Double whammy for T'gganu

27/05/08

By Devinder Singh
devinder@nst.com.my
HOSTS Terengganu have been dealt a harsh hand after being drawn with the defending champions in both the men's and women's hockey at the Malaysia Games.
But the Terengganu men's team will still pose a formidable challenge to 2006 winners the Federal Territories and Negri Sembilan in the preliminary rounds having finished third in the recent National Under-21 championship.
That team will be the same that lines up when the hockey competition begins on Saturday with Terengganu Hockey Association honorary secretary Saberi Salleh expecting to claim a few scalps.
"Their performance was improved significantly which could give us hope of winning the gold medal on home soil. The National Under-21 tournament has shown what this team are capable of," he said.
Malacca, who emerged winners of that tournament after whipping Penang 8-0 in the final in January, will also fancy their chances having been drawn with Selangor, Perak and Brunei in Group C.
The Terengganu women's team have Sarawak, the gold medallists of two years ago, Pahang and Kedah for company in Group A.
But it is in Group B where the most closely contested battles will be fought where traditional hockey powerhouses Selangor, FT, Penang and Perak will all jostle for the two semi-final spots.
In the last Games in Kedah, FT won the men's hockey gold after beating Johor 4-1 while Sarawak took the women's gold after overcoming Penang 3-2.
The men's competition will be held at the Gong Badak Sports Complex while the women will play at the MBKT Stadium in Batu Burok.
DRAW - Men's Group A: Federal Territories, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu; Group B: Johor, Kedah, Sarawak; Group C: Selangor, Malacca, Perak, Brunei; Group D: Penang, Kelantan, Pahang, Perlis.
Women's Group A: Sarawak, Terengganu, Pahang, Kedah; Group B: Penang, Perak, Selangor, Johor, Federal Territoties.