Asia: Yibbi Jansen (NED) And Harmanpreet Singh (IND) Named FIH Gamers Of The 12 months!

Following a vote by an Knowledgeable Panel, Nationwide Associations – represented by their respective nationwide groups’ captains and coaches – followers and media, Yibbi Jansen (Netherlands) and Harmanpreet Singh (India) have been awarded the FIH Gamers of the yr 2024 throughout the gala night time of the forty ninth FIH Statutory Congress in Oman!

Whereas Ye Jiao of China and PR Sreejesh of India received the FIH Goalkeepers of the 12 months awards, the awards for FIH Rising Stars went to Zoe Díaz of Argentina and Sufyan Khan of Pakistan.

For the second yr in a row China ladies’s head coach Alyson Annan (Australia) has been awarded the FIH Coach of the 12 months award within the ladies’s class, whereas Jeroen Delmee (Netherlands) wins the FIH Coach of the 12 months award within the males’s class.

Sarah Wilson of Scotland and Steve Rogers of Australia received the FIH Umpire of the 12 months award within the ladies’s and males’s class respectively.

FIH Greatest Participant of the 12 months (voted by Knowledgeable Panel, Nationwide Associations – represented by their respective nationwide groups’ captains and coaches -, followers and media)

Ladies – Yibbi Jansen was a completely deserving winner of the award after starring on the Paris 2024 Olympics the place she led Netherlands to yet one more gold medal, scoring 9 targets alongside the way in which together with the leveller within the gold medal match, with lower than 10 minutes to go within the match, to get her workforce again within the contest and finally to the highest step of the rostrum.

At simply 24, Jansen is already probably the most achieved gamers in hockey and already leads the record of all-time prime objective scorers within the FIH Hockey Professional League! Because the performances proceed to enhance, sky’s the restrict for the prodigiously gifted Dutch drag flicker.

Requested in regards to the pivotal second within the gold medal match at Paris 2024, Yibbi Jansen stated: “First off, thanks for having me right here and for this award. It has been nice to fulfill everybody who works behind the scenes to make all of the hockey occasions doable worldwide. The Olympic Gold was all the time the most important dream of my life and this summer time that dream got here true. Thanks to my teammates who all labored so laborious for us to make this dream a actuality. With 10 minutes left within the sport and trailing, it was nervous moments. However we have now been working so laborious for therefore lengthy and we’re all actually shut to one another, on and off the sector, so we all the time had religion in one another that we may overturn it and win. So because of them for every little thing!”

Males – Harmanpreet Singh was the standout participant amongst the lads’s nominees, receiving essentially the most votes throughout all classes of voters. Very similar to Yibbi Jansen within the ladies’s competitors, Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh led the scoring charts on the Paris 2024 Olympics with 10 targets together with targets within the quarterfinal, semi-final and each targets within the bronze medal match in opposition to Spain, which India received 2-1 to safe their second consecutive podium end on the Olympics!

Harmanpreet was additionally an important cog within the Indian workforce that had damaged their 41 yr podium drought on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Video games. He has beforehand received the FIH Participant of the 12 months award on two events in 2020-21 and in 2021-22. The third one may simply be essentially the most valuable one nevertheless, given it’s been received whereas main his nation for the primary time, after taking on captaincy in 2023, and main his workforce to an Olympic medal in his first try!

Talking in regards to the celebrations again dwelling after he captained his aspect to a second consecutive medal on the Olympics, Harmanpreet Singh stated: “First off, I want to thank FIH for this nice honour. After the Olympics it was so nice to return dwelling and have such big crowds there to greet us and welcome us. It was a really very particular feeling. I want to point out my teammates, none of this might have been doable with out you all. Particular because of Hockey India as properly for all the time giving us each alternative to succeed in any respect ranges. My spouse and daughter are right here immediately and receiving this award in entrance of them means the world to me. So thanks to everybody who made that doable!”

