mood had intensified all day. Spectators lucky enough to bag a ticket had queued from early morning. One or two had lit a flame and looked to the heavens. Most settled for donning Sachin-related paraphernalia, complete with puns about God. No one minded the blasphemy.
That Tendulkar eventually emerged in front of his home crowd with bat in hand felt like an unexpected bonus after West Indies had advanced to 140 for three. Until then, excitement had centred on his occasional appearances on the fine-leg fence in front of the stand bearing his name.
But a hopeless collapse meant India’s openers were walking out after tea. And when Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay fell in the same over to off-spinner Shane Shillingford, the scene was set.
One of the giant screens at the Wankhede flashed: ‘Don’t even blink!!’ Was it aimed at Tendulkar or a crowd that was swelling towards 30,000? It was hard to say.
Tendulkar’s first task was to negotiate a guard of honour, which he accepted with a mixture of grace and sheepishness, nodding shyly at the West Indian players.

Message of support: An Indian cricket fan signs a giant picture of Tendulkar

Flying the flag: Supporters stand and fly a national flag in front of a huge board with a picture of Tendulkar

Their captain, Darren Sammy, offered an old-fashioned shake of the hand; his batting partner, Cheteshwar Pujara, a more contemporary punch of the glove. Not for the first time, he seemed to be straddling eras.
Then it was down to business. He nervously defended his first two deliveries, from Shillingford, then swept him with a hint of desperation for a single, the 15,848th run of his Test career.
As empty seats began to fill, he raised the biggest cheer of the day by cutting a Shillingford long hop for four to reach seven. ‘Ninety-three to go,’ muttered a local journalist.

Final time: The match will be the last since Tendulkar's debut against Pakistan in 1989

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel was dispatched through the covers and the off-spin of Marlon Samuels cut and glanced for fours. But the shot of the day was an on-drive off Sammy that could have been played at any stage of Tendulkar’s 24-year Test career.
Frankly, he could have inside-edged his way to 38 and still been greeted like the demigod so many believe him to be. It spared everyone embarrassment that he was treating some friendly offerings with appropriate contempt.

Sportsmail are offering one reader the chance to win the brilliant original artwork of Sachin Tendulkar by master illustrator Paul Trevillion, while 10 runners up will receive prints. CLICK HERE  for more information and to enter the competition.

The one and only: Tendulkar will say retire after his 200th and final Test

The great entertainer: Tendulkar has been a prominent figure for India and for cricket for over two decades

There was more ear-splitting mayhem as members of his family appeared on the giant screen: his mother Rajni, attending her first Test, and his wife Anjali, whom he first bumped into at Mumbai airport in 1990. Here was a family affair of the most public kind.
Walking off to relieved roars after playing out the last few balls of the evening, Tendulkar stumbled briefly on the pavilion steps. Mercifully, it was the only foot he put wrong all day.

Hero: Tendulkar celebrates his double century against Australia in 2010

Time to say goodbye: Tendulkar waves to the crowd in 2011 and will say goodbye to cricket for the final time this week

Sachin Tendulkar 1st runs in One Day Cricket

At 90, Tendulkar's greatest fan heads to Wankhede today

Age and frail health are no match for the enthusiasm of Mary Serrao, as she gets set to travel from her Malad home to Wankhede stadium today to watch her idol Sachin Tendulkar bat in his final Test

 

Margarita Serrao (90) aims to defy age and health as she makes her way to the North Stand of the Wankhede Stadium today. Margarita, or Mary as she is known, is Sachin Tendulkar’s most ardent fan. This Malad resident has a ticket to Sachin’s 200th Test and, nothing, she says, would stop her from seeing Sachin batting today.

All smiles: Mary Serrao proudly displays her ticket to Sachin’s 200th Test. Pic/Amit Jadhav

Mary’s attachment and fondness for Sachin Tendulkar is legendary. The spunky nonagenarian, who knows most of Sachin’s cricket records by heart, and is glued to the TV set whenever Sachin is at the pitch, was determined to watch the master play his final strokes in his farewell Test.

 

Aamir postpones 'Dhoom 3' event to watch Sachin Tendulkar bat

Seems like Bollywood has been engulfed by the Sachin mania.

