Delhi Waveriders: Hockey Team’s Winning Story

The India’s Hockey League (HIL) was inaugurated during the year 2013 and has been recorded as the latest development in the sport of Hockey since history. The fascinating concept of a city-based franchise system like we saw during the IPL has proved to be quite a success, even in Hockey. Each city franchise featured players from different parts of the world who played alongside some of our best domestic players.
 

It would have been a crazy idea when it was first put forward. Who would’ve thought that the Delhi Waveriders led by Sardar Singh would emerge as such a successful hockey team? They were runners-up to Ranchi Rhinos in the first edition of HIL, while they bagged the title the following year.
AK Bansal, who was the team’s coach during the first season of HIL, says the success of his team owes to the flexibility and openness of all the players. They all learnt to adjust with each other, no matter how different they were culturally. Delhi’s hockey team consisted of big names from abroad like Jason Wilson and Matthew Gohdes from Australia, Mujtaba from Denmark, and Simon Childs from New Zealand among others. They played alongside some of our best players from within the country.
 

In the championship-winning year (2014), skipper Sardar Singh emerged as the disciplined midfielder, while Rupinder Pal Singh, Kiwi Steve Edwards and Aussie Tristan White playing on the defense side contributed to the team’s strong point. They collectively led Delhi Waveriders to win during the second edition of Hockey India League.
 

All in all, it was a great year for the Sardar-led team who choked the life out of their opponents by executing their strategy well. HIL might have changed the way Hockey is played around the world, thus bringing our national sport to get the attention it deserves.

Woman On The Field!

For many sports and woman are still are a distant and unrealized phenomenon. The chauvinistic universe which still does not admit and are sticking hard to the orthodox notions often create problems to the gateway for females for any contact with the outside world. It is almost derogatory how women are almost considered meek and fragile to make it to the top ladder for a long lasting career in sports and men, on the other paradigm are encouraged vehemently to pursue their career in sports. In such case Delhi franchise in hockey and other sports would have all been a man’s world.

 

If it would have been a generalized notion, there is no chance that woman would have been able to even step foot on the ground and the athlete world would have been a barren land with no female sport enthusiast or a member of hockey team of India. All accolades to the sensibilities of those who actively encouraged woman to come to the forefront and establish themselves on the pedestal in the sports world. Ours is a world where enthusiasm for sports parallels that to a firm belief in one’s faith and religion. Yes religion is the word! Sport is a religion in many parts of the world today and women are active participants in these and have qualified for an essential position in these.
 

However the road to success has not been easy. Several sacrifices and challenges have gone in the making of heroic figures like Mary Kom in boxing and Mamta Kharab, the ‘golden girl’ in women hockey team of India amongst others. But many a time owing to this pressure their nutritional requirement takes a back seat and health is compensated with, which results in several health problems like:
 

-Light headedness on the field.
 

-Losing weight irrationally, especially in those who are undernourished.
 

-Irregular monthly cycle and an early menopause.
 

-Delay or stunted growth in many young athletes.

Maintaining Balance Between Studies And Game

The biggest challenge in a young player’s life is to strike a balance between academics and sports. While sports are a passion for them, basic academic education cannot be sacrificed with. And both these activities call for dedication and time. To quench your passion you must sacrifice your time and physical comforts, but basic education gives you the cognitive skill and social standing that is imperative in life. So creating a balance between the two worlds becomes important.
 

Hockey team champs give some advice to budding players to manage and overcome such hurdles.

 

•    On a foremost note, a fixed schedule is the something common between all sportsmen, irrespective of the game they follow and this is something that will help you balance your studies as well. Plan your month in advance and try to stick to it. It will define your game and help you incorporate other activities including studies as well.
 

•    Small achievable goals on an everyday basis are far more feasible than hoping to do the impossible. After the game you have limited time and physical stamina but even a small achievement like completing one chapter each day will keep you motivated.
 

•    Learn to overcome distractions. A player of hockey team Delhi says, ‘the problem with players is they have to live a life of a hermit, with little time to spare’. Thus, whenever you are doing something you don’t necessarily like --such as studies-- then distractions aren’t hard to come by. Social media, smart phones and gadgets are a sheer waste of time that could be invested elsewhere.
 