FIH Goalkeeper of the 12 months (voted by Knowledgeable Panel, Nationwide Associations – represented by their respective nationwide groups’ captains and coaches -, followers and media)

Ladies – Ye Jiao has been a brick wall for China as they went from power to power in worldwide hockey over the previous yr. Her performances on the Paris 2024 Olympics additionally stood out as China received to inside 10 minutes of profitable the gold medal, lastly ending up with a exceptional silver medal, their first Olympic medal since profitable silver at Beijing 2008, and solely their second ever Olympic hockey medal!

As she obtained her award, Ye Jiao stated: “I want to thank FIH for giving me this award. That is the centennial yr of the FIH and to obtain this award on this yr is additional particular. I might additionally prefer to thank those that help me, particularly these again in China, my teammates, coaches and everybody who’s current right here immediately, becoming a member of me on this most particular second of my life. My teammates and I’ll work even tougher and we’ll attempt to obtain much more over the approaching years.”

Males – PR Sreejesh introduced an finish to his stellar profession on the Paris 2024 Olympics, by including a second Olympic medal to his trophy cupboard and now he will get so as to add a 3rd FIH Goalkeeper of the 12 months award as properly, having beforehand received the award in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Sreejesh bid adieu to hockey on the highest stage, placing collectively an unbelievable Olympic marketing campaign, that included a mammoth efficiency within the quarterfinal win for India over Nice Britain, the place they performed a lot of the match with 10 gamers!

Very similar to his compatriot Harmanpreet Singh, Sreejesh obtained essentially the most votes throughout all classes of voters!

Thanking those who have helped him alongside his great profession, PR Srejeesh stated: “I’m so joyful immediately. Thanks for this final taking part in honour of my taking part in profession. As most individuals know, Paris 2024 was the final event I performed for my nation and I simply need to thank Hockey India for all of the help and steerage supplied over all of the years I’ve performed the game. This award fully belongs to my workforce, the defence who made positive most assaults by no means received to me, and the midfielders and forwards who coated up my errors by scoring extra targets than I conceded.”

FIH Rising Star of the 12 months (voted by Knowledgeable Panel, Nationwide Associations – represented by their respective nationwide groups’ captains and coaches -, followers and media)

Ladies – Zoe Díaz has solidified her standing as one in all Argentina’s brightest hockey skills over the previous yr. A key participant for Las Leonas, Díaz was instrumental in Argentina’s bronze medal victory on the Paris 2024 Olympics. Her excellent defensive expertise and sport consciousness helped Argentina overcome robust competitors, notably within the bronze medal match the place they triumphed over Germany. Past the Olympics, Díaz continued to shine within the FIH Hockey Professional League, constantly delivering standout performances that contributed to Argentina’s continued excessive standing in worldwide hockey.

As she obtained her award, Zoe Díaz stated: “I’m actually joyful to have received this award. It was powerful to play on the highest stage throughout the previous yr, particularly the Olympics and I’m very emotional about all that we achieved. I want to dedicate this award to my household, particularly my mom who’s right here in Oman to help me. So congratulations to her as properly!”

Males – Sufyan Khan has quickly emerged as one in all Pakistan’s most fun younger hockey skills, with a powerful goalscoring file of 24 targets in simply 48 video games at a younger age. Khan’s deadly ending and attacking prowess have been on full show throughout the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024, and the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, the place he constantly discovered the again of the web, boosting Pakistan’s performances on the worldwide stage. His standout exhibiting on the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Moqi China 2024 additional highlighted his potential, as Khan’s vital targets helped Pakistan advance deep into the event. As Pakistan rebuilds its hockey legacy, Khan has rapidly grow to be an important participant, exhibiting maturity past his years and a knack for delivering in high-pressure moments.

Requested about how he sees his future within the Pakistan workforce, Sufyan Khan stated: “First I want to thank God for all that I’ve been in a position to obtain with the workforce and likewise my household who’ve all the time supported me. Pakistan has a terrific historical past on the earth of hockey having achieved so many medals on the World Cups and Olympics, I want to say to the followers again dwelling that we’ll all the time purpose to take us again to these glory days and I’m positive these days are coming quickly. I might additionally prefer to thank my teammates who’ve all the time supported me in my younger profession.”

