THE Malaysian Women’s hockey team left for Chile last night, with what little hope they had in the World Cup Qualifier shredded to pieces by a lop-sided fixture drawn up by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).The national side will now play three matches back-to- back, and waiting for them in the third match are Australia who have been given a four-day rest to prepare for Malaysia.
The first tournament fixture had a final slotted in it, but the latest fixture from the FIH will see the Malaysian women play three matches in a row, and the tournament has been turned into a round-robbin affair, with the team that tops the standings given the ticket to play in the Argentina World Cup.
“I a surprised that the FIH has changed to fixtures and now there will no longer be a final, but the team with the most points after four matches gets the qualifier ticket.
“This is unfair because the Malaysian team has put in much effort to prepare for this tournament, and out initial target was to play in the final,” said Malaysian Women’s Hockey Association secretary S. Shamala.
And the fact that the Malaysian women will play three matches in a row, with Australia waiting for their tired limbs in the third match, did not go down well with the MWHA.
“We have written to the FIH for a change in fixtures because it is ridiculous to play three matches in a row, while Australia rest for four and a half-days and then play Malaysia,” said Shamala.
FIXTURES -- April 24: Chile v Australia; April 25: REST DAY; April 26: REST DAY.
April 27: Chile v Malaysia; April 28 Malaysia v Ireland; April 29: Ireland v Scotland, Australia v Malaysia.
April 30: Scotland v Australia; May 1 Malaysia v Scotland; May 2: Australia v Ireland, Scotland v Chile.
