Japan latest entry for Six Nations tournament

22/12/2001

THE Malaysia Hockey Federation (MHF) have accepted Japan's request to play
in the Six-Nation on Jan 18-26 at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit
Jalil.
Earlier, the MHF had planned to make it into a Five-Nation when India
decided not to field a side in the tournament as it was too close to the
2002 World Cup on Feb 24-March 9.
"Japan wrote to us (MHF) and requested that they be included in the Six-
Nation because they need more practice matches to get ready for the World
Cup. We have included them in the fixtures and taken out India who
declined our invitation," said MHF secretary S. Satgunam yesterday.
India coach Cedric D'souza, when met at the recent Champions Challenge
in Kuala Lumpur, said: "The Six-Nation is too close to the World Cup and I
fear that my players might get injured or get too exhausted and will not
be able to perform well in the World Cup. That is why we have declined
MHF's invitation and will intead play a few Test matches to get ready for
the World Cup."
India won the Champions Challenge and will now play in the Champions
Trophy next year in Cologne, Germany.
For the Six-Nation, Malaysia open their campaign against Japan on Jan 18
and it is expected to be a tough encounter because the last time the two
teams met in the Champions Challenge, Malaysia edge them 1-0.
Japan had a bad start in the Challenge but recovered towards the end of
their fixtures by scoring a total of 11 goals against Belgium in two
matches.
Malaysia's preparations towards the World Cup begins with the Four-
Nation tournament in Spain on Jan 3-5 and then play hosts to the Six-
Nation at Bukit Jalil on Jan 18.
The teams for the Six-Nation are defending World Cup champions Holland,
Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Pakistan.
Tickets are priced at RM5 and RM10.
All the Six-Nation teams will also feature in the World Cup, and since
Malaysia will be opening their World Cup campaign against Australia, the
tournament is seen as a preview of what Malaysia are capable of when they
become hosts in February.
Six-Nation fixtures - Jan 18: Australia v New Zealand (4.05pm), Japan v
Malaysia (6.05), Pakistan v Holland (8.05).
Jan 19: New Zealand v Holland (6.05), Japan v Australia (8.05).
Jan 20: Malaysia v Pakistan (6.05).
Jan 21: Pakistan v Japan (4.05), New Zealand v Malaysia (6.05), Holland
v Australia (8.05).
Jan 22: Japan v Holland (6.05).
Jan 23: Australia v Malaysia (6.05), Pakistan v New Zealand (8.05).
Jan 24: Holland v Malaysia (4.05), New Zealand v Japan (6.05), Australia
v Pakistan (8.05).
Jan 25: REST DAY.
Jan 26: 5th-6th classification (4.05), 3rd-4th classification (5.35),
Final (8.05).
jugjet@nstp.com.my
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