Easy group for Busan

15/06/2002

THE national hockey team have been blessed with an easy group in the Asian
Games in Busan, and it will be a shame if they don't make the semifinals.
Drawn in Group A with defending champions India, Japan, Bangladesh and
Oman, it should be plain sailing for Malaysia have a good track record
against the four.
But with an erratic Malaysian team, who fumbled despite getting a
favourable draw for the Kuala Lumpur World Cup, one can never tell until
the final whistle.
Group B is tougher as it consists of South Korea and Pakistan, who
performed better than Malaysia in the World Cup, and China and Hong Kong.
In the last Asian Games in Bangkok, Malaysia finished fifth but for the
September Games, they have been placed in a group where a medal is
possible.
Five teams have entered in the women's competition with China leading
the charge and Malaysia conspiciously missing from the list.
The other women's teams are from India, Japan, Korea and Uzbekistan.
The fixtures for both the men's and women's tournaments will be
announced on July 9 when the Asian Hockey Federation and National Olympic
Council officials attend the chef-de-missions meeting.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Mathavan Devadas has been appointed tournament
director for men's hockey in Busan.
The technical officials appointed are Dr Choi Ki Soo of Korea and
Malaysian Hockey Federation secretary S. Satgunam. Amrit Bose is the
tournament director for the women's tournament.
(END)