Bhopal, Apr 2 : Indian hockey team is geared up to make a mark at the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy to be played in Ipoh, Malaysia from April 5 to 12 after undergoing rigorous practice session in Bhopal.

Indian Hockey coach Harendra Singh said that the five-nation event comprising of New Zealand, Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia and India, would be a build-up for the Asia Cup and also to improve the international rankings.

Hamburg - Germany field hockey international Sebastian Draguhn has been banned for one year for a doping rule violation, the nation's hockey federation DHB announced on Wednesday.

The 2006 world champion Draguhn was sanctioned for not being available for an out-of-competition doping test in August 2008. He has the right to appeal the ruling.

Johor Bahru (Malaysia), Mar. 16: Pakistan has defeated India 3-2 to clinch the Four-Nation junior hockey tournament here.

The Indian team failed to capitalize on its lead of 1-0 till the half time as the Pakistan players showcased a brilliant fight back to level the score at 2-2 at the final whistle.

Pak captain, Haseem Khan then produced a golden goal in the extra time which shattered the hope of the Indian squad of winning the title.

Auckland (New Zealand), Mar. 1: India won the fourth men''s hockey test 2-0 against New Zealand in Auckland today to secure the series by the same margin.

Second-half strikes by Sandeep Singh and Dilip Tirkey settled the issue a day after the teams fought out a 1-1 draw at the same venue in the third international.

They were perhaps fortunate not to be behind at half-time after the New Zealanders felt they should have had a goal two minutes before the interval.

New Zealand were instead awarded a stroke after the ball hit an Indian body, stopping a certain goal.

The Indians successfully appealed on the grounds that the ball had hit a New Zealand foot earlier.

He has devoted 20 years to the game and played 11 nationals

No parents would want their children to take up hockey, as the sport has nothing to offer to a player who has played 11 nationals and still has no permanent source of income.

Sanjay Pollaya, a pint-size hockey player from Khadki, has no source of income after dedicating 20 years to the sport.

An 8th standard dropout from Lal Bahadur Shastri High School, Khadki, he is currently playing for the Rajesh Pillay Academy as a captain and is being given a stipend of Rs5,000 for the past two months after his association with the club for the last six months.

The dissolved IHF on Wednesday demanded early elections to restore itself by the IOA and has even threatened to take legal action against the governing body if their demands are not met. The IHF, which was disbanded by the IOA last year, was here with representatives of 28 state associations and said it wanted that the governing body should soon announce the dates for the next election.