Tue 14 Dec, 2004
|
|
|
|
FIH: Adverse Travel Advice Withdraws Australia from Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy  x18
 |
| International Hockey Federation |
October 12, 2004
International Hockey Federation
> Page Views 1213
Athens Olympic gold medallist Australia has confirmed its withdrawal from the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy, to be played in Lahore from 4-12 December, due to adverse travel advice from the Australian Government.
India, who is first reserve for the event from its ranking at the Athens Olympics has been invited to take Australia's place and is expected to formally confirm its participation in the coming days.
The confirmed participants for the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy is as
follows:
Pakistan - qualified as host
Netherlands - qualified as title holders Spain - qualified as winners of BDO Hockey Champions Challenge 2003 Germany - qualified as next ranked from 2004 Olympic Games New Zealand - qualified as next ranked from 2004 Olympic Games India (to be formally confirmed) - qualified as next ranked from 2004 Olympic Games
No other country participating in the event currently issues negative advice for its citizens travelling to Lahore.
In a letter to FIH, Hockey Australia's Chief Executive, Linden Adamson stated, "The advice for all Australians to defer travel to Pakistan leaves us with no choice but to withdraw.
"Hockey Australia wishes to assure the FIH in the strongest possible terms that this decision has not been taken lightly, but was made with absolute due regard to our responsibilities to Australian team members and the international hockey community"
FIH President, Els van Breda Vriesman commented, "FIH has arranged for the Pakistan Hockey Federation to provide the participating teams with details of the security arrangements for the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy. Whilst we regret Australia's withdrawal, FIH must respect a decision based on a country's governmental travel advice."
For further information regarding the Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy, visit www.WorldHockey.org.
Your opinion counts.
Rate this article or enter your comments below.
|
Opinions expressed here do not represent the official views of PlanetFieldHockey.com or its staff. Comments will be removed if they are considered offensive or of a personal nature.
Comments on this article
|
glenn_ahmed (GB)
10-12-2004 1:42 pm
|
Report this post
|
old Aust EXCUSE ?
i am a hockey fan and am deepley upset the way australian withdraws from the champions trophy to be played in the ''home of hockey'' Lahore, Pakistan in december,
first of all why Australia?
if, any , threat is their then its for every one , why all other participants are happy to play in Lahore but australia?
i dont need to remind you that ''twin towers'' collapsed in New york (3000 died) , and their is no adverse warning from australin govt for N.Y .
i think its a very obvious and stupid decision from hockey australia and this is a win for terrorist and defeat for hockey community all over the world and upsatting for Pakistan hockey fans.
Australia now must applogise to the world and if any other team affects from their decision then IHF must impose penalties on australian hockey to compensate PHF .
i hope you IHF officals will take action.
thanks
|
|
Interested Observer
10-12-2004 5:06 pm
|
Report this post
|
Australia
Does that mean that Australia will now have to play in the next Champions Challenge since they will not be in Lahore?
|
|
Roy Smeck
10-12-2004 6:31 pm
|
Report this post
|
Glenn_Ahmed
If you dont know already, Australia is a target due to our participation in the "Coalition of the Willing" with the US and GB and have our troops in Iraq. Terrorists have said "kill Australians" anywhere anytime. I think this makes us a target, dont you? Do other teams have troops in Iraq? No. NZ may have had a few however their cricketers were bombed out the front of their hotel last year in Pakistan last year, or doesnt that count for anything? Besides, if you read the article you will know that Hockey Australia had no choice but to pull out on advice from the Government, so blame them and not the Australian hockey community.
|
|
Mujeeb
10-13-2004 7:40 am
|
Report this post
|
Australia & Roy Smeck
It is sad news that one of the prestigious championships is to be deprived of an excellent teams participation. I have said it in past & reiterate what how highly I rate the Australian Hockey team & the nation as a whole, it is impossible to imagine a world sports event with out the YELLOW jerseys on the field, be it Hockey, Cricket, Tennis, Swimming or Rugby event.
