Malaysia hand it to Argentina

MALAYSIA will play South Korea in the fifth-sixth classification match in the Azlan Shah Cup, courtesy of Britain.
   The final will be between 2008 champions Argentina, and first time finalists New Zealand.
   Malaysia were already assured of a fifth-sixth placing match against South Korea when Britain beat Pakistan 2-1 in an earlier match.
   Coach Tai Beng Hai’s men then had the golden pick of either allowing Argentina or Britain to play in the final.
   Malaysia needed to beat Argentina to hand the final ticket to Britain, and a defeat will see Argentina play New Zealand.
  And they chose to go down tamely 1-0 to Argentina.
  The first 10 minutes of the match saw Argentina dominating, but missing sitters, while Malaysian strikers return the hospitality at the other end.
   The combinations of Faizal Saari and Firhan Ashaari, as well as Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin and Hafifi Hafiz failed to break the deadlock as the score stood at 0-0 at the break.
     And after the re-start, Argentina made it count off their second penalty corner in the 40th minute, when Pedro Ibarra low push deflected off Baljit Singh’s stick and sailed between S. Kumar’s pads.
    That solitary goal was enough to take Argentina into the final against New Zealand. For the record, Argentina were champions in 2008, while New Zealand have yet to lay their hands on the trophy.
     Meanwhile New Zealand, who had already qualified for the final before playing South Korea, kept their energy and allowed the Koreans to collect three points off Jang Jong Hyun’s 69th minute attempt.

STANDINGS
                        P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS

N ZEALAND    6   4   0    2    18      8      12
ARGENTINA   6   4    0    2     15    16     12
BRITAIN         6   3   2    1      13     11     11
INDIA             6   3    0    3     12     15      9
S KOREA        6   2    2    2      11      8      8
MALAYSIA      6   1    2    3     10      14     5
PAKISTAN      6   1    0    5     9       16      3

 RESULTS: South Korea 1 New Zealand 0, Britain 2 Pakistan 1, Argentina 1 Malaysia 0.
   TODAY: Final -- Argentina v New Zealand (8.35pm); Third-Fourth:  Britain v India (6.05pm); Fifth-Sixth: Malaysia v South Korea (3.30pm).

Argentina ladies win Olympic beauty contest..

Do you recognize the Las Leonas, wearing pink and purple? It's the London look for the team (Photo: CAH)

A British favour

BRITAIN made sure that Malaysia will not end seventh when they beat Pakistan 2-1. Now the British would be looking for Malaysia to return the favour by beating/draw Argentina and place GB in the final against NZ. 
  Half-time MAS 0 ARG 0.

STANDINGS
                        P  W  D  L  F  A  PTS

N ZEALAND    6   4   0    2    18      8      12
BRITAIN         6   3   2    1      13     11     11
ARGENTINA   5   3    0    2     14    16     9
INDIA             6   3    0    3     12     15      9
S KOREA        6   2    2    2      11      8      8
MALAYSIA      5   1    2    2     10      13     5
PAKISTAN      6   1    0    5     9       16      3

 RESULTS: South Korea 1 New Zealand 0, Britain 2 Pakistan 1, Argentina x Malaysia x.
   TODAY: Final -- (8.35pm); Third-Fourth:  (6.05pm); Fifth-Sixth: (3.30pm).

Ipoh to host 2013 Asia Cup

FIH president Leandro Negre from Spain with Sultan Azlan Shah

PIC BY: http://www.malaysianhockey.blogspot.com/

The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) yesterday decided that  Ipoh will host the 2013 Asia Cup, which also doubles up as a  2014 World Cup Qualifier.
    The AHF Council decided on Malaysia instead of Singapore, the initial hosts.
    “We have decided to award the host job to Malaysia and I  am happy to announce that it will be held in Ipoh next year,”  said AHF President Sultan Azlan Shah.
     “The dates have yet to be determined as we will also have  to take into consideration the annual Azlan Shah Cup.”
     Malaysia last played in the World Cup in 2002 when they  hosted the event. Prior to that Malaysia qualified for the 1998  Utrecht World Cup after a 16 years with their previous  appearance being in 1982 in Bombay.
      Sultan Azlan also announced that the AHF-MHC Academy  will now be known as the Raja DatukSeri Ashaman Academy,  in honour of the second son of Sultan Azlan Shah who passed  away on March 30 this year.
     On the Malaysian team’s performance in the Azlan Shah  Cup: “I am not happy with the performance as we concede  easy goals, especially in the match against New Zealand,”  said Sultan Azlan.
      “We need to work on our defense as it leaks easily. But I  must say I am pleased with the performance of the young  players in the team as they have put up a decent performance.”