Men's Hockey Commonwealth Games Results
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event that takes place every four years, featuring athletes from countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Men's hockey is one of the sports that feature in this event, and the latest edition, which was held in 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia, was a thrilling one. If you missed out on the action, don't worry! In this article, we'll take you through everything you need to know about the Men's hockey Commonwealth Games results, from the winners to the standout players and everything in between.
The Champions: Australia
Hosts Australia emerged as the winners of the Men's hockey tournament, beating New Zealand in the final to secure their fifth Commonwealth Games gold medal. The Kookaburras, as they are famously known, won all their matches in the tournament, scoring a total of 47 goals and only conceding two. They dominated their opponents with their attacking play and were defensively solid. The Australian squad featured some of the best players in the world, such as Aran Zalewski, Blake Govers, and Jeremy Hayward, who were instrumental in their success.
Runners Up: New Zealand
The New Zealand team put up a strong challenge in the final but couldn't stop the Australian juggernaut. Despite finishing as runners-up, the Black Sticks would be pleased with their performance. They won three of their four matches in the tournament, scoring 13 goals and conceding just five. The New Zealand squad had some standout players, such as Hugo Inglis, Nic Woods, and Blair Tarrant, who played a vital role in their team's success.
Other Contenders
Several other teams participated in the Men's hockey Commonwealth Games tournament, and while they may not have won the gold medal, they still provided some intriguing moments. India, for instance, finished third on the podium, beating England 2-1 in the bronze medal match. India had a mixed tournament, winning two, losing two, and drawing one of their five matches. However, they showed that they could compete with the best teams in the world and had some excellent players in their squad, such as Sardar Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, and Rupinder Pal Singh.
Another team that put up a good show was England. The Englishmen finished fourth in the tournament, losing to India in the bronze medal match. England had some experienced players in their squad, such as Barry Middleton and Phil Roper, and some promising young talents, such as Sam Ward and Liam Ansell. They won two, drew one, and lost two of their five matches in the competition.
Standout Players
Several players caught the eye in the Men's hockey Commonwealth Games tournament, with some producing exceptional performances. One of these players was Blake Govers of Australia. The 22-year-old forward was in red-hot form throughout the tournament, scoring 10 goals in total, including a hat-trick in the semi-final against England. He was named the Player of the Tournament and deservedly so.
Another player who stood out was Harmanpreet Singh of India. The 22-year-old defender was solid at the back and scored four goals in the tournament. He was impressive in India's bronze medal-winning performance and showed that he has a bright future ahead of him.
Conclusion
The Men's hockey Commonwealth Games tournament in 2018 was an exciting one, with Australia emerging as the champions. The Kookaburras were a class above their opponents and deserved their victory. However, other teams, such as New Zealand and India, also put up good performances, and some players produced exceptional displays. Overall, the tournament was a great advert for the sport of hockey, and we can't wait to see what the next edition of the Commonwealth Games holds for us.