Malaysia to host Challenge after all

01/11/2001

THE FIH have awarded the Champions Challenge to Malaysia and it will be
held at the Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium on Dec 8-16.
Malaysia Hockey Federation Secretary S. Satguman said yesterday, the
teams that will be taking part are Argentina, Belgium, India, Japan, South
Africa and the hosts.
Poland and Spain have declined invitation and in their place, Belgium
have been included.
And in the 2002 Kuala Lumpur World Cup on Feb 24-March 9, South Africa,
Belgium and Argentina are in Group A while Japan, Malaysia and India are
in Group B.
"I called the FIH yesterday and they said Malaysia's bid has been
accepted and all the countries except for Poland and Spain, are willing to
play in Malaysia because they know this is a peaceful country and they
have nothing to fear about security," said Satgunam.
New Delhi was supposed to host the Champions Challenge but after the
Sept 11 attack on the United States and the ongoing war in Afghanistan,
Indian Hockey Federation president K.P.S Gill handed back the challenge to
FIH and Malaysia made an 11th-hour bid.
FIH marketing and communications manager Steven Morris when contacted in
Brussels yesterday, said there is a hosting fee of 40,000 Swiss Franks
(RM88,000), but it was learnt yesterday that the MHF have secured the
Challenge with a nominal payment because they were `doing india a favour'.
"We still have to get clearence from the Sports Ministry to host the
event. Because under the Sports Act, we must get permission from the
Ministry before hosting any tournamant," said Satgunam.
But that should not be a problem and it is only seen as a formality,
because Malaysia need to host the Challenge or their 2002 World Cup
preparations will not be complete.
National coach Paul Lissek, in Rotterdam to watch the Champions Trophy
and assess Malaysia's World Cup opponents' progress, said if we do not
host the Champions Challenge, Malaysia will be in deep trouble come
February.
Seniors team manager Datuk R. Yogeswaran was happy with the FIH
decision.
"Right now we need all the matches we can get and since five of the
countries playing in the Challenge are also in the 2002 World Cup, it will
be good practice for the boys.
"And since the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil will be returfed
for the World Cup, it will be better if we 'season' the artificial pitch
during the Challenge.
"We had planned to have at least 50 matches before the World Cup, but to
date, we have only clocked 26 matches. By playing in the Challenge, it
will mean an additional five matches and with plans for more Five-and-Six
nations, it should be enough to prepare the team for 2002," said
Yogeswaran.
Originally, there was the Afro Asian Games in India but that too has
been scrapped because of the Afghanistan war.
"The players have been in training since the Sea Games with short breaks
in between. Their next break is during Deepavali after which we will know
for sure how many matches we will play before the World Cup.
"The MHF have plans to invite some Asian countries for practice, so
everything is going according to our plan," said Yogeswaran.
The top six finishers from the Sydney 2000 Olympics play in the
Champions Trophy, which was shifted from Lahore to Rotterdam for the same
reason, and the 7-12th play in the Champions Challenge. But due to
security concerns around the world, the FIH have made some changes and
allowed Belgium to play as well.
* jugjet@nstp.com.my
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