Knowles, Dwyer to lead Oz’s charge for gold

Perth, June 29 

Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles have been selected for their fourth Olympics, giving Australia an edge in experience as they bid to end Germany’s run of gold medals in men’s field hockey at the Summer Games.

Dwyer and Knowles, who are brothers-in-law, were on the Australian team at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, where Dwyer hit the winning goal in the final that earned Australia their first Olympics gold medal in the competition. The 32-year-old Knowles was captain of the 16-man squad announced Wednesday for the Rio Olympics. Australia are desperate to improve on the bronze-medal finishes in 2008 and 2012 when Germany claimed the titles. The squad features 10 returning Olympians and six rookies.

At 37, Dwyer will be Australia’s oldest hockey player ever at the Olympics. — AP