Goalkeeper ROSLAN Jamaluddin gets a re-call.THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) took into con sideration an appeal from chief coach Stephen van Huizen, and will now field the best available players for the Com monwealth Games in New Delhi on Oct 4-14.
Earlier, the MHF were adamant that a mixed team be sent for the Commonwealth Games, while the best be fielded for the Asian Games in China on Nov 12-17.
“We decided to send the best available players for the Commonwealth Games after taking into consideration an appeal from van Huizen. The coach felt that playing in New Delhi would be a good preparation for the Asian Games and so be it,” said MHF president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Malaysia are grouped with India, Pakistan, Scotland and Australia in that playing order in Group A of the Com monwealth Games.
In Group B are England, New Zealand, Canada, Wales and Trinidad and Tobago.
“However, now that we will be sending a full side, I expect the team to show some results and not just make up the numbers,” said Tengku Abdullah.
One name which was conspicuously missing from the list was that of Kelvinder Singh, who picked up an injury during the Azlan Shah Cup, and has been on the recovery list since.
“We have selected the best and those who showed im provement in all the Tours that we had prior to the Com monwealth Games.
“It is an important tournament for Malaysia, as even though it does not offer a ticket to anywhere, it will prepare my players for the Asian Games challenge,” said van Huizen.
Kelvinder when contacted said: “I did not attend a few training sessions (in Malaysia) when the team was playing in Europe, because there were only a handful of us who were left back home.
“However, I have fully recovered from my injury and will train hard to re-claim my spot and play in the Asian Games.”
In the Asian Games, Malaysia, 15th ranked in the world, are in Group A with defending champions South Korea (sixth), China (14th), Oman (43rd) and Singapore (39th).
In Group B are Pakistan (eighth), India (ninth), Japan (16th), Hong Kong (54th) and Bangladesh (34th).
A gold in the Asian Games offers a direct entry into the 2012 London Olympics.
MALAYSIAN SQUAD: S. Kumar (gk), Roslan Jamaluddin (gk), Madzli Ikmar, Jiwa Mohan, Amin Rahim, Razie Rahim, Baljit Singh Charun, Shukri Mutalib, Nabil Fikri, Marhan Jalil, Shahrun Nabil, Faizal Shaari, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Hafifi Hafiz, Azlan Misron, Izwan Firdaus.
