Sarjit: We'll be back..

PIC: SARJIT SINGH

KUALA Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) kept their bragging rights intact, while Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) are silently plotting for a Round Two comeback in the Premier Division of the Malaysia Hockey League.
  The star-studded THT, with five Koreans on their side and a host of national players, went down 1-2 to four-time consecutive double champions KLHC, but have not given up hope of winning their first League title.
  "Plenty of mistakes, and bungling a handful of sitters cost us the game, but the tournament still has six more matches to go, and we aim to keep a clean slate until we meet KLHC again in Round Two.
  "The initial goal of winning our first League title is still in sight," said THT coach Sarjit Singh.
  Terenggnau has pumped millions into the team, and Menteri Besar datuk Ahmad Razif was present to watch Sarjit and his men at the national stadium on Sunday.
  After three convincing wins, THT were supposed to stream-roll KLHC, but their penalty corner battery was stopped by good runs.
  "Congratulations to KLHC as they were the better team, but we aim to be the best at the end of the day," said Sarjit.
  KLHC captain Razie Rahim, who nailed thw winner, lauded his teammates for playing their hearts out for the victory.
  “It is an important victory for us because we were able to prove that we can still compete with THT despite them spending a huge sum of money on new players. For us, it was a team effort which made the difference."
  KLHC and THT are tied on nine points, but the champions have one match in hand and will play Sapura tomorrow as their weekend match was washed away by rain.
  "I have many things on my mind right now regarding the THT match, but i will keep it to myself and let my players do the talking on the pitch. Yes, we have a crucial week with three matches lined up, but that's the kind of challenge we thrive upon," said KLHC coach K. Dharmaraj.
  WEDNESDAY: KLHC v Sapura (6pm, Pitch II).

STANDINGS

               P W D L F A Pts

TERENGGANU     4 3 0 1 14   6    9
KLHC           3 3 0 0 11   5    9
TENAGA         4 2 0 2 8    7    6
SAPURA         3 1 1 1 4    4    4
MAYBANK        4 0 2 2 7    11   2
UNIKL          4 0 1 3 2    13   1

Malaysian Open: Danny Chia leads local cast..

DANNY Chia, Nicholas Fung and Shaaban Hussin are among the twelve local players who have qualified to play at the Maybank Malaysian Open on Feb 5th-8th at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC).
  The tournament will also see a increase of prize money from US$2.75 million to US$3 million.
 The top Malaysian players on the Asian Tour as well as the Professional Golf of Malaysia Order of Merit and members of the Professional Golf Association of Malaysia, will join a field of 156 players consisting of the world’s leading golfers next year.
  The 12 ranked Malaysian are not required to compete at the National Qualifiers on the Nov 18th19th at KLGCC.
  The two-day National Qualifiers will see 100 golfers competing for four more slots.
  The Maybank Malaysian Open offers the highest number of spots for Malaysian golfers in a co-sanctioned international golfing event in the country. As a joint initiative by the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA), Maybank and GlobalOne to provide Malaysian sportsmen the opportunity to compete in world class events.
  Twenty-two spots up for grabs and these are divided among the ten players from the Asian Tour and PGM Tour; four winners from the National Qualifiers; three sponsors invite, one of which is the winner from the Maybank Tour Championship and the participation of four amateurs who are selected by MGA through their own merit.
   Gavin Kyle Green has already secured his spot among the four amateurs. The final two invitational spots with the remaining three amateur spots are expected to be announced by mid January.
 QUALIFIED Malaysians: Nicholas Fung, Danny Chia, Iain Steel, Shaaban Hussin and Ben Leong (from the Asian Tour); R. Nachimuthu, Airil Rizman Zahari, Sukree Othman, Khor Kheng Hwai, Kemarol Baharin (from the PGM Tour) and Arie Fauzi (Maybank invitee).