•    Learn to say no. there are times when practice session is all about fun. The coach is not free and your friends are interested in something cool and interesting. But ask yourself, will it help your game or your grades? So, learn to say no when you see precious time being eaten up for nothing.
 

•    Use up the time that is wasted in commutation. While mom drops you to school or sports complex you can easily spend your time revising what you learnt last night.
 

•    And finally, don’t forget to take care of your nutrition. A balanced and healthy diet will help your game tremendously and improve stamina and concentration level as well.

Master Wrist Shot

The wrist shot is in fact one of the most effective shots in field hockey. Being one of the precise shots it is released fairly quickly owing to the speed and force with which it is hit. This is the shot which a player must engage into learning if he intends to make a place in big and popular hockey teams. True that it is not that as quick as a slap shot is but with proper techniques and with the strength of your upper body, wrist shot can count and pass for one of the most powerful shots.
 

Basics
 

Ensure that you have a proper grip over the stick and learn to have a proper hockey stance as all the professionals in various hockey league India are versed with. To add power to your wrist shot move your lower hand halfway and position the body at a 45-degree angle in regard to the net. Bring your stick behind and place it in the middle of the blade and rotate the wrist to ensure that the blade is tilted over the puck. Shift your weight on your back leg then.

Initiate a sweeping action while you transfer your weight towards the front foot and rotate your body forward. When the stick blade crosses your body, transfer your weight on the stick while pushing it forward with your lower hand and backward with the hand on the top. The stick will be released as it will reach your front foot. In the action make sure that your shoulders are square to the net. If you are a keen observer, you will see this technique several times when the hockey teams are in the ground.
 

At the time of this release of the puck, the wrist turns putting the puck in action when the blade turns out. Once the puck is released, set the target by pointing the toe of the stick. In addition to this the height of your shot depends on the magnitude by which you rotate the stick.
And just this! Happy sweating!

Why You Should Watch Hockey

Hockey might not be as popular as baseball, cricket or basketball, yet it is one of those sports that require deep knowledge and attention to detail to comprehend. Hockey leagues India have long been trying to push the sport back on the top, and supporting their cause are a few reasons that can definitely motivate a start.
 

It is fast-paced
 

With hockey, it’s a non-stop action on the field. Unlike many other games like baseball and football, there are a very few breaks and on an average a player plays for as long as 45 seconds at a time. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if you find yourself gasping for breath, just like the players.
 

It takes skill to play the sport
 

It takes dexterity of another magnitude to understand the game and play it in line with the game ethics. Players need to be in excellent shape and should have a strong base. Being able to handle the equipment with deft and technique is indispensable; the game depends entirely on the sportsperson’s pick on the stick. To be able to chisel a way out through the traffic is another imperative that the player must possess. 
 

It takes physicality to stay in the sport
 

If you have seen hockey players of Hockey leagues in India, you would know how much of physical fitness is required to dish out a fair game on the ground. Hockey, undeniably, is one of the most physical sports around and at times protection equipment can’t help much with the hitting thing. Blocking pucks requires physical fitness of a magnanimous degree. The players need to be pepped up all the time to play the game with ease and vigour.

Hockey, as it turns out, is the most challenging of all sports in India. And if challenges are your cup of tea, give hockey a shot!

How To Groom Your Child To Become A Hockey Player

Cricket is not the only sport that has taken the youngsters today by a storm. As it turns out, several other sports like hockey, badminton, tennis and basketball are catching the ropes in a proto.  Surprisingly, hockey, which has long represented a rather hazy picture, is reviving life. Many children today are fiercely inspired by some of the best hockey teams in India, and are moving to learn the game. Parents’ support and encouragement, in that case, becomes imperative. Here is how parents can prepare the ground for their children.
 

Start at an early age
 

Be it any activity- sports, dance or music, the early the child starts, the better. He will have years at his hand to capitalize the skills and present them on at a later stage in life. Hence, motivate your child to take up open skates, sticks and plugs. Set the stage and gear them up, right from the beginning.
 

