India to take part in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2008
May 12
India failing at to qualify at the hockey event of Beijing Olympics Games 2008 was a shame. The whole corruption of the officials has left a bad taste in our mouths. This will be the first time India is going to miss the Olympic Games. However, all is not lost for Indian Hockey. President KPL Gill has been sacked, and a new interim committee has been setup to get Indian Hockey back to its glory days.
Given this new momentum, the Indian Hockey team is going to take part in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup with four Olympic qualified teams namely - Canada, Belgium, Pakistan and New Zealand. Besides the Olympic qualified teams, host Malaysia and Argentina are also going to take part in the event.
From the AFP: Defending champions Australia are not playing, which opens the door for Canada, Belgium, Pakistan and New Zealand, who have all qualified for the Beijing Games in August.
How India fare will be closely watched with the national team in crisis after a bribery scandal and failure to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in 80 years saw their controversial hockey federation sacked.
Unlike India, a rejuvenated Pakistan are confident they can lift the trophy for the first time since 2003 as they build up for an assault on the Olympic title. ”We should win this tournament. Our players are fit and in top form. We are taking this tournament seriously because it will be part of our preparations for the Olympics in Beijing,” said chief coach Khawaja Zakauddin. (Pakistan has since beat Malaysia 3-2 in the opening game)
The 2008 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup finals will be aired on ESPN India, on 18th May 2008, at 10:30 p.m. (Saturday). The event will however not be Live due to conflict in timings.
The rest of the schedules for Indian Television are as follows:
12th May
1:30 p.m. - Belgium Vs India
3:30 p.m. - Canada Vs Pakistan
5:30 p.m. - Malaysia Vs Argentina
14th May
1:30 p.m. - New Zealand Vs Argentina
3:30 p.m. - Belgium Vs Pakistan
5:30 p.m. - Malaysia Vs Canada
15th May
1:30 p.m. - India Vs Pakistan
3:30 p.m. - New Zealand Vs Canada
5:30 p.m. - Belgium Vs Malaysia
17th May (Star Sports India)
1:30 p.m. - Canada Vs Argentina
3:30 p.m. - India Vs Malaysia
18th May
8:30 a.m. - New Zealand Vs Belgium (Not Live)
The match for 5th/6th place will be held at 12:30 p.m. 18th May. The 3rd/4th place match will be aired at 3:00 p.m.
Stumble it!
May 12 at 05:50
[...] got its act together and came victorious with a 3-1 score against Olympic qualifier Canada at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2008 game. The Eight time olympic medallists, who earlier lost 3-4 to New Zealand and 1-5 to Argentina [...]
May 17 at 00:52
[...] match to reach the final, India will leave no stone unturned as they meet hosts Malaysia in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Ipoh on Saturday. A victory against Malaysia is essential for India, as that will take them to [...]