Learning mission in China

02/09/2002

WHILE India, Pakistan and South Korea play in the Champions Trophy in
Cologne, Germany, the national hockey team went to China to size-up their
Asian Games opponents.
China, and when did they become a super-power in hockey, was the initial
reaction.
While Malaysia has been trying to keep up with the other traditional
Asian hockey playing countries, China, who have never played in the men's
World Cup, has been on a steady rise.
And with the task of hosting the Olympics in 2008 high on their agenda,
the Chinese Dragon has finally started breathing fire in hockey.
Malaysia found out, to their amazement, the strength of the Chinese
during their recent Tour of Korea - when the national side were held to a
2-2 draw by the Chinese.
A hastily arranged Tour was them planned and now the Malaysian team is
in China for a Five-Test series beginning tomorrow.
Malaysia are in the same group with China in the Asian Games, from Sept
29-Oct 14, and the early target of reaching the semi-finals might have to
be revised after they return from the Tour.
Pakistan, the other semi-final contenders from Malaysia's group, have
shown their form when they narrowly lost 2-3 to world champions Germany in
the Champions Trophy.
Malaysia, on the other hand, will be fielding a relatively raw side in
the Asian Games as a spate of withdrawals has hit the team over the last
five months.
National team manager Zulkifli Abbas was cautious about China before
leaving for Beijing: "China has emerged as a strong contender in the Asian
Games as they have been aggresively preparing. It will be foolish to
underestimate them in Busan."
Malaysia have played China only once prior to the Korean Tour - at the
1998 Asian Games in Bangkok when the national team won 1-0 in the
classification match to finish fifth.
The final squad for the Asian Games will be selected on Sept 10, but
changes are expected to be minimal as the core has already been
identified.
CHINA Tour squad - Goalkeepers: Roslan Jamaluddin, S. Kumar; Defenders:
S. Kuhan, Amin Rahim, K. Gobinathan, Redzuan Ponirin, Azrul Effendy
Bistaman, K. Keevan Raj; Midfielders: Megat Azrafiq Megat Termizi, Madzli
Ikmar, Norazlan Rahim, Shaiful Azli; Forwards: Azlan Misron, Fairuz Ramli,
Rodhanizam Radzi, Chairil Anwar, Chua Boon Huat, Riduan Nasir.
(END)