Last year’s runners-up DELHI WAVERIDERS emerged as the champions in the second edition of Hero India League beating Jaypee Punjab Warriors in the penalty shoot-out at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium here on Sunday.

DELHI WAVERIDERS rode on goalkeeper Nicolas Jacobi’s brilliant show resulting in a hard-fought 3-1 win over Jaypee Punjab Warriors in the shoot-out after the two teams ended the regulation time locked at 3-3.

In the shoot-out, Jaypee Punjab Warriors failed to get past an agile Jacobi in the first three attempts before Robert Hammond found the back of the net. But it came too late as DELHI WAVERIDERS scored three out of their four shots to emerge as the champions.

Earlier, Jaypee Punjab Warriors made a dream start to the encounter and broke the deadlock in the second minute of the match through Mark Knowles’ field goal.

Trailing by a goal, DELHI WAVERIDERS went on power play and earned a penalty corner soon, only to waste the opportunity.

DELHI WAVERIDERS went into half time leading 2-1 by scoring two goals in a span of three minutes.

First Llyod Norris Jones’ leveled the scores with a field goal in the 33rd minute after he was fed by Akashdeep Singh before skipper Sardar Singh (35th minute) registered his name in the score sheet after a long hiatus through a rebound from a penalty corner.

But Jaypee Punjab Warriors struck twice in the third quarter through two field goals from Shivendra Singh (45th minute) and young Affan Yousuf (48th minute) to restore their lead.

It, however, did not take too long for DELHI WAVERIDERS to level the scores. Yuvraj Walmiki (52nd minute) made the score line 3-3 by slotting home after receiving a diagonal pass from Andres Mir Bel.

Jaypee Punjab Warriors were in complete control of the fourth and final quarter but they failed to convert their chances into goal.

DELHI WAVERIDERS, on the other hand, relied on counter-attacks but they too failed to trouble the scorers as the match went into shoot-out.

The win made DELHI WAVERIDERS richer by Rs. 2.5 crore, while the Warriors will pocket Rs.1.25 crore for finishing in the second p

Delhi Waveriders will be looking to atone for last year’s loss when they face Jaypee Punjab Warriors in their second straight final of the Hockey India League (HIL) here at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium.

Waveriders rode on Yuvraj Walmiki’s strike in the first quarter to beat Uttar Pradesh Wizards by a solitary goal in the semi-final.

It could have been a repeat of last year’s final in Monday’s title clash, but Sandeep Singh scored a brace to help Jaypee Punjab Warriors stun defending champions Ranchi Rhinos 3-2 in the second semi-final.

Both Delhi Waveriders and Jaypee Punjab Warriors were the dominant sides in the group phase. Punjab Warriors edged past Delhi Waveriders by just one point to take the top spot in the league phase.

But going in to the match what will give confidence to the Delhi Waveriders will be their past record against the Warriors. Delhi Waveriders have won four of the five encounters between the two sides so far. Last season, the Delhi Waveriders won all the three matches but this season the honours were shared in the two matches they played.

Delhi coach Cedric D’Souza said he was a happy with the team’s performance in the semi-final against Uttar Pradesh Wizards and hoped to avoid some mistakes in the final.

“We have won a tough match and qualifying for the finals is elating. Uttar Pradesh Wizards played good and put a lot of pressure on us. For the finals we will aim not to commit mistakes and we will go all out tomorrow. We have a very good team and we will use the experience judiciously tomorrow to create the right winning combination,” he said.

Delhi Captain Sardar Singh said the platform gives the team an opportunity to play with world’s best players.

“It even gives budding talent to showcase their talent. I am hoping that with such initiatives Indian Hockey will go to newer heights. Tomorrow is an important day and we hope to lift the trophy,” he said.

The DELHI WAVERIDERS on Saturday entered their second straight final of the Hockey India League (HIL) where they will be facing Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Sunday’s final here at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium.

The DELHI WAVERIDERS rode on Yuvraj Walmiki’s strike in the first quarter to beat Uttar Pradesh Wizards by a solitary goal.

It could have been a repeat of last year’s final in Monday’s title clash but Sandeep Singh scored a brace to help Jaypee Punjab Warriors stun defending champions Ranchi Rhinos 3-2 in the second semi-final.

The opening semifinal between the DELHI WAVERIDERS and Wizards witnessed a closed-fought battle as both the teams matched each other equally.

The DELHI WAVERIDERS had the first scoring chance of the match in the 12th minute when they earned a penalty corner but Rupinderpal Singh’s flick struck the wood work and went wide.