In the world of Hockey Aussie with drawl is tantamount to Brazilian football team deciding to not to, participate despite qualifying, for the World cup finals. One can imagine how hollow & diluted win it will be for the eventual victor of the football world cup winner.
Aussies are tough, athletic, & full of competitive zeal when it comes to sports. Aussie with drawl from CT is up to a certain point understandable that there is a threat to the players by some group of terrorists. However, in the light of their past withdrawals from competitions, it appears that sports circles in Australia have made it a kind of habit to upset the world of sports.
E.g. due to bombing in Colombo before 1996 Cricket finals, where India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka where joint hosts for the event, Australia declined to play qualifying games in Sri Lanka. No team or participating country received any threat from LTTE etc.
To alleviate the fears of the other nations who were participating in 96 Cricket World cup a joint team selected from both Pakistan & Indian Cricket teams played a one-day game in Colombo against the Sir Lankan national squad & this event was held just before the inauguration of the World Cup.
Sad and lamentable with drawl from CT, hockey fans mistreated by depriving them to witness the attacking and skilful athleticism of worlds major hockey force.
|
|
Moore
10-13-2004 2:35 pm
|
Report this post
|
who should come and who should not
I am a firm supporter of Pakistani Hockey and thats not because Pakistan always remain among the top 4s, but because of the fact that they are always very different than rest of the world even from their asian neighbors India who proclaim themselves as bareer of the so called "Asian Hockey" style. I think about the team to fill space left by the withdrawl of Australia, PHF and FIH should call either S Korea or Argentina. Thats because these two teams can offer more competitive hockey than any other team, even better than India. I am not a hawk who try to overthrow Indian spectators hope but I would rather like to see a competitive hockey than one sided affairs. S Korea has a cruising forward line and they can give a good display of hockey. I would love to see Argentinian Lombi against newly revered Abbas. As for Pakistani supporters, it is a blow after the withdrawl of Australia but It would be a farther and more adverse blow to Pakistani future Hockey if tehy call India for Chams Trophy. Remember our coach Oeltmans said that its better for pakistan to play more games against NEDS AND GERS and presumable against aussies too than to involve themselves in Indian rivalry. I don't think there is such a rivalry b/w India and Pakistan as far as the sports are generally concerned. So better to support the commencement of Args or SKs than Indian because they play similiar style as kangroos. Best of Luck to Pakistan.
Regards
|
|
Iqbal
10-13-2004 10:25 pm
|
Report this post
|
to Moore
Look at the recent India - Pakistan series, Pakistan were playing a full strength side and India were minus Gagan, Deepak, Lakra and Jugraj.
Were the matches one-sided ? Nope -- Even though pakistan won, they were hardly impressive and probably had Sohail and the inexperience of the Indian forwards to thank for it.
I frankly haven't got a problem with India being invited to the Champions trophy - They earned their right to be the first reserve ahead of South Korea and Argentina.
As for Argentina and South Korea playing a similar style to the Aussies, ummmm.... what planet are you on ?
Argentina are a defensive side that rely heavily on scoring off the counter or off set pieces.
Korea are more akin to Australia with their speed up front but even they are probably not as attacking and their midfield certainly does not have the dynamic fervour of Australia.
|
|
George
10-14-2004 12:59 am
|
Report this post
|
to Moore,
before you say these countries are 'Asian' styles or European styles, have a look at who is the coach of the team and how these teams have changed their styles of play to be more like European styles!!
