Malaysian women end up with bronze

THE Malaysian women only managed a bronze medal when they beat Uzbekistan 6-1 in the third-fourth placing match of the Asian Indoor tournament in Bangkok yes terday.
In the final yesterday, Kazakhstan beat Thailand A 4-1 and they will now play in the World Indoor Tournament in Poland next year.
Malaysia were the defending champions going into the tournament and they beat Thailand B 4-0 in the first match but there were no points awarded as the hosts had fielded a B side after Iran pulled out at the 11th hour.
Malaysia then beat Indonesia 9-1, and Uzbekistan 2-1, but lost to Kazakhstan 3-1. The telling point was when they drew 2-2 with Thailand A and missed out of playing in the final by a two-goal different to the hosts.
“We had fielded ex-internationals and a few budding junior players because the national team is in training for the Commonwealth and Asian Games and we did not want to interrupt their programme,” said Malaysian Women’s Hockey Federation secretary S. Shamala.
In the commonwealth Games, the Malaysian women are in Group B with England, New Zealand, Canada and Wales.
In Group A are Australia, South Africa, India, Trinidad & Tobago and Scotland.