But soon DELHI WAVERIDERS surged ahead through Yuvraj Walimi, who pushed home a pass from Lloyd Norris Jones.

In the second quarter, the Wizards earned a penalty corner but captain V R Raghunath’s try was deflected wide by Rupinderpal Singh.

Trailing by a goal, the Wizards came out attacking in the second half and managed to earn two penalty corners in the third quarter but on both the occasions Raghunath was off the mark.

UP Wizards continued to press hard in the final quarter in search of the equalizer and created a number of chances only to waste them.

DELHI WAVERIDERS will play the winners of the second semifinal between Jaypee Punjab Warriors and defending champions Ranchi Rhinos in tomorrows final.

The countdown has finally started as the Delhi Waveriders entered the final stretch of the second Hockey India League (HIL) here in Ranchi.

The Delhi Waveriders are now up against Uttar Pradesh Wizards while defending champions Ranchi Rhinos will be facing Jaypee Punjab Warriors in the semi- finals here at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium here Friday.

Delhi Waveriders have been the team to beat this winter but they narrowly missed out on the top slot on the points table to Punjab Warriors by just one point.

Having finished runners-up last year, this time Delhi Waveriders are determined to lift the title this time.

Under the guidance of Coach Cedric D’Souza and leadership of Captain Sardar Singh, Delhi Waveriders will have their work cut out, to beat the Wizards and qualify for the finals.

“This time we have to lift the title at any cost. The team has done well and we would love to carry on the winning momentum. We are coming into the semi-final on the back of a win and that has boosted the confidence of the boys,” said Sardar.

Sardar knows that his team cannot afford to concede too many penalty corners, since Uttar Pradesh have the services of India’s ace drag-flicker V. Raghunath.

“We have to be very careful in the defense. Raghunath can be very dangerous from short corners. Overall we have to play a very balanced game. We have to maintain our attacking game and also make sure that we don’t drop our guard,” he said.

Cedric is aware of the fact how eager his boys are to win the league.

“The boys are eager to win the title. The way we have played through out the league phase just shows how determined we are. The boys will just go out and play their natural game,” he said.

Roelant Oltmans coached Uttar Pradesh Wizards will still have last year’s semi-final match against Ranchi Rhinos fresh in their minds and this time around they will be in no mood to miss out on the bus to the finals.

On the other hand, it is the Jaypee Punjab Warriors who are pitted against the defending Champions Ranchi Rhinos and this, for both the teams will be their third match in succession. In the last two matches the Warriors proved themselves as the better team but they will not forget that the Rhinos were playing with their key players missing out because of injuries.

With Jaypee Punjab Warriors wanting to continue their onslaught up to the Finale, Ranchi Rhinos will go all out to defend the title.

Runners-up DELHI WAVERIDERS finished off their group phase with an exciting 5-3 win over Dabur Mumbai Magicians in the Hockey India League (HIL) at the Mahindra Hockey Stadium here on Saturday.
DELHI WAVERIDERS started the match as favourites and took the lead in the third minute through Yuvraj Walmiki, who got a deflection from Akashdeep Singh’s rebound shot.
Dabur Mumbai Magicians, however, drew level seven minutes later when Glenn Turner (10th minute) scored a field goal, before DELHI WAVERIDERS restored their lead in the next minute through veteran Rajpal Singh’s 11th minute field strike.
It was an entertaining first quarter as both the teams matched each other stick by stick but it was DELHI WAVERIDERS who enjoyed a slender one goal lead at the first break.
After an intense battle for most part of the second quarter, Dabur Mumbai Magicians drew their second blood through Timothy Devin’s (35th minute) field goal just 20 seconds from half time as both the teams went into the breather locked at 2-2.
But young Akashdeep (36th minute) restored DELHI WAVERIDERS lead with a beautiful field goal just after the lemon break.
Rajpal (54th minute) was once again at the thick of things as he scored another field goal to extend DELHI WAVERIDERS lead.
DELHI WAVERIDERS made the score line 5-2 in their favour when Rupinderpal Singh converted his side’s first penalty corner in the 58th minute.
Dabur Mumbai Magicians earned as many as five penalty corners in the match but converted just one to sum their day in office.
Turner (68th minute) made use of the fifth and final penalty corner two minutes from the final hooter to reduce the margin for the hosts.
The win gave DELHI WAVERIDERS five points that means they drew curtains to their league campaign with 39 points from 10 games, which includes seven wins, two losses and one draw.
Dabur Mumbai Magicians, on the other hand, suffered their seventh defeat in the tournament out of eight games and are lying at the end of the table with nine points from eight matches.

