Note: At the sidelines of the AHF meeting it was mentioned that India-Pakistan series might be held after the Azlan Shah Cup in March. Also, Pakistan is not interested to send players for the Malaysia Hockey League anymore as the vibrant night-life in Kuala Lumpur has been blamed for the previous slide in their players form.
THE Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) yesterday named the eight teams which will play in the Asia Cup in Ipoh on Aug 24- Sept 1.
The tournament offers the gold medallist direct entry into the 2014 World Cup in the Hague, Netherlands.
Hosts Malaysia will battle the usual suspects India, South Korea, Pakistan, China, Japan, Bangladesh and Oman for the single ticket.
However, South Korea, Pakistan and India might clinch their World Cup ticket at the world series semi-finals, and this might just turn out to be a major bonus for the Asia Cup as the fourth-placed team will then head for the Hague.
“Two groups of four teams each will play in the Asia Cup, and the groupings will be released after March when all eight teams confirm their entries and can be grouped according to their rankings,” said AHF secretary general Tan Sri P. Alagendra after chairing the 62nd meeting of the AHF Council in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Alagendra also said that the AHF is committed to make sure that men’s and women’s hockey is played at the Sea Games level.
“Myanmar (this year’s hosts) initially, did not want to host hockey but the AHF managed to convince them by providing technical and coaching help.
“Hockey was last played in the 2007 Korat (Thailand) Sea Games after which the next hosts did not want to host is for various reasons.
“However, we a the AHF have made a commitment to make sure that hockey, men’s and women’s, is played in the next three Sea Games after Myanmar, as it will be the best avenue for South East Asia to strengthen its hockey base,” said Alagendra.
