Pretty women on a tough mission

The Malaysian Women's Hockey Association (MWHA) named 18 players for the Qualifiers. The team will leave for Chile on April 18.

The squad -- Goalkeepers: Siti Noor Zainordin, Farah Ayuni Yahya; defenders: Catherine Anak Lambor, Raja Norsharina Shabuddin, Siti Shahidah Saad, Norfaraha Hashim, Sebah Kari; midfielders: Nadia Abdul Rahman (capt), Juliani Mohd Din, Nuraini Abdul Rashid, Noor Hasliza Ali, Siti Nor Amarina Ruhani; forwards: Norbaini Hashim, Rabiatul Adawiyah Mohd, Fazilla Sylvester Silin, Nor Hidayah Ahmad Bokhari, Nor Azlin Sumantri, Siti Rahman Othman.
FIXTURES -- April 24: Chile v Malaysia; April 25: Scotland v Malaysia; April 27: Malaysia v Ireland; May 1: Australia v Malaysia.

More dirt on Pakistan

PIC: Pakistan v Australia in the 2010 New Delhi World Cup.

Pakistan lost WCQ match to Poland deliberately as part of planning to avoid France in Final, Asif Bajwa makes shocking revelation to VOA.

By Sardar Khan

As if Pakistan’s worst ever 12th position in the recently concluded hockey world cup in New Delhi was not enough that led the former Olympians to call for Asif Bajwa’s head, the sacked manager of Pakistan team and reigning secretary of Pakistan hockey federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa, in an exclusive interview to Voice of America (VOA) has made the shocking disclosure that Pakistan lost its league match to Poland purposely in world cup qualifying tournament (WQC) held in Lille as part of strategy to avoid hosts France in the final.
It may be remembered that PHF President Qasim Zia had sacked the team management comprising of manager Asif Bajwa and chief coach Shahid Ali Khan as well as the whole selection committee after Pakistan’s humiliating display in 2010 world cup.
When asked that how come star studded Pakistan team lost its league match to minnows like Poland on 7th, Nov 2009 in WCQ tournament in France, Bajwa made this shocking revelation that “ I don’t want to justify that defeat but I want to tell you that it was part of the strategy. Had Pakistan beaten Poland, Pakistan could face host France in the final that Pakistan wanted to avoid as in that case, France could win and would have qualified for the final rounds of the world cup”.
“It was part of our planning, we fielded our second string in the match in order to ensure that we faced Japan in the WCQ tournament final instead of France, Bajwa said”.
When asked that deliberately losing a match is not only against the spirit of fair play but it also comes under the parameters of Match fixing, Bajwa said, “ I don’t call it match fixing but a strategy and planning. We rested our key players in order to be better equipped in the final against Japan”.
When VOA pressed that even despite resting senior players Pakistan was not a team to be beaten by Poland, Bajwa replied, “ I am not justifying the defeat and I admit that Pakistan should not have lost but what I am saying is that our planning worked well and we qualified for 2010 world cup”.
It is worth pointing out that after finishing 12th in 2010 world cup, allegations were echoed by many including former Olympian and coach Shahnaz Shaikh suggesting that he smelled rat of match fixing or under performance that led to disasters humiliation.
Now this bombshell from sitting PHF secretary Asif Bajwa suggests that a high level investigation should be carried out to find out the hidden reasons of debacle.
Muhammad Shafiq, one of the sacked selector in the aftermath of world cup, told VOA that it was not a team that could finish at 12th position so an inquiry be set up and responsible should be brought to book.
Voice of America exclusive interview

Anerson on a good run

By Ajitpal Singh

ANDERSON chalked up their third straight win in Division One of the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League when they overwhelmed Bukit Jalil Juniors 4-1 at the Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh yesterday.
Anderson led 3-0 at half-time through Azril Misron (eighth minute), Mohd Firdaus Sidek (26th) and Jasdev Singh (34th) before Mohd Soffian Kamaruddin added their fourth in the 53rd minute.
Thung Wei Chia replied for the visitors in the 38th minute.
Anderson now lead Division One with nine points from three matches.
In another match, the national women's hockey team (MWHA) suffered their third defeat when they went down 3-1 to Bandar Penawar Juniors in Seremban.
Muhd Shahril Saabah scored in the 42nd and 61st minutes after Muhd Sufi Ismat Rohulamin had levelled proceedings for Bandar Penawar Juniors in the 36th minute.
MWHA took the lead through Nuraini Abdul Rashid's penalty corner set-piece in the 29th minute.
RESULTS -- Division One: MWHA 1 Bandar Penawar Juniors 3, Anderson 4 Bukit Jalil Juniors 1.
TOMORROW -- Division One: Bukit Jalil Juniors v Kelantan (Tun Razak, 7pm), UniKL v Anderson (KLHA Stadium, 5pm).
Division Two: Penang Free School v Tunku Besar Secondary School (Universiti Sains Malaysia, 5pm), Ipoh City Council v Johor (Azlan Shah Stadium, 5pm).

Mission Impossible

By Ajitpal Singh

IT will be an impossible task for the national team to reach the Women's Hockey World Cup Finals with World No 5 Australia drawn in their qualifying group in Santiago, Chile.
Malaysia also face the hosts, Ireland and Scotland in the qualifiers on April 24-May 5.
Malaysia, the World No 22, are ranked fourth behind Australia, Ireland (15th) and Chile (16th). Scotland are ranked 23rd on the women's ranking.
National coach Yahya Atan admitted that it will be tough to win the qualifying group with the presence of Australia.
The World Cup will be held in Rosario, Argentina on Aug 29-Sept 11.
"Of course winning other matches are achievable but not against Australia. Luckily we have a favourable draw as we only meet Australia in our last match," said Yahya at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
"We need to win our other matches to guarantee a place in the final. I believe this is possible. My girls have lost to Ireland and Scotland before but I am confident they will beat them this time."
Malaysia were hammered 8-0 by Australia and were beaten 3-0 by Scotland in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games where the team managed to finish sixth.
In last year's Champions Challenge II, Malaysia were edged 3-1 and 1-0 by Ireland.
The women's team have been training together as a unit since last year.
They also played several friendly matches including with Oceania champions New Zealand last month.
"The team have been progressing well both in training and competitions. Our performance against top level teams have also improved," he added.
The Malaysian Women's Hockey Association (MWHA) named 18 players for the Qualifiers. The team will leave for Chile on April 18.
The squad -- Goalkeepers: Siti Noor Zainordin, Farah Ayuni Yahya; defenders: Catherine Anak Lambor, Raja Norsharina Shabuddin, Siti Shahidah Saad, Norfaraha Hashim, Sebah Kari; midfielders: Nadia Abdul Rahman (capt), Juliani Mohd Din, Nuraini Abdul Rashid, Noor Hasliza Ali, Siti Nor Amarina Ruhani; forwards: Norbaini Hashim, Rabiatul Adawiyah Mohd, Fazilla Sylvester Silin, Nor Hidayah Ahmad Bokhari, Nor Azlin Sumantri, Siti Rahman Othman.
FIXTURES -- April 24: Chile v Malaysia; April 25: Scotland v Malaysia; April 27: Malaysia v Ireland; May 1: Australia v Malaysia.