Enrol your child in a house league
 

There are various teams that have taken up a franchise of some great hockey teams. Enrolling your child in some grand hockey franchise Delhi will buckle him up and put him in a spot where dedication and hard work will be the sole way out. In a house league, the child will learn invariably more about the game than anywhere else.
 

Encouragement always helps
 

There will be a time when everything will appear trashy, when things will not work as planned and the child will be subjected to a downward spiral. While he may think of giving up, you don’t. Encourage him to maintain his composure and talk out his areas of problems. Don’t bombard him with unrealistic solutions though.  Keep calm and help him achieve his dreams. This is probably the time when he needs mental support the most.

Scope Of Hockey In Present Times

Essentially every sportsperson intends to make a name for himself, contributing to his team’s victory. Hockey being a national sport in India has many young and passionate followers, but when it comes to showcasing correct sporting techniques, many lack the required skills owing to the monetary marginalization the sport faces.
 

Though with the rising number of hockey leagues in India, many sports enthusiasts have got a platform to make it to our national hockey team, the fact remains we in India do not have enough resources to meet the growing popularity of the sport.
 

To help such sportsperson’, here are few tips for them from few members of the hockey team India.
-Realize the importance of a right position for making a shot. A right position ensures a perfect and clean shot.
 

-Stay ready for the pass. As one of the member of hockey team India states being active on the field have got to do with a healthy mind. It is a mental block better left to the coaches to deal with.
 

- Since shooting high increases the probability of making a goal, many players make sure they shoot high. But in several hockey leagues in India it has been observed that players go down on their knees, to block the shots, leaving the higher portion of the net unprotected. So it is important to come up with a right action plan.
 

-It is most advisable to stay fit. Staying fit includes following a daily work out regime and sticking to a healthy diet. It is utmost necessary to remain hydrated and maintaining an optimal amount of water level in body.
 

My concluding words will be while there are many hearts which beat for hockey, there still remain various obstacles to tackle. The sport strongly needs your constant encouragement and appreciation for the players to bring laurels.

Learning Field Hockey- Beginner to Better

Joining the club of Field Hockey fans and you can count me in. It has been a couple of years since I became a fan. A few years ago, I was unaware about the sport and neither was eager to find out about it in detail leave alone understanding the skills needed to take home the coveted trophy.
I was not much of a sportsperson besides the regular early morning jog, but have come to enjoy the game better after I was invited to be part of the college hockey team. The team welcomed me with enthusiasm and after they learnt I was a newbie to this sport, both coaches gave a few great advices that I shall remember for life.

I am going to be very honest. When I attended the first practice session, it was a bit difficult to get attuned to it. I was tired, but the motivation kept me going. I focused on catching up with my peers while ensuring that their experience does not affect me. This way I had the opportunity to learn valuable skills from seasoned players who were part of hockey leagues in India. One fact that helped me was that I was not alone. There were others too who were new. I was a bit better off than my new teammates, being athletic, my stamina levels are good.
 

The coaches were supportive and helpful. Each hockey team player would get personalized attention. The coaches would personally demonstrate how to improve shots. This helped us understand the game and our role in it better. The personal objective was to be able to improve field hockey skills, and where I lacked was balancing the puck with the hockey stick. At first, I was reluctant because I had no idea how to control the puck. After a couple practices, tackling became much fun and I felt like a pro. All I needed was to work on the timing and positioning on field that gave me time-out from injuries.

After many games and a few wins, I believe I still have room for improvement. I started as a beginner, but with time, proper coaching and loads of practice, I have become a better-experienced field hockey player.

Just how India could reclaim its global supremacy

One fine day, as I saw the late Mr. Pataudi, nicknamed ‘Tiger’, India's former cricket captain, playing a hockey match at Bombay Gymkhana, I discovered that a couple realized how excellent a hockey player Tiger was and that he could have cut it through as one of the best hockey team player alike. He had long relinquished cricket yet played a dazzling game at the club that afternoon.