|
|
Moore
10-14-2004 1:15 am
|
Report this post
|
hands off Sardar Iqbal
you guys must be fooling yourselves. as on regarding me living on another planet ..for your akin and kind info...I am not only watching hockey but observing it more deeply than you. I don't want to discuss how better Sks or Args for Pakistan but Its better for pakistan to play more games against NEDS and GERS. YOu are probably among those who enjoyed Sohail's flicks on free tickets at national stadium lahore but I am not like you. Fortunately or unfortunately, I know what can be better for pakistani Hockey. Just think a little critically, our coach oeltmans has improvised us to play more against NEDS and GERS than against those who always are mourning on excuses for their shortcomings (like grass trough and umpiring decisions) I was and I am still in favor of SK or Args than India because Pakistan will play against them with more concentration and that will be better for our Hockey and competition . after all we have to proceed. we are not like them who still rest on victories of 1928 and 1936 olympics.
|
|
malayia fan
10-14-2004 5:47 am
|
Report this post
|
how about
malaysia
we are better then arg and korea
|
|
Moore
10-15-2004 10:28 am
|
Report this post
|
to Malaysian fan
Yes it might be a possiblity. I can guess that if Malaysian team will be invited because of their good relations with PHF. ATleast one team can benefit from it . Thats India. Still they will lose but rather competitively. so still hopes are there.
|
|
Gurmit
10-16-2004 5:07 am
|
Report this post
|
Teams and Fans
It is Australias loss and Good luck to India.
The following comments might not be for this space.
The Samsung Hockey Champions Trophy has a lot of artiacles in different web sites but there is no information avilable as to where the tickets for watching the games can be purchased from.
Being a keen hockey fan I would like to go and watch the games. I have written,e-mailed to the PHF a number of times but without a reply. Information of this subject would be appricieate d by the hockey fans
|
|
ANS
10-17-2004 9:08 am
|
Report this post
|
Sponsor Etc
Samsung must be disappointed with the non-participation of Australia in this years CT. It is a shame that the Olympic champions withdrew from this tournament. I do hope that the tournament goes well for all the participating teams
Peace
ANS
|
|
malay fan
10-17-2004 9:17 pm
|
Report this post
|
moor
your comment are in bad taste.
we have given trouble to all teams in past , be it aust , germany or pak , do u get it.
|
|
Indian
10-17-2004 9:47 pm
|
Report this post
|
Malay Fan must be day dreaming
This is a bad joke or what? Malay Fan suggesting Malaysia over India. That's absolute non-sense. Even many of the club teams in India will beat the Malasian "national" team. They were out of the Olympics. Their junior team didnt even qualify for the WC. For years their team has been dishing out a disgusting version of hockey which is so negative, I always want to puke when I see them go up against India or Pakistan. Its best they are kept out of top competitions till they learn to play decent positive hockey again. To suggest this lousy team over the Asian champion India - what a nerve!
|
|
Punjabi from Canada
10-20-2004 1:19 am
|
Report this post
|
CT Lahore
I fail to understand why people from different countries are arguing unnecessarily which team should take part or not? Is it in their hands to invite or reject teams to participate in CT Lahore. Do they think that FIH will make their decision based on their arguments.
Rubbish & waste of space in these worthy columns.
|
|
aussie drama
10-20-2004 7:09 am
|
Report this post
|
|
These aussies are pain in ass. these guys think they are better than everyone else!!
|
|
Roy Smeck
10-27-2004 6:36 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Hey guys, Pakistan just pulled out of a tournament to be played in India! Wheres the condenmnation, abuse and racial vilification postings about this like Australia copped?
|
|
Gurmit
10-30-2004 9:30 am
|
Report this post
|
Unnecessary arguments
We are all agruing and giving comments as to Australia pulling out of the tournament, which I thing is unnecessary. Aus has pulled out, and nothing will change that. It seems that we all good keen fans of hockey.So let us all go to Lahore to watch the games.
I am still suprised that no one has as yet commented as to from where we can purchase the tickects for the tournemant.
I letter of 16-10 -04 comments on this.
|
|
|
|
 |
HOME | FEATURES | CLUBHOUSE | CAMPS | LINKS | ABOUT US | STORE | ADVERTISE
Use of this site is subject to certain Terms & Conditions.
|
|
|