DELHI WAVERIDERS coach Cedric D’Souza, was pleased to end the group phase on a high note.
DELHI WAVERIDERS will wait anxiously to know their opponents in the semi-finals, to be held in Ranchi on February 22.

DELHI WAVERIDERS will be looking to further on add to their chartbuster score in their last match before the semi-finals at the Mahindra Hockey Stadium tonight.

DELHI WAVERIDERS, who are sitting pretty on the top with 34 points, will be clashing with Dabur Mumbai Magicians, who will be trying to put a break to DELHI WAVERIDERS’ winning streak and also to mark their first win in this season of the Hero Hockey India League 2014 in Mumbai tomorrow.

While the DELHI WAVERIDERS are proving to be the toughest team this season, Dabur Mumbai Magicians will be looking at leveling the scores with the former. Where DELHI WAVERIDERS will be aiming to further add to their lead in the pool standings, Dabur Mumbai Magician will be out on the field to try and put a stop to DELHI WAVERIDERS’ scoring feat.

With the likes of Sardar Singh, Rupinder Pal Singh, Simon Child, Jason Wilson, Akashdeep Singh and Talwinder Singh the DELHI WAVERIDERS outfit will not be in a mood to give in to the home team so easily.

Dabur Mumbai Magicians gave a good fight to the defending champions Ranchi Rhinos in their last match but lost the match by 1-0 at their home turf. The fans of Dabur Mumbai Magicians will look at their team giving a tough fight to the visitors by putting a stop to DELHI WAVERIDERS’ winning spree.

Hockey’s biggest clash on Wednesday night created two mile long traffic jams outside Delhi’s oldest hockey stadium as fans holding red roses posed for cellular phone photographs at the feet of a towering statue of Major Dhyan Chand, hockey’s answer to Sir Donald Bradman.

Inside, deafening noises of drums and cymbals drowned piped music and loudspeaker announcements as DELHI WAVERIDERS and Ranchi Rhinos played a pulsating game that looked as if 22 squash players were on virtual fire before a sardine-packed stadium.

India, which will have all the hockey in the world for the next five years thanks to a Rupert Murdoch-led Star TV marketing blitz, has started the Hockey India League that is the game’s answer to the Indian Premier League or Big Bash Cricket.

It has the cash, it has the game. It is like the big fish, big pond for world hockey.

The fans charged up both the teams but DELHI WAVERIDERS had an additional advantage, the presence of John Abraham, Bollywood’s Tom Hanks, who walked into the ground every time the game went for a break. The players loved it, so did the crowds where young girls – mostly dressed in red coats and high boots – went berserk.

There was hockey in the ground, food and drinks in the lounges. The scrumptious fare made a feast look like an understatement.

Delhi, because it feels it rules India, had to win and the DELHI WAVERIDERS’ boys, wearing jerseys that looked like greenbacks on shirts and led by the mercurial Sardara Singh – declared the fittest Indian by Men’s Health last year – won the nail-biting battle with a single goal win. The crowd went berserk. Victory was theirs, so was the floodlit night. In sport, impressions really do count.

This is not just hockey anymore, its more than a game.

Let hockey play, let hockey rule. Bring it on, Delhi Waveriders.

Table toppers Delhi Waveriders will be looking to end their home run on a high note when they face defending champions Ranchi Rhinos in their last home match of the Hockey India League (HIL) at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Wednesday.

Delhi Waveriders will also be looking to avenge the 0-1 loss they suffered against Ranchi Rhinos in their away match. So in their last home match, Delhi Waveriders, who lost to Rhinos in last year’s final, are eyeing nothing but a win.

Delhi Waveriders are currently leading the standings with 29 points from eight games, while the Rhinos are placed third with 23 points from six matches.

Delhi Waveriders have virtually booked their semi-final berth while third-placed Ranchi Rhinos are on the threshold. For sure, the Delhi Waveriders can expect that the Rhinos will charge at them hard.

With both the semi-final and the final to be played at their home ground, Ranchi Rhinos will be eyeing to book an early semi-final spot.

But Waveriders cannot lower their guard and they will be looking forward to maintain the standards they have displayed in the previous matches.

Ranchi Rhinos, having secured the third position on the basis of the matches played, will put in their best to give a tough fight to the opponent team and to maintain its defending champion’s title.