Later on, talking casually, he remarked, pointing to the lush green industry that the disaster of Indian hockey team is that they do not use lawn such as the one at the gymkhana. He was, in effect, horrified that the worldwide game had changed to astroturf, placing the future of the hockey league India at such a downside.

India earned 8 Olympic gold medal awards in the game of hockey. After 1980, hockey leagues in India have not seen much action and hence, the nation has actually not gained a single hockey gold since then. At the 2012 London Olympics, India's hockey group finished last in a field. Why was a daunting question?

Likewise tennis players adapt to turf and hard courts within a span of a few months and especially between the French Open held in May, Wimbledon held in July and the US Open held in September, so could the expert hockey gamers of India. Turf is an all-natural surface of the game. It tests the ability of players not just their toughness.

India's hockey authorities, fractured by domestic competitions, have slightly worldwide influence. It is India's company market, with an interest in future Olympic gold awards that have to lead the project to restore organic lawns as one of two alternate playing surface areas of selection in future worldwide hockey events. The new Hockey League India might establish the instance in its next version. Sponsorships for industry hockey competitions would comply with.

India has started winning Olympic awards in specific sporting activities though yet none in team sporting activities like hockey. That will change. In India much less in comparison to the major populace has access to the centres, health and nutrition and training athletes from Western nations. In the sports-access terms, the Indian population is equivalent to that of New Zealand's. It is no embarrassment to have won fewer awards than smaller, richer nations. Yet it is an embarrassment if we do not offer hockey, an equal opportunity.

The National game of India- hockey- is back in action with the HHIL series

The India national field hockey team is the national men's team on behalf of field hockey in India, proscribed by Hockey India, the governing organization for field hockey in India. It’s a First non-European team to be a piece of the International Hockey partnership.

In 1928, the hockey team won its first Olympic gold medal and until 1956, the Indian men's teams remain victorious in the Olympics, charming six gold medals in rows. The Indian field hockey team has won total eight Olympics gold medals, the highest among all national teams.  In 1975 World Cup India also won and defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final.
 

Hockey team of Delhi is named as Delhi Wizard which is plays World Series Hockey. Pakistani striker Shakeel Abbasi is captain of hockey team. Team is practice in Delhi Dhyan Chand National Stadium and owned by Wizcraft International. Roelant Oltmans and Darryl D'Souza is coached the Hockey team who are coach of Dutch hockey team.  

The hockey match also gives both the teams a ability to test each other's power as they are playing against each other for the first time in the second edition of the occasion.
 

Leaders of the hockey team of Delhi Waveriders will look to combine their numero-uno position in the points table when they expression an evenly-matched Uttar Pradesh Wizards in an away league match of the second Hero Hockey team of India League at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on Saturday. The Delhi Waveriders are currently on top of the standing with 24 points from seven hockey games, while the Wizards find themselves in the third mark with 15 points from five matches.
 

Uttar Pradesh team said that we had a extremely close game with Delhi Waveriders in Delhi. We wait for to have a same type of game. We need to play a fair game. We are playing with hockey team of Delhi on our home ground and we hope to play some attractive game, Waveriders captain Sardara Singh said: "Uttar Pradesh Wizards is a different team this year as compare to the opening season of Hero Hockey India association. We are working very hard with a focus to give less penalty corner to the Wizard. Wizards skipper V R Raghunath said that next time we concentrate on our core power and try to avoid mistakes like earlier games. We are strong-minded to play our best game next time.

Hockey team of India is all ready for the 2014 Hockey World Cup

For the longest time, people believed that Hockey was the national sports of India. This belief stemmed from the fact that the hockey team of India was the best performing field hockey team in the world for several decades and won 8 gold medals in numerous Olympic events over the years. Players like Dhyanchand became a household name across the nation and are still revered as some of the most iconic and well known sport personalities in India. Recent clarifications have revealed that India does not have an official national sport.

The popularity of hockey, which had been decreasing for some time following the popularity of cricket, is on the rise once again. It has become common now to find photos of hockey players plastered all over the newspapers, the most recent example being the media coverage they received after the team qualified for the Hockey World Cup which will be held this year.