FIH Coach of the 12 months (chosen by the Knowledgeable Panel)

Ladies – Alyson Annan has been pivotal in remodeling China right into a formidable drive in worldwide hockey. Underneath her management, China achieved a historic silver medal on the Paris 2024 Olympics, matching their best-ever Olympic end. Annan’s tactical acumen and skill to encourage her squad have been essential in guiding China by means of a difficult event, culminating in a hard-fought closing in opposition to the Netherlands. Moreover, China clinched gold on the 2024 Asian Video games, reinforcing their dominance within the area. Annan’s affect was additionally evident throughout the FIH Hockey Professional League 2023/24 season, the place China displayed a extremely improved efficiency, constantly competing in opposition to the world’s greatest groups and additional solidifying their rise in world hockey below her tenure.

As she obtained her award, Alyson Annan mirrored on all that lies forward of her and for hockey in China and stated: “I feel gamers are beginning to dream larger and when you begin dreaming larger it turns into simpler to attain larger issues. During the last two years we have now made huge strides and I want to thank the Chinese language Hockey Affiliation and my gamers who gave it their all. With out all of their help none of this might have been doable. My dream is for the Chinese language workforce and different Asian and newer groups to start out making their presence felt on the latter levels of the massive tournaments and I hope that we see that quickly.

Males – Jeroen Delmee’s management of the Netherlands males’s hockey workforce reached its pinnacle on the Paris 2024 Olympics, the place he guided the Dutch to their first Olympic gold since Sydney 2000. With a mix of tactical brilliance and participant growth, Delmee constructed a workforce that dominated the event, showcasing a mix of sharp offensive play and stable defence. His give attention to self-discipline and flexibility allowed the Netherlands to beat powerful competitors, culminating in an exhilarating gold medal match victory. This achievement solidified Delmee’s standing as one of many prime coaches in world hockey, restoring the Netherlands to their historic Olympic glory.

Requested the way it felt to win an Olympic gold as a participant and as a coach, which earned him this award, Jeroen Delmee stated: “Actually my feelings have been a lot greater profitable the Olympics as a coach as in comparison with once I was a participant, though it sounds unusual. You’re employed laborious for 4 years working with an enormous group of gamers making an attempt to attain the gold medal. It makes the ultimate outcome simply a lot extra stunning and I’ve seen photos of myself crying after we received the gold and it means a lot to work as a coach and assist the younger gamers obtain their nice second. So it was much more particular for me as a coach to win the Olympic gold than as a participant.”

FIH Umpire of the 12 months (chosen by the FIH Umpiring Committee)

Ladies – Sarah Wilson is a extremely achieved Scottish hockey umpire, acknowledged globally for her experience and professionalism, with a powerful file of umpiring 235 worldwide matches. Her profession consists of officiating at main tournaments such because the FIH Hockey World Cups and the Olympic Video games, together with being chosen to officiate the ladies’s gold medal match on the Paris 2024 Video games. In 2021, Wilson made historical past by changing into the primary lady to umpire the lads’s EuroHockey Championship closing. Her management, consistency, and dedication to advancing the position of girls in sports activities officiating have earned her widespread acclaim and cemented her popularity as one of many prime umpires within the sport.

Requested about what the award teaches her, Sarah Wilson stated: “That something is feasible. In the event you put your thoughts to it, work laborious and imagine then you possibly can completely obtain something. Folks could let you know you possibly can’t do one thing. A lot of them thought feminine umpires shouldn’t umpire in males’s video games, however we have now all proven it’s all doable and hopefully impressed future generations into attaining much more!”

Males – Steve Rogers is without doubt one of the world’s most revered hockey umpires, with a distinguished profession spanning a number of high-profile worldwide tournaments. Identified for his sharp decision-making and calm manner on the sector, Rogers has officiated at a number of FIH occasions and added one other feather to his cap as he umpired the lads’s gold medal match at Paris 2024! His dedication to the game and constant efficiency have earned him recognition as one of many prime umpires in world hockey, contributing to the integrity and equity of the sport on the highest stage.