Hockey: A real Kiwi icon retires

Tina Bell-Kake has been saluted as one of the greats of New Zealand women's hockey after her retirement from international play yesterday.

New Zealand Hockey Federation chief executive Ramesh Patel said the sport was losing a real icon, and new national coach Jan Borren said the inside right was one of the most naturally gifted players of the decade.


Bell-Kake, who has two young children and a busy job, had hinted the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur would be her international swansong, so yesterday's announcement was not a big surprise.

Bell-Kake has amassed 103 test caps in an international career which spanned more than 10 years. But her panache and fluidity on the ball will be most remembered.