The period of 1920-1980 is considered the golden period of Indian Hockey. During this time, the men’s hockey team of India won 8 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 2 bronze medals in the Olympics.  After 1980, the hockey saw a sharp decline in India and the team did not even qualify for the Olympics held in 2008. The women’s Indian Hockey team began performing better after 2000, and they won the gold prize in 2002 Commonwealth Games, and then went on to win two more gold prizes in international events.

Indian Hockey has been twisted in scandals and the Indian Hockey Federation had to be dissolved in 2009 after charges of multiple counts of corruption were brought against its directors. A new body was formed which was made up of former hockey player and both men’s and women’s team have been improving since the formation of this new body, called Hockey India. Many changes have been made in the way hockey is played in India, and Hockey India has recently started Hockey India
League, the hockey equivalent of the highly popular Indian Premier League event for cricket. Interest in the sport by government bodies as well as private corporations has increased and Hockey India is now recognised by the International Hockey Federation. One can only hope that the Indian hockey team will take its place as the top team in the world once again, and photos of hockey players will once again become a common sight on newspapers, magazines and TV screens.

Hockey: the lost pride of India

Anything that symbolizes a nation becomes a part and parcel of its pride, honour and name. Taking the same theory, hockey, the national sport of India is a part and a way to serve India’s national interest. Starting from 1920 to the 1950s, this was the golden era of Indian hockey with a craze that united whole of India and bound it together in a single game. In this period, India gave phenomenal legends like Dhanchand and Roop Singh to the world of hockey. It was during this time that India captured 8 Olympic gold medals along with many major world events.

But this trend is diminishing today and with it, it is destroying India’s image as it falls in international hockey to an all time low of 9th position. Many reasons can be attributed to this fall starting from a few stated below.

1.    Emergence of cricket:
 

With the emergence of Cricket especially in the men’s format, the wonder of major hockey player names has seen a fall in fan following. The rise of cricket lords like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, M.S. Dhoni or even the present day Kohli and their lustre of shear class has overshadowed the charm of hockey.

2.    The IPL fever:
 

Cricket was hovering above all sports, but the emergence of the IPL has made the game even bigger by taking it to a different level and producing new star.

3.    Lack of sponsors:
 

The sponsors have also fallen for the enhancing presence of cricket and ignored other major sports like hockey leading to a lack of infrastructure and support for these sportsmen. No sports can sustain without continual support of finance and infrastructure either from the corporate or from the government and hockey, at present is getting neither of those. Even the brand ambassadorship of major MNCs has replaced hockey player names with the new celebrities or cricket stars.

All has not ended for hockey with trials being made at every front to bring back the sports to its past grandeur with steps like organising hockey world cup in India and hockey league India. Other than the major club league, the domestic competitions are also receiving minor corporate sponsorships right now.

The hockey league India is considered to be a major step due to its grand success. So let’s not forget our past glory in hockey and try to increase our hockey skills to give respect to our national sport and great nation.

HHIL : An attempt to rejuvenate hockey

The Hero Hockey India league is about to begin its new season early in the next month. The competition was announced earlier this year after it received a huge response in its inaugural season. It is a sports event cum entertainment package, power packed with vigor, glamor, sportsmanship, and a rush of adrenaline. The game is organized, following the team of IPL cricket tournament. It was an attempt to popularize the once famous game of hockey that has lost its glory in India.

The commercial aspects of HHIL would help to pump in the much needed resources in the game, and would reclaim the lost interest of the public. The event consists of six teams amongst which, Ranchi and Delhi franchise in Hockey India league came out to be the best teams, with first and second rank respectively. The big conglomerates own these teams and secure players for them through auctioneering. The event is expected to stir the crowd and rise up the fever, just like the old times.
 

The last match of the previous season played between hockey franchise Delhi and Ranchi was breath taking. It was a tough competition which the public thoroughly enjoyed.

India, the past unrivaled champion in hockey, lost its uncrowned kingship after the revolutionary changes in world hockey took place. The natural grass field was replaced by synthetic turf and the Indian Sports Foundations were too sluggish to respond to this change or to implement it and train our champions accordingly. It took them more than a decade to wake up and brush off the dust from the gleaming history of Indian Hockey.