Delhi Waveriders skipper Sardar Singh said his boys are wary of Ranchi Rhinos.

Talking about the opponent team and the match tomorrow, Ranchi Rhino’s coach Gregg Clark warned Delhi Waveriders to expect a backlash from the Rhinos.

Leaders DELHI DAREDEVILS consolidated their position at the top of the table with a 1-0 win over defending champions Ranchi Rhinos in their last home match at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here on Wednesday.

It was a close encounter, but DELHI DAREDEVILS prevailed and also took sweet revenge of their away loss by a similar margin in Ranchi.

It was a late strike by Akashdeep Singh in the 65th minute that helped the host’s bag five points in the repeat of last edition’s final.

With the win, DELHI WAVERIDERS extended their lead to 34 points with six wins from nine matches while, the Rhinos are third with 24 points behind second placed Jaypee Punjab Warriors, who have 25 points.

Both the teams started the encounter on high intensity as the both attacked each other at every opportunity they got. Custodians of both the teams - Nicolas Jacobi (DELHI WAVERIDERS) and Francisco Cortes (Rhinos) - were in their elements and stopped whatever came their way.

The second quarter saw the visitors earning the first penalty corner of the match at the stroke of halftime but the Rhinos tried too many variations and messed up their chance to go up on the board.

The Rhinos were full of aggression and attacked immediately after halftime with a brilliant chance when veteran Dutchman Floris Evers almost scored for the Rhinos. Delhi Waveriders skipper and man of the match Sardar Singh was in prime form, one of the reasons why the DELHI WAVERIDERS have been so dominant this season.

Sardar performed his role of a playmaker in brilliant fashion, creating several chances but he did not get enough support as the DELHI WAVERIDERS forwards failed to break the Ranchi defence.In the 49th and 50th minutes. The Rhinos earned two back to back penalty corners but were successfully stopped by the hosts on both occasions.

The DELHI WAVERIDERS earned their first penalty corner in the next few moments but Cortes did his job well once again to keep out the hosts. But five minutes from the finish, Akashdeep’s field goal made all the difference as he not only put his team on the board but consolidated the DELHI WAVERIDERS position in the league.

In the last minute, the visitors were successful in earning another penalty corner but the DELHI WAVERIDERS were fruitful in keeping them out to bag full points. The Rhinos next play debutants Kalinga Lancers Feb 14 at Bhubaneswar while the DELHI WAVERIDERS take on the Dabur Mumbai Magicians in Mumbai on Feb 15.

DELHI WAVERIDERS continued their impressive run in the second edition of Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) with a 4-3 win over hosts Uttar Pradesh Wizards in a high scoring encounter at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in Lucknow here on Saturday.

The last two times the teams met, it ended in a draw but here the DELHI WAVERIDERS edged past in an exciting encounter.

The Sardar Singh-led DELHI WAVERIDERS, who finished runners-up in the inaugural HHIL last year, showed exactly why they were considered as one of the pre-tournament favorites and pumped in as many as four goals in the opening 20 minutes to stun Uttar Pradesh Wizards and their home fans.

DELHI WAVERIDERS opened the scoring in the 8th minute through a field goal by Talwinder Singh before Rupinderpal Singh (14th minute) converted a penalty corner six minutes later to take a 2-0 lead in the first quarter.

The second quarter unfolded on similar lines as the DELHI WAVERIDERS scored two more goals to extend their advantage.

Simon Child (19th, 20th minutes) scored two goals in a span of two minutes to rattle the home team. While the New Zealand striker’s first goal came from a field effort, the next came via penalty corner.

Uttar Pradesh Wizards, however, did not give up hope and produced a spirited fight back to found the opposition net thrice in the last two quarters and keep their hopes alive.

Nikkin Thimmaiah (30th minute) scored the first goal for the hosts from a field strike before skipper V R Raghunath (38th minute) converted a penalty corner eight minutes later as the Uttar Pradesh Wizards went into the final quarter trailing by 2-4.

Legendary Dutchman Teun de Nooijer scored another field goal for Uttar Pradesh Wizards to bring back life into the match.

Thereafter the hosts pressed hard for the equalizer with persistent attacks but DELHI WAVERIDERS defense stood tall like a rock to ensure full five points from the game.

The win consolidated DELHI WAVERIDERS position at the top of the standings with 29 points from eight games, while Uttar Pradesh Wizards continued to occupy the fourth spot on 15 points from six matches.

In their next match, the DELHI WAVERIDERS will play defending champions Ranchi Rhinos at their home ground on Feb 12.