WL RD2: Malaysia to play in Trinidad and Tobago..

By FIH

...The Malaysian men will be playing in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago on 25 March-April 2. The other teams involved are Japan, Russia, USA, Barbados, Chile and Switzerland.

  ...For the women's Round Two, in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 14-22, Malaysia will battle for a slot in the World League Semi-finals and a shot at the 2018 World Cup against Ireland, Italy, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Fiji and Wales.

The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in Trinidad and Tobago. The event is well known for participants' colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations...

THE International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed which teams will participate in each of the Hockey World League Round 2 events taking place at six locations around the world between January and April 2017.
  Round 2 will be played over three men’s and three women’s events, with eight teams assigned to each destination by the FIH Competitions Committee.
  The first Round 2 women’s event will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 14-22 January. The teams aiming for qualification for the Hockey World League Semi-Finals and a shot at 2018 Hockey World Cup qualification are Ireland, Italy, hosts Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Fiji and Wales.
  A couple of weeks later, a further eight women’s teams will take to the field in Valencia, Spain between 4-12 February. Hosts Spain will compete against Scotland, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Ghana and one more team to be confirmed.
  The third women’s event will be hosted in West Vancouver, Canada between 1-9 April. Teams taking to the field there will be India, Belarus, Canada, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Chile and France.
  Men’s Round 2 begins in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where Canada, Oman, Egypt, hosts Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Fiji will be playing between 4-12 March.
  From 11-19 March Ireland will also host a men’s Round 2 event in Ulster, with a venue to be confirmed shortly. Hosts Ireland will welcome France, Poland, Ukraine, Italy, Wales, Scotland and Austria.
  The last men’s Round 2 event takes place in Tunapuna in Trinidad and Tobago from 25 March until 2 April. There, Malaysia, Japan, Russia, hosts Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Barbados, Chile and Switzerland will take part.
  Composed of four rounds (Round 1, 2, Semi-Finals and Finals) and played over two years, the Hockey World League shines a spotlight on the sport around the world. Even the smallest hockey-playing nations have the opportunity to write their own chapter in hockey’s history books.
  A lot is at stake for teams participating in these Hockey World League Round 2 events. Whilst vital FIH Hero World Ranking points will be awarded depending on final standings, eight teams per gender will qualify for the Hockey World League Semi-Finals. These will be the top two teams from each event plus the two highest placed teams in the FIH Hero World Rankings of the teams that finish third.
  Taking place next June and July, the Semi-Finals offer teams the chance to qualify for the Hockey World League Finals later in the year, plus the ultimate prize of 2018 Hockey World Cup qualification.
  Tickets for the first of those, the men’s Hockey World League Semi-Final at London’s Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre (15-25 June) are now on sale and can be purchased by clicking here.
  Fans can support their nation’s journey throughout the Hockey World League by following FIH on Twitter,Facebook and Instagram and visiting FIH.ch over the coming months.

SUBAHAN: Lets reach for No 8..

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal yesterday revised his KPI for the national team, from current World No 14 to World No eight in two years time.
  He said this at the launching of new attire and sponsorship presentation for the national men's and women's teams. The men will be playing in the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) in Kuantan on Oct 20-30.
  "When I took over more than a year ago, I said I wanted the men's team to become 10th by the time my tenure is over. However, after charting their path to qualify for the World Cup (2018) and Olympics (2020), I have renewed my KPI to take the team to eight in the world," said Subahan.
  A total of RM900,000 sponsorship has been received for the ACT, and from the traditional yellow, the men and women will now wear orange jerseys as their first kits. Their second and third kits remain blue and white respectively.
  The sponsorship is RM500,000 from QNET, RM300,000 from Tenaga Nasional, RM50,000 from Genting Malaysia and RM50,000 from Waz Lian Group of Companies.
  Kappa, an Italian sportswear brand, had pledged RM350,000 in sponsorship towards the national men's and women's senior teams for the duration of three years.
  "Since the team is known as Tigers, a change from yellow to orange is appropriate," said Subahan.
  The ACT will be offering International Hockey Federation (FIH) ranking points for the first time in its Fourth Edition, and to achieve Subahan's KPI, the Tigers need to play in the final of the ACT.
  When asked about Malaysia's target in the ACT, Subaha said: "I have my own KPI, and coach Stephen (van Huizen) has his own."
  Van Huizen maintained semi-finals in the ACT as his first target.
  "We are ranked fourth in Asia and going by ranking, we will aim for the semi-finals first," said van Huizen.
  The other teams in the ACT are defending champions Pakistan, Asian Games champions India, South Korea, China and Japan.
  The format is easy, as the top-four after a Round Robbin, play in the semi-finals.