In the present scenario, after the rejuvenated attempts of Indian team in Olympics and the recent bronze in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup; hockey called for some attention from the public. Thus, Hockey India stepped forward and launched the HHIL in collaboration with leading business groups such as Sahara India (Owners of UP franchise) and Wave Groups (Owners of hockey franchise in Delhi) in India. Hence we have our hopes pinned up, that if hockey got back the lost attention and resources, maybe we can recreate the past magic.   

Hockey League India- Igniting the lost craze

With time everything changes. In a similar way the fame and craze of hockey, the national game of India has disappeared. This game was originally played by the warriors nearly 1200 years back in order to develop and enhance the warrior skills and fighting skills in the warrior. This game was first introduced by the British in India and then became very popular among the citizens of India and this made it the national game of India. But later cricket replaced its place in terms of fame, craze and fan following. Cricket became like the religion of India while hockey somewhere disappeared. But with these current hockey players, the demand for this game is again increasing and hockey league India is doing everything to bring the reputation of hockey back in India.

The current hockey team have excelled in their performances and are ranking high internationally and this is increasing the craze and bringing back the lost fame. The hockey players name is there in the web and you can go through them to know the names of the current hockey team who with their high skills and strategies are winning matches and winning the hearts of the people of India.

This hockey league India is trying to enhance the skills of the players and at the same time trying their best to give chances and opportunities to the new players and let them show their talent. They not only give opportunities but also make the demand for hockey increased. This is also inspiring the youth and the youngster to make interest in hockey and build up a passion for this game. These leagues and franchise are even developing the strategies and making the experienced players learn new skills from the young players. It’s an opportunity and a benefit to both the experienced player as well as the young player to acquire skills from each other.

Particularly for the one, who has strong inspiration and passion for hockey and give them the opportunity to showcase their talent and their skills. This has also resulted in the outstanding performances of the woman hockey team and raking the nation high in the international competition. You can go through the hockey players name in the web and their details. You can even find the strategies and skills of these hockey players and their best match performance. If you have a strong interest for hockey and enhance your skills then go through the web and search for these details it will definitely help you in building a great career in hockey.

Tips for formulating a diet chart for hockey players.

A winning performance on the game day takes a lot more than practice. In order to ensure a bright career as a hockey player, focusing on your nutritional needs is also essential apart from rigorous training. Hockey is a high calorie consuming sport and it requires a lot of physical stamina and muscular strength, as a result the nutritional demands of your body increases considerably.

But most of our Indian hockey players do not consider this aspect, their body is strong and resistant in the early years but in later years it affects their health and performance. The extra workout burns out more calories due to which sportsmen take larger food portions. This makes them believe that they are refilling the nourishment vitals sufficiently; but those extra chapattis and buttermilk do not compensate your body requirements. Therefore a planned diet with a balance between all food groups is important, so following diet tips should be adopted by hockey teams.
 

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the best and most essential form of energy source for sportsmen. Carb rich products should be included in your breakfast and lunch to fuel you through the day. They provide a large portion of the daily stamina required for your active bodies. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains (such as brown rice), milk and its products, Legumes (peas, all kinds of beans, lentils) etc are rich sources of carbohydrates. The average Indian diet misses out carb rich sources, so it is essential for hockey teams to especially focus on its intake. 
 

Proteins
 

Protein is the Tinkerbelle for your strong muscles; it repairs, strengthens and builds tissue and maintains a strong immune system. Including small but frequent portions of it in your diet will fortify your muscles and tissues. An ideal protein diet consists of food items like lean meats, milk products, eggs, cheese and tofu. However do not overdo on it as it can be dehydrating for your body.
 

Fats
 

A limited amount of healthy fats are also essential in your diet; the Indian diet is rich on it but you need to focus on the type and the amount of your intake. Peanuts, olive oil, walnuts, almonds, soy nuts, salmon etc. are some sources of healthy fat.

Thus follow this diet plan which is preferred by the professional Indian hockey players as well; and it will help you in maintaining your energy levels. And last but not the least, do not forget the fluids and drink plenty of water.