 

With several film personalities taking time out to make sure they get to view the Master Blaster in action for the last time, Aamir Khan was no exception.
Photos: Celebs catch Sachin's swansong match at Wankhede

Aamir Khan at Wankhede stadium yesterday for the India-West Indies Test match. Pic/Atul Kamble

The star was watching Tendulkar’s farewell Test match at Wankhede Stadium, but as he had to attend an event at 4.30 pm for his upcoming film in Andheri, he left the stadium well in time for the function. Mr Perfectionist, however, was constantly keeping a tab on the match.

From left: Ravi Shastri, Aamir Khan and Harsha Bhogle at Wankhede stadium yesterday

Says a source, “As soon as Aamir came to know that the West Indies had got out, he quickly took a U-turn as he did not want to miss India’s batting.”
The informer adds, “He also requested Dhoom 3 producer Aditya Chopra to postpone the event. He wanted to stay put at the stadium till the match got over. So he requested that the event start at 6 pm.”
Aamir was spotted happily clicking pictures of his favourite batsman at the stadium.
He also entered the commentary box and spoke about Sachin as well as his film Lagaan which revolved around cricket.

 

Remembering Sachin Tendulkar's first England tours

Kailash Gattani not only toiled on some unfriendly Indian wickets to claim 396 first-class wickets, he also helped young cricketers experience English conditions.

Kailash Gattani

He contributed in a way to making Sachin Tendulkar a finished product before he was picked for India in 1989. After his exploits for Rajasthan, the then Mumbai-based Gattani became famous for successfully managing young teams to England under the Star Cricket Club banner.
Tendulkar, who was part of Gattani’s 1988 and 1989 teams, made full use of the opportunities and thrived. From his Pune home, Gattani informed us yesterday that Tendulkar was sponsored by the Young Cricketers organisation in Kolkata, where Jyotsna Poddar took keen interest.

“The cost of the airfare was Rs 13,600. I remember Sachin’s father and mother coming to the airport to drop him alongwith his brothers Ajit and Nitin. For a 15-year-old boy, he had such a mature head on his shoulders,” said the 66-year-old former fast bowler.

The kid was not just obsessed with batting. “There came a time when I had to tell him that he would not play all the games. If he was not playing in a particular match, he would coax his teammates who were fielding, to come in for a break, so that he could field.

Sachin Tendulkar (kneeling with hand on chin) with the 1988 Star Cricket Club team at Lord’s. Kailash Gattani is standing on the extreme right. Pic courtesy: Rahul Sagar’s collection

And when he had no option but to stay away from the field, he would be a scorer. You could tell the difference between the others and him in this aspect too. His inscriptions were neatly written. Everything in his kit bag was neatly kept as well,” said Gattani.

Super ton
The highlight of the 1989 tour was Tendulkar’s 77-ball century against Haywards Heath CC which had future SA pacer Meyrick Pringle, who was quick.
“In one of the matches, Sachin batted very well to score 60.

He was all set for a big score but was caught at extra cover. He just stood at the crease in disbelief before sitting in one corner of the dressing room and brooding. After a while, he asked me where he had gone wrong and I told him that he had played a bit too soon on the rise. Mind you, he never got out in that fashion again on the tour.

Glass act
“He loved batting against the bowling machine. If I remember correctly, once Vinod Kambli set the machine to deliver balls at 100 kmph at a school ground and Tendulkar hit a ball across the road, breaking a window pane of a cottage.
The sound of glass breaking alerted everyone in the locality and the locals threatened to take the matter up with the principal. Being visitors, we were scared and I had to shell out 10 pounds to fix the broken window,” he recalled.

At the end of the 1989 tour, Gattani told his English friends, who were impressed by Tendulkar, that the batsman would not be part of his tours again: “I told them that this boy will come with the Indian team now.

They didn’t believe me. When Sachin got a Test century at Manchester a year later in 1990, the same people called me to ask whether this was the same ‘Tendollkar.’ I pulled a fast one on them and said it was his brother. I finally gave up the joke and said, ‘yes indeed. Same kid.’ ”
After cricket, the cars!
Kailash Gattani recalled that young Sachin Tendulkar was amazed at the different types of cars zooming across the roads of England during those two Star Cricket Club tours in 1988 and 1989.

Vinod Kambli (left) with Sachin Tendulkar with two of their 1989 Star Cricket Club teammates. Pic courtesy: ‘The making of a Cricketer’ By Ajit Tendulkar

Gattani drove a Mercedes car whenever he was not in the team bus (also a Mercedes), driven by Les Wood, an umpire whom he befriended during his playing days in the Durham League.