Hockey stars for 2024 season to receive awards in Muscat

MUSCAT, Nov 7

The FIH Executive Board of the International Hockey Federation meeting took place in Muscat on Thursday. The meeting was headed by FIH President Tayab Ikram in presence of the Executive Board members. The meeting discussed several topics, ideas and proposals which are relevant to development of hockey sport.

On the other hand, the 'FIH Empowerment and Engagement Forum' will occur on Friday in presence of all the national hockey associations across the world. The one-day forum will begin with FIH President’s opening address. Then, the Continental Federations and National Associations delegates from accompanied with representatives from FIH, will begin the session with a focus on athletes and women.

Later on, FIH representatives will highlight on 'athletes first' strategy and being a firm advocate of a gender equal sport, discussions will be conducted around the question of how athletes and women can be better supported. Various specific workshops and further crucial topics for the development of the game will be tackled such as development, participation, communication and promotion, facilities and funding and technology solutions.

Later in the evening, Muscat will host the FIH Hockey Stars Awards. All winners including FIH players, goalkeepers, rising stars, coaches and umpires of the year will be unveiled during the night event. The nominees of FIH Player of the Year Award in women's category: Gu Bingfeng (CHN), Yibbi Jansen (NED), Nike Lorenz (GER), Stephanie Vanden Borre (BEL) and Xan de Waard (NED). In the men's category: Thierry Brinkman (NED), Joep de Mol (NED), Hannes Muller (GER), Harmanpreet Singh (IND) and Zach Wallace (ENG).

The FIH Goalkeeper of the Year Award for Women nominees include: Cristina Cosentino (ARG), Aisling D’Hooghe (BEL), Nathalie Kubalski (GER), Anne Veenendaal (NED) and Ye Jiao (CHN).

The men's category will feature Pirmin Blaak (NED), Luis Calzado (ESP), Jean-Paul Danneberg (GER), Tomas Santiago (ARG) and PR Sreejesh (IND). For the FIH Rising Star of the Year Award, the nominees in Women: Claire Colwill (AUS), Zoe Diaz (ARG), Tan Jinzhuang (CHN), Emily White (BEL), Linnea Weidemann (GER) and Men: Bautista Capurro (ARG), Bruno Font (ESP), Sufyan Khan (PAK), Michel Struthoff (GER) and Arno Van Dessel (BEL)

Coco Juan, Vice-President of FIH, President of the Pan American Hockey Federation and Executive Board member, said that Oman is a leading country in hosting very large-scale sports events. “I was here in beginning of the year at the FIH World Hockey5s Championship. It was a great event with high standard hosting. I am great to return back to Muscat and attending in FIH global hockey family gathering which will discuss various hockey sports milestones,” Juan said.