Nobbs named hockey coach for India

Australian Michael Jack Nobbs was appointed India's hockey coach for a unique five-year period, ending weeks of rumor over the job left vacant by Spaniard Jose Brasa."I am very excited, honoured and privileged to get this job," said the 57-year-old, who was part of Australia's team for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Nobbs' contract runs till the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and his pay cheque will start at 10,000 Australian dollars per month.

His salary will be hiked by 10 per cent if the stressed Indian hockey team manages to qualify for the London Olympics next year. Nobbs can wait for another hike if the team does well next year as in a first in India hockey, his contract has a section for performance-based incentives."Under my chairmanship, Sports Authority of India committee and Hockey India generally chosen Nobbs as our coach for the period upto 2016 Rio Olympics," SAI Director General Deepak Kumar told.

"The selection was based on some factors, his experience, organising capabilities and the management he made before us."What weighed in his favour is the fact that the Australian style of hockey is related to ours and we have decided to continue with that," he added. Nobbs beat contest from Dutch legends Roelant Oltmans and Jacques Brinkman, who is a twice Olympic and world champion. India has been looking for a overseas coach since Spaniard Brasa's contract expired after the Asian Games last year.

Saba Anjum to lead Indian women's hockey team

Striker Saba Anjum will lead the Indian women's hockey team in the Champions Challenge I tournament to be held in Dublin, Ireland from June 18-26 in the absence of regular captain Surinder Kaur, who opted out of the occasion citing family problems. Hockey India selectors B P Govinda, Syed Ali, Rekha Bhide, Rajbir Kaur and Sita Mehta besides government observers Harbinder Singh and Dilip Tirkey picked up the 18-member team after trials held here recently.

Apart from Saba, the forward line will also have Vice-captain Jasjeet Kaur Handa, Rani, Anuradha Devi, Chanchan Devi, Soundarya Yendala and Poonam. Leaving aside seven forwards, the squad contain of two goalkeepers, three defenders and six mid-fielders. According to a statement, the selectors have also handpicked four stand-bys in E Rajini (goalkeeper), Vaishali Sul (defender), Rashmi Singh (forward) and Roselin Dung Dung (forward).

The Indian team qualified for the eight-nation event after winning the FIH Champions Challenge II at Kazan, Russia in 2009.Eight teams have been drawn in two pools and the matches will be conducted on a league-cum-knockout format. India have been drawn in Pool B alongside Spain, Azerbaijan and hosts Ireland while Pool A consists of Japan South Africa, United States and Scotland. India eves will open their battle against Ireland on June 18.

Britain beat Pakistan

Jonathan Clarke struck twice as Britain overcome Pakistan 3-2 to put their campaign back on track while South Korea and New Zealand played out a 2-2 draw in their Sultan Azlan Shah Cup match on Sunday. Clarke’s twin strikes gave Britain the much-needed win after the 1-3 loss to India on Friday. Pakistan and Britain now have two wins each from three matches and lead the standings in the round-robin league.

In another match, combined defending champions South Korea were held to a 1-1 draw by New Zealand. Benjamin Collier scored for New Zealand in the 50th minute and South Korea struck back eight minutes later to equalize through a penalty corner by Jang Jong-Hyun. In an amusing contest, Britain took the lead against Pakistan in the eighth minute through Robert Moore as the ball crossed the line despite Waqas Akbar making a worried attempt to clear it.

Pakistan came close to scoring in the 24th minute but Shakeel Abbasi missed a sitter. They got the equalizer four minutes before half-time as Sohail Abbas sounded the boards with a long drag-flick to goalkeeper Nicholas Brothers. Clarke put Britain ahead again in the 39th minute even as Pakistan's Rehan Butt unsuccessful to score two minutes later after Adam Dixon brought off a